Page 39 of Because of Blake
Spinach enchiladas do sound good. “Sure, sounds great. I’ll text you when I’m off work.”
“Yay! Okay, see you then. Bye, Mags.”
I’ve got to get out of this bed and do something to take my mind off Blake. I think I’ll start with a workout. That will at least get my blood pumping and maybe give me the energy to get my day started.
Monday brings work, which helps ease my obsession over my neighbor. I dive into my paperwork, grateful for the distraction. I’m even happy to hear Abbey back to her old self, with her endless complaints, so my mind isn’t flooded with thoughts of Blake.
At the end of the day, I’m feeling much better. Even if I think Blake and I will only be friends, I can at least accept it. He’s still a nice guy and having a friend who’s only a few houses away wouldn’t hurt. When Michelle was my next-door neighbor, she and I used to hang out all the time. Granted, she’s a married woman, whereas Blake’s a single man, but it’s harmless.
Isn’t it?
I take out my phone and text Michelle I’m leaving work. She responds that she’s running late and will meet me at the restaurant, which means I’ll have at least twenty minutes to munch on chips and salsa before she gets there.
The server checks on me for a third time, asking if I need anything besides water, when I see Michelle walk through the door.
“Sorry, I got held up,” she says, plopping into the booth.
“No problem, but can we order?”
Michelle nods and tells the server to bring us both house margaritas with extra limes, and our favorite appetizer of more chips, but with queso this time.
“So, what’s new with you, Mags? What have you been up to lately?” Michelle asks, picking through the chip crumbs I’ve left in the basket.
“Not much. Enjoying a quiet house.” I pause a moment, pursing my lips. “That’s not true. I miss the kids.”
“I bet you do. Are you sleeping okay without them at home?”
I snort. “When do I ever sleep okay?”
“Alright, I’ll rephrase. Are you sleeping any worse without them?”
“No, not really any worse, but certainly not any better. I was hoping when I went part-time and had more time for myself, the nightmares might ease up, but they haven’t. I guess moving wasn’t the answer.”
“Speaking of, how’s the house? Things okay there?”
“Yeah, it’s been fine. The spring was rough, though. Lots of issues. The handyman I found is great, although he went out of town this week and my garbage disposal blew up on Saturday.”
Michelle gasps. “Oh no. What did you do?”
“Well, do you remember that guy, Blake, I told you about?”
Michelle’s eyes widen. “The hot one who walks his dog a lot?” she asks as her lips close around the straw of her water.
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, him. I know I said I wouldn’t ask him for help, but I didn’t have a choice this time. He came over, took me to Home Depot, and replaced it for me.”“So, he did fix your pipes!” Michelle takes her drink from the server, who’s trying hard to contain his laughter.
In utter embarrassment, I order my meal. Michelle orders hers and we sit in silence a moment while we sip our cocktails. I wiggle my toes in my shoes as I contemplate telling her the rest of the story. “He and I actually hung out afterward and watched a movie together.”
Michelle nearly spits out her drink. “What!?”
“It wasn’t anything special.” I pick up a chip and stir the queso with it. “He asked if I wanted to watch a movie, and I said yes. What’s the big deal?”
She dabs her lips with her napkin. “The big deal is, you hung out with aman.And a hot one, at that! This is huge for you. I thought you were off relationships after Charlie.”
A lump forms in my throat at the mention of his name. I swallow it away with some tequila. “It was just a movie. It’s not arelationship,Michelle.”Though that’s what Blake called it.
“Sounds like the start of one. Do you want it to be?”
I bite my lip, nodding. “I think I’m ready.”