Just a Number(27)

“Is the wench gone?”

I chuckle, tightening the double Windsor knot around my neck. “Just. That’s actually why I’m calling. You busy today?”

“Um, not really. I have a quick meeting with a potential client in about fifteen minutes, and then the rest of my day was going to be spent in the office surfing the ‘net and screwing around on Facebook,” she replies candidly. “Why?”

“I’m in need of your assistance. I’d like to redo the condo. Paint, furniture, everything. I want to basically eliminate all traces of Gretchen from my home. Cost is not an issue.”

Julia exhales happily. “Music to my ears.” I hear the creak of her chair over the phone and then what might be the scratch of her pen on paper. “Deadline?” Julia asks. I assume she’s trying to fit the project in amongst whatever else is on her plate at work.

“I’d like the bedroom done by Friday, if possible,” I explain, and I know the minute it leaves my mouth that it will likely raise questions with her, so I quickly add more in hopes of drawing her focus away from it. “But the rest of the house can be done gradually over the next few weeks unless you can fit it in sooner.”

I can practically hear the smile behind her words. “The bedroom, huh? Does someone plan to have company over?”

“Yes or no, Jules?” I inquire with a laugh.

She hums contemplatively. “Your lack of confirmation or denial only makes me think I’m right, big brother. Who is she?”

Julia and I have always been able to be open and honest with one another over the years, but this is one thing I’m not ready to share with her. Julia loves Amelia…like a niece, so it isn’t that I think she’ll be against it—in fact, I’m sure she’ll be more than supportive—but Amelia and I have agreed to keep what we have a secret until we’re ready to tell Alan. He’s the one that our relationship will affect the most, so it’s only right that he be the first to hear of it.

When we’re ready and have him as far away from his arsenal as possible.

“I’m not ready to talk about my personal life right now, Jules. I’m late for a meeting.”

Exasperated, Julia sighs. “Fine. I’ll stop by after my meeting and see what I can do. I won’t be able to do the full remodel of the bedroom today, but I should be able to make a plan and have it done for Friday.”

“Perfect. I’ll leave a key with the doorman, so feel free to come and go as you please,” I tell her.

“You won’t be there?” she asks, confusion lacing her tone.

“I was going to stay with A—” I’m barely able to stop myself before I say too much, but I do, and I can practically hear the wheels in Julia’s mind shifting into gear as she tries to finish my sentence. “With a friend.”

“Riiiight,” she says, clearly not buying the “friend” cover story. “Well, I’ll call you if I have any questions if you can tear yourself away from your…friend long enough to indulge me.”

Her playful teasing is not lost on me, and I laugh. “Thanks. I’ll be sure to keep my phone close.”

After saying goodbye to my sister, I make a quick call to the building’s superintendent and request to have the locks changed. I explain my situation, and he agrees to come up and do this as soon as possible, telling me he’ll leave the new keys with the doorman for me to pick up later.

With those few things squared away, I head into the office to hopefully figure out the problem with the campaign in an attempt to salvage this business deal. When I arrive, I have about fifteen minutes before my clients are to arrive, so I send Amelia a quick text.



Hope your morning’s going well.



I set my phone down on my desk and head out to the main office for a cup of coffee. When I return, I see she’s messaged me back—even though she should be in class.



It’s all right. Trying not to fall

Asleep in psych.



Tired? Maybe I should stay at

the condo tonight…



I fire up my computer while I wait for her response, and as soon as the monitor lights up, so does the screen of my phone.



What? No way…unless you want

to. I’m just bored out of my damn

mind in this class. Blah. :(



Well, I stopped by the condo this

morning to pick up a few things, and

Gretchen is gone, so if you need space

to rest or study, I don’t mind.



Except that I do. For some reason, I hate the idea of being away from her. It’s been a week since we’d originally gotten together, and I can’t imagine spending a moment apart from her. Some might consider this behavior dependent and on par with someone who might be on the rebound—and they’d probably be right. However, if I’m being honest with myself, these feelings I’m having would indicate that this is so much more than that. I genuinely care about Amelia, and there’s nowhere else that I would rather be than in her arms.