Time and Time Again(5)
Keep telling yourself that, Clara.
I have bigger problems right now. I need to pay my rent and get back on my feet before I even think about starting something with anyone. And Tag? Well… he was always single. Did that mean that even if he was with a girl he was still single?
“I had fun today.”
“Me too. Thank you for bringing me here. I really appreciate it,” I reply in all honesty.
He swallows his mouthful before he speaks. “No problem. Maybe we could do something else next week.”
“I’d like that,” I reply, licking my finger.
His gaze follows the motion, and all of a sudden, the air between us thickens.
He clears his throat. “You looked like you could use some fun.”
I nod. “It’s been a while.”
“Do your parents live here?” he asks. “You live alone, right?”
“They live in Melbourne. Yes, I live alone,” I say, leaning back against the bench. “I moved here two years ago, as soon as I turned eighteen.”
“Do you like it here?” he asks, looking genuinely interested.
“I do. It’s a beautiful city.” And it is far enough away from my parents that I don’t have to see them.
“Do you have any brothers or sisters?” he continues, studying me.
“Only child. You?”
“Same.”
“Did it suck for you as much as it did for me?”
He grins. “It wasn’t so bad. I have good friends. My mother passed away a few years back, and my dad lives down south. He’s retired.”
“I’m sorry you lost your mum,” I say, barely a whisper.
He shrugs. “It was bad, but you can’t control everything, you know? I miss her everyday, but life goes on.”
“And your daughter…?”
“Isabella,” he says, smiling fondly. “She’s six. So damn cute. Here, I’ll show you a pic.”
He pulls out his fancy looking phone and brings up a picture. I stare at the little girl with dark eyes, hair, and a dimpled smile. “She’s gorgeous.”
“Thank you,” he replies. “She’s a good kid. Best thing in my life.”
I want to ask about Isabella’s mother but refrain. Luckily, he continues.
“Kaley and I share Isabella during the week. Since I work nights, I usually go see her in the morning and get her ready for school and drop her off. It’s just a little extra time I get to spend with her, you know?”
That is really sweet.
“Do you get along with your ex?” I blurt out. So much for not asking.
He nods slightly. “We do okay.”
He doesn’t elaborate on that, so I ask, “Should we get going?”
“We should,” he says, standing. “Do you want something else to eat or drink?”
I shake my head from side to side. “No, but thank you.”
When I have some money, I am going to take him out. His kindness won’t be forgotten any time soon.
Little did I know he would be saving my ass again in just another thirty minutes.
*****
When we pull up to my apartment building, Tag insists on walking me to my door to carry the huge unicorn soft toy he’d won at last minute. When we were about to leave the carnival, we passed a basketball hoop game, and Tag took arm and brought me to a stop.
“Which one do you like?” he asks, pointing to the toys.
I saw the unicorn and fell in love with it instantly. “Unicorn.”
“Good choice,” he says, lips kicking up at the corners. “I’m going to get it for you.”
And he did.
I’m digging through my purse as we walk to my front door when I hear Tag growl. “What the fuck?”
I lift my head to see him pull a piece of paper off my door.
“What is it?” I ask, dread filling me from head to toe. I stand next to him and peer over his shoulder.
An eviction notice.
Fuck.
No, No, No.
Things were going so well.
My luck had changed, hadn’t it? Maybe if I spoke to him and explained…
Who was I kidding? My landlord was an asshole.
I glance at Tag out of the corner of my eye.
Why did he have to see this? I look down, feeling embarrassed. I’m a proud person, and for someone to see this, especially Tag, makes me want to curl into a ball and cry.
“Give me your keys Clara,” Tag asks in a soft but firm voice, touching my shoulder.
I pull out my keys and hand them to him. He opens the front door and ushers me inside with his hand pressing gently on the small of my back. In a daze, I walk into my apartment and lean against the kitchen countertop.
“Pack a bag,” Tag demands quietly.
I look up at him. “Wh- what?”
“Pack a bag,” he repeats, drawing out each word.