“No, but I’m sure you’re fixin’ to tell me.”
“First, you fuck Trey Rogers for months. Then while with Trey Rogers you met the best looking guy on the planet, then go out with said hot guy, and now you’re probably massaging his upper thigh while you contemplate whether or not you’re going to accidently graze his dick. I hate you.”
And that was it. I lost it laughing. “When was the last time you had sex, Annie? I think you’re overdue! You could always call Trey. I hear he likes to keep one on the side from his girlfriend of six years.”
Annie made a disgusted sound. “Fuck him. He was an asshole. I feel sorry for that girl, but if she’s stupid enough not to see, then that is her problem.”
As I got closer to the house, I saw Sophie outside riding her bike. She still had the training wheels on it and I could hear her yelling out from way down the driveway. Man, sound travels out here in the country.
“Agreed. Anyway, Malcolm feels more comfortable here. So . . . here I am.”
“Huh. So do you like him?”
Now it was time for me to be quiet.
“Paislie? Oh my . . . you do, don’t you? Hold on. I need to shut my office door.”
I slowed my walking down a bit. I could see Sophie jumping as high as she could to get my attention.
“Okay, tell me what’s going on. In all the years I’ve known you, any time I ask if you like a guy you pop back with a for sure no. Even Trey, I knew you were only with him for the sex.”
I loved my best friend, but sometimes I wanted to tape her mouth shut. “I’m not really sure what I’m feeling right now, Annie. I’ve never . . . well I mean . . . he makes me feel . . . I guess I . . .”
“Jesus! Spit it the hell out.”
“That’s just it. I don’t know how I feel! I’ve never felt like this before.”
She gasped. “Have you talked to Sister Elizabeth? What does she say?”
I rolled my neck a few times to get the tension out. “Hey, I’ve got to go. I have an almost six-year-old barreling at me on a bike with training wheels and she’s out of control.”
“What! He has a kid! Holy fu—”
Hitting end, I smiled as Sophie rode her bike up to me and hit the brakes hard and fast. Must run in the family.
“Paislie!” She turned to Clarisse and waved. “Paislie is gonna watch me now. She’s my new best friend!”
Clarisse and I had met last night in the kitchen when I was sneaking around the house trying to find my way about. She gave me a tour of the house and then made us both a cup of tea. We talked for three hours about everything and anything. I instantly loved her. I knew it was because she reminded me of one of the nuns back at St Patrick’s.
“Sophie, Virginia will be here any minute to get you.”
Glancing up, I
gave her a questioning look. “Her nanny. Malcolm insisted Sophie only go to after-school care three days a week. Monday’s and Friday’s Virginia comes. She’s running late today.”
With my hands on my hips, I flashed Sophie a huge smile. “Well, if it’s okay with Clarisse, I’d love to hang out until Virginia gets here.”
Sophie jumped off her bike and ran to the older woman where she dropped to her knees and begged.
Clarisse shook her head and said, “Fine. You be a good girl for Ms. Paislie, you hear?”
“Yes ma’am!” Promptly turning, she got back on her bike and started peddling while Clarisse got in the little golf cart she had been riding in while following Sophie, and headed back to the house.
“Do you like it here?” Sophie asked.
I shrugged. “Well, I haven’t gotten a chance to really look around yet. I did hear there are horses here though!” I said with excitement in my voice.
“And ponies! Uncle Malcolm bought me one for my birthday last year and then said it was lonely so he bought another one. I didn’t really get to visit them much when we lived with Daddy, but now that Mommy and me live here all the time I can see them anytime I want!”