Page 30 of Organized Chaos

Sarah lifted the tray of pasta, threatening him with it. The next food missile came from Phillip. He arched that brow and flung a shred of cheese at her, followed by a tomato slice. The cheese landed atop her head, while the tomato splatted againsther shoulder. “That’s what I’m talking about.” She grabbed the tomato and threw it back.

Phillip knocked it aside with a brush of his hand and pushed away from the work bench. “We’re supposed to be cleaning this place up, not making it worse.”

“But this is so much more fun.” She took a step. Her bare foot landed on the piece of lettuce and sent her sliding forward. The lasagna pan flew from her hand. Sarah watched it move in slow motion, going up into the air, and then coming down. Pasta and sauce arched overhead then fell in a wave across Phillip’s head. Red sauce rained down his cheeks and dripped from his chin.

Sarah tried to catch her balance. Her right foot stilled while her left one kept going. She skidded to the side. Phillip grabbed for her, but her momentum pulled them both down. Sarah fell backward into the line of totes. The backs of her knees hit the hard plastic and sent her crashing onto her backside.

She folded like an accordion with Phillip collapsing on top of her.

“We keep ending up like this.” Her knees pressed under her chin.

Phillip braced his weight on either side of the tote. He tried to push upward, but the tote flipped, sending Sarah falling backward. He threw his weight the other way.

“This is what happens when you try to tame my chaos.” Another rush of laughter burst out. She couldn’t help it. Phillip tried so hard to organize her life. He wanted to coordinate and color code her space.

Phillip shifted his weight again, gripped the tote hard, and started pushing her around the garage. “Maybe I should keep you in here while I work. Seems like the only way to keep you safe is to put you in bubble wrap.”

“Wouldn’t work.” She leaned her head back and watched Phillip from her upside-down position. “I’d pop all the bubbles.”She dangled her arms over the edge of the tote and kicked her feet up on the other end. “And then I’d probably trip over it while trying to unwrap myself.”

“I can see that happening.” Phillip spun the tote around so they were face to face. Her bare feet poked his chest. “And there’s no taming you. I’m not trying to change you. I want to make things better, easier. You deserve a space that complements you and your style.”

“Then leave it the way it is.” She poked at him with her toes. “Wait. Forget that. I want to try your way.” And she did. Not because she wanted to impress Phillip or anything like that. She was tired of falling over everything and losing her equipment. Maybe Phillip’s way would work for her if she gave it an honest try. She’d never been afraid of a challenge, which was why she transformed furniture and made crafts for her online store. “I want to sit in on your podcast.”

Phillip stopped abruptly, sending Sarah’s body forward in a hard lurch. “You do?”

“Sure.” She rolled her head back. “It’ll be fun.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

When she’d told Phillip that listening in on his podcast would be fun, she’d meant it. Now that she sat in his drive drumming her fingertips on the wheel, she was starting to second guess herself. Not that it wouldn’t be fun. She still believed it would be entertaining. But what was she supposed to do with herself while Phillip talked?

The front door opened, and Phillip jogged to her door. His smile melted some of the anxiousness and she smiled when he pulled open the door and extended a hand. “Come on. We’re starting in fifteen minutes, and I need to get you set up.”

She slid her palm against his and hopped from the truck. “You look nice.” She took in the sport coat, slacks, tie, and shiny dress shoes. Her lips quirked and she motioned at her own ripped jeans and baggy sweater. “Good thing there’s no video feed.”

Phillip’s lips puckered but he shrugged. “I’m interviewing the local veterinarian today. Felt like the kind of chat you dress up for.”

“As opposed to any other day when you record?” She joked while poking him in the ribs.

Phillip grunted and rolled his lips together.

Sarah sighed and kept pace with him into the house and up the stairs. She caught glimpses of his living room. Clean lines. Everything nice and tidy. What she wouldn’t give to see a random coffee cup sitting on a table. Or a table with a nick or scuff mark. She’d thought she was getting over their differences, but seeing the inside of Phillip’s house made her body tense. She felt like she didn’t belong.

They didn’t have a relationship per se, but this felt awfully close.

Sarah shoved her hands into her pockets and tried not to touch anything. Or trip on anything. Phillip made that easy by guiding her into his recording room. Black foam tiles covered the walls and two desks sat facing each other. Microphones and headsets sat on each desk, along with a computer on the desk furthest from the door.

Phillip motioned for Sarah to take a seat at the second desk where an older gentleman in jeans and a flannel shirt sat with his hands laced together in his lap. “Dr. Andrews, this is Sarah.”

The older man stood and shook her hand. “Pleasure to meet you. I hear you’re sitting in on our little chat today.”

Sarah nodded and carefully folded herself into the spare chair.

“Do you have an interest in animals?” Dr. Andrews resumed his seat and took the headset from Phillip.

Sarah shook her head and took another headset from Phillip. “Not exactly. I wanted to see Phillip in action. I’m considering expanding my own business through video tutorials.”

“Ah.” Dr. Andrews tapped a quick beat on the desk. “We’ve discussed something similar with our clinic. Let people see the work in action. Several of my vet techs want to do instructional videos.”

---