Page 29 of A Summer Mismatch
Julia:*laughing emoji*
Julia:Short answer: Pretty good. I do have some follow-up questions for you, especially about Lulu, but they can wait for Tuesday if you’re not too busy.
Logan:Not for you.
After he sent it, he wished he could recall the text.Businessy, Logan. Professional. Not flirty.He was going to scare her off again. To his relief, she sent him a heart-eye emoji.
Logan:So what’s the long answer?
He checked his clock. He’d already worked a little late tonight to get everything set up for Kai to take over tomorrow, and then he’d realized he was nearly on empty and had to stop for gas. He hadn’t even taken a shower after work, so he was still in his sweaty, dirty scrubs. His sister was expecting him there by eight, and he if he sped, he could still make it, barely.
Still, he waited to see what Julia would say.
Julia:The long answer is that I need someone who has invented a way to give me more hours in my day. You work in the science field. Any connections?
Logan:That is an area animal scientists just haven’t delved into yet.
Julia:Bummer. I’m actually hoping you wouldn’t mind reading my rough draft in a few weeks.
Logan:I’d love to!
“Excuse me,” an older woman said to him through his open window. “Could you help me figure out how to get my card in the reader? It keeps getting jammed.”
“No problem.” Logan hopped out of his truck and realized that the reader was broken or had something blocking it. He showed her how to tap her card on the reader and make her payment that way.
“All these new things.” She shook her head with mirth. “I don’t feel that old, but things like this make me realize it. Thank you.”
“Happy to help!” Logan went back to his truck and found four text messages from Julia waiting for him.
Julia:Great. You might hate it though. That would be okay.
Julia:I’d just be devastated and probably give up writing, except for one more murder mystery with my final victim named Logan. That’s all.
Julia:Um. Maybe we don’t know each other well enough for you to know I’m joking.
Julia:You know what? Never mind, I’ve got this. Have a good, murderous-author-free night.
Uh oh, that spiraled fast.
Logan:What if I don’t want a murderous-author-free night?
Julia:Well, then I’d have to question your sanity.
Logan laughed, and then checked the clock with regret. He was officially going to be late, and he didn’t want to add more stress to Willow in his efforts to help her.
Logan:I’ve got to run help my sister with her kids. I’ll see you Tuesday! If you have questions before then, please feel free to reach out.
Julia:Good luck!
Logan sped a little to get to his sister’s two-story townhouse in downtown Kissimmee. Each townhouse was painted a different bright hue in the red color spectrum, and Willow’s house was a pale coral red that made him think of a shell.
His brother-in-law’s car wasn’t parked out front, so Logan took his spot and rushed up the walkway. He’d barely finished knocking before the door flew open. “Uncle Logan!” Two balls of energy vaulted into his arms and he caught them against him, followed by a golden ball of energy with infinitely more drool that circled his legs.
Amelia was five years old, and Leo was three. They both looked freshly bathed, with wet hair and shiny clean skin. Amelia was wearing pink princess pajamas with her long blond hair in a braid, and Leo wore flannel puppy pajamas.
Gatsby, their yellow lab, jumped around his legs until Logan crouched down to give him a thorough ear scratching and belly rub.
“Hey, you made it.” Willow looked completely exhausted as she walked down the stairs with a full duffel bag hanging from each arm. He stood, to Gatsby’s disappointment, and took the bags from Willow before pulling her into a hug.
