Page 21 of Perfect
I try to ignore my excitement about having this kind of access to her.
I check my watch, realizing it’s almost noon, so I reluctantly leave, locking the door behind me with her spare keys. I’ll get these copied and return them soon, so she won’t even know they were gone.
I’m glad I don’t have to see my stupid therapist tomorrow, because I need to calm down. Some of this counts as giving into my impulses, and I should take some space. It doesn’t matter if Alex and I are connected, which weare, I shouldn’t watch the cameras yet.
I shouldn’t even be near her right now, just in case.
When I get home, I drop my backpack and phone inside and get back in my car, heading down the coast for the house in Yachats before I can stop myself. I breathe deeply and try to get my shit together on the drive, but every time I inhale, I smell her perfume.
I’m somewhat aware that I’m not in control anymore, but I don’t think I need to be. I need to be smart about this and take my time, but I don’t need to fight my impulses anymore.
They led me toher.
Now I need them to lead her to me.
9
ALEX
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
“Still on to watch Miles tonight?” Bailey’s voice is excited, and she comes bearing a coffee and a croissant, which she dramatically presents to me, making me laugh.
“Yes, but you didn’t have to get me anything. You’re already paying me.”
“A spoiled babysitter is a babysitter who might consider showing up again. It’s nice to have some time to remember why I like my husband so much,” she says, winking at me, and I laugh at her as she heads upstairs.
I’m looking forward to babysitting. I liked spending time with Danny’s nieces and nephews because kids are easy. They don’t say one thing and mean another, and you always knowwhere you stand with them. Plus, they can be silly and fun in a way adults aren’t.
When I return from lunch, there’s someone sitting in the reception area, a cup of coffee in his hand, his knee bouncing quickly. He’s dressed in light grey pants and a thin, dark blue sweater, and his hair is pushed back from his face, and it takes me a second to realize it’s the guy from the sports bar. It’s a small town, so I shouldn’t be surprised to see him, but I am. He looks up from his phone, cocking his head a little as he recognizes me.
“Hi, Alex.” My stomach flips as he smiles at me, and I notice that one side of his mouth picks up more than the other. God, he’s way cuter than I remember. My cheeks heat and I smile back at him as I walk over to my desk and lean against the edge of it, realizing with horror that I’ve forgotten his name.
“Hey,” I say in a sweet tone, trying to hide the fact that I’m panicking.Fuck, what was his name again? “Um, it’s Leo, maybe?” I ask slowly. His smile fades and my heart sinks. God, I’m so stupid.
“It’sTheo,” he says, frowning slightly. “Occasionally it’sTheodoreif I’m in trouble with my grandmother,” he says with a tight smile and a quick roll of his eyes.
I flash him a quick, guilty smile. “I’m so sorry. I’m bad with names, but Ireallylike yours,” I say, hoping I’m being flirty. I think I nail it, and relief floods through me as his face softens back into that cute smile. “Uh, did you get in trouble with your grandma often,Theodore?”
He laughs a little and rolls his eyes. “You have no idea.”
“What’d you do, steal all the hard candy from her purse?”
“Cigarettes, actually. They taste much worse than butterscotch, though.” I wrinkle my nose at him in disgust. I hope he’s not a smoker. Danny smoked, and Ihatedit.
“You know smoking’s bad for you, right?” Theo looks confused and a little concerned, and I kick myself for criticizing him.
“Alex, what are you talking about? Smoking is one of the healthiest things you can do.”
I gape at him. “Pleasetell me you’re joking.”
“I’m extremely serious,” he deadpans before flashing me a quick grin. “So, what’sThe Girl Who Loved Tom Gordondoing here?” I’m thrown off for a second. How did he remember that?
“Uh, I work here. This is the job I moved here for.”
“Nice. Catherine’s cool. Did you do this sort of thing in Maine?”
“No, I…uh,” I falter, trying to remember what I tell people I used to do. Something about how much eye contact we’re making is overwhelming. “I, uh, I temped, I think.”
