you here.”
“That’s okay. I’m not upset.” She glanced and pointed. “Bathroom. Right?
“Yeah.” He watched her close the door, then ran his fingers through his hair and stared up as if God himself was on the ceiling. “So? Are you ever going to let me tell her the truth? Come on, Man, you’ve got to help me here.” He waited for a sign. An answer. Nothing came. Maybe silence was his answer.
What you seek, is seeking you.
~~Rumi
JARED THOUGHT ABOUT the praise Raynie poured on. If she knew the truth, she’d take it all back. Not like he hadn’t tried to set things straight. He had. More than once. Lately, his life seemed like a bad B-movie, where he’d yell at the screen when characters avoided what needed to be said or explained. Why couldn’t they spit it out? Well, now he understood.
He walked around to the other side of the bed and picked a long blonde strand from the pillow. How he’d love to run his fingers through those curls. Crush them in his hands. Pull her face in close . . . he stopped. Regardless of the attraction, he couldn’t allow feelings to develop. He smoothed the cover and something dropped to the floor. An earring. Stuffing the hoop in his pocket, he headed to the office.
On Saturday, he worked non-stop to catch up on everything. By putting in weekends, he hoped Dad wouldn’t think he was a slacker.
The screen on his phone lit up and so did his eyes when he read the caller. “Hey Raynie, Silbie survive the lock-in?”
“Yeah, and her exact words—totally awesome. Hasn’t stopped talking about it. Sounds like her vocal performance was a big hit.”
“Wish I’d seen it.”
“You can. I ordered a copy of the video. What are you doing?”
“Nothing as exciting as watching you dance.” He chuckled.
“Are you making fun?”
“No. You were great, especially when you discovered your partner. I think you invented some new moves.”
“Smartass.”
He laughed harder. This time she didn’t apologize for using a bad word. “What are you up to?”
“I don’t know if I’ve told you or not, but I have no kitchen skills, so I can’t invite you over for a home-cooked meal. But Silbie and I would love to take you out.”
“Sounds great, but I can’t tonight.”
“Oh.” She sounded disappointed, and he liked that.
“I’m meeting an old drinking buddy. The owner of the sunflower field. My way of thanking him for the atmosphere.”
“Some other time, then.”
“Yeah. Tell Silbie hello for me.”
“Sure. Bye. Have fun tonight.”
“Thanks.” He ended the call and stared at his phone. The excitement of hearing her voice surprised him. What was he doing? He couldn’t get interested in her. If he did, he was setting himself up for heartbreak. He turned his attention back to his computer and pushed images of Raynie out of his head so he could concentrate on work.
By four o’clock, he finished the first draft for his new client, Harland Winchester. An extreme contemporary plan, and although the style wasn’t Jared’s strong point, he thought he’d come up with something the guy would approve. Storefront windows. Metal roof and siding. Concrete countertops. Douglas fir ceilings. The house featured five fireplaces, swimming pool, media room, and an attached apartment home. The place reminded him of a golf course club house, but he’d given the man everything he’d asked for. At almost a million dollar budget, he didn’t have to cut corners.
He typed up a quick email and sent the proposal. Once he got Harland’s initial reaction, he could move forward.
Jared locked up the office and stepped outside. Wind whipped at the collar of his shirt, and he thought of Raynie again. Maybe she’d stay long enough to find out dust storms didn’t happen that often. When they did, he admitted they were insufferable, but every city had good and bad points. Lubbock didn’t have the humidity Austin did.
While he showered, he mulled over next week’s
“That’s okay. I’m not upset.” She glanced and pointed. “Bathroom. Right?
“Yeah.” He watched her close the door, then ran his fingers through his hair and stared up as if God himself was on the ceiling. “So? Are you ever going to let me tell her the truth? Come on, Man, you’ve got to help me here.” He waited for a sign. An answer. Nothing came. Maybe silence was his answer.
What you seek, is seeking you.
~~Rumi
JARED THOUGHT ABOUT the praise Raynie poured on. If she knew the truth, she’d take it all back. Not like he hadn’t tried to set things straight. He had. More than once. Lately, his life seemed like a bad B-movie, where he’d yell at the screen when characters avoided what needed to be said or explained. Why couldn’t they spit it out? Well, now he understood.
He walked around to the other side of the bed and picked a long blonde strand from the pillow. How he’d love to run his fingers through those curls. Crush them in his hands. Pull her face in close . . . he stopped. Regardless of the attraction, he couldn’t allow feelings to develop. He smoothed the cover and something dropped to the floor. An earring. Stuffing the hoop in his pocket, he headed to the office.
On Saturday, he worked non-stop to catch up on everything. By putting in weekends, he hoped Dad wouldn’t think he was a slacker.
The screen on his phone lit up and so did his eyes when he read the caller. “Hey Raynie, Silbie survive the lock-in?”
“Yeah, and her exact words—totally awesome. Hasn’t stopped talking about it. Sounds like her vocal performance was a big hit.”
“Wish I’d seen it.”
“You can. I ordered a copy of the video. What are you doing?”
“Nothing as exciting as watching you dance.” He chuckled.
“Are you making fun?”
“No. You were great, especially when you discovered your partner. I think you invented some new moves.”
“Smartass.”
He laughed harder. This time she didn’t apologize for using a bad word. “What are you up to?”
“I don’t know if I’ve told you or not, but I have no kitchen skills, so I can’t invite you over for a home-cooked meal. But Silbie and I would love to take you out.”
“Sounds great, but I can’t tonight.”
“Oh.” She sounded disappointed, and he liked that.
“I’m meeting an old drinking buddy. The owner of the sunflower field. My way of thanking him for the atmosphere.”
“Some other time, then.”
“Yeah. Tell Silbie hello for me.”
“Sure. Bye. Have fun tonight.”
“Thanks.” He ended the call and stared at his phone. The excitement of hearing her voice surprised him. What was he doing? He couldn’t get interested in her. If he did, he was setting himself up for heartbreak. He turned his attention back to his computer and pushed images of Raynie out of his head so he could concentrate on work.
By four o’clock, he finished the first draft for his new client, Harland Winchester. An extreme contemporary plan, and although the style wasn’t Jared’s strong point, he thought he’d come up with something the guy would approve. Storefront windows. Metal roof and siding. Concrete countertops. Douglas fir ceilings. The house featured five fireplaces, swimming pool, media room, and an attached apartment home. The place reminded him of a golf course club house, but he’d given the man everything he’d asked for. At almost a million dollar budget, he didn’t have to cut corners.
He typed up a quick email and sent the proposal. Once he got Harland’s initial reaction, he could move forward.
Jared locked up the office and stepped outside. Wind whipped at the collar of his shirt, and he thought of Raynie again. Maybe she’d stay long enough to find out dust storms didn’t happen that often. When they did, he admitted they were insufferable, but every city had good and bad points. Lubbock didn’t have the humidity Austin did.
While he showered, he mulled over next week’s
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