Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22648 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22648 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
"I think so." I nod.
"All right then." He stands. "First we’ll go to your place and get your phone and computer."
"Okay," I say, realizing he’s ready to move on this quickly.
"You can pack a bag too." Spencer starts cleaning up our food containers, and it takes a second for his words to sink in.
“Pack a bag?”
“You said you’d trust me.”
“What does that have to do with packing a bag?”
“You’re going to stay with me,” he says as he straightens to his full height. "I promise we’ll both sleep better if you’re with me."
“Well, okay then.” I should be freaking out about staying with him, but right now, all I can think about is the disaster I left at my apartment.
When Spencer gets a peek at my place, I'm sure he's going to change his mind about me staying with him. In my defense, when I take the time to organize it, I can’t find anything. Chaos is my normal.
Chapter Four
SPENCER
Abbie’s apartment building is in a not-so-great part of town, but she tells me it’s what she can afford and she’s got good neighbors. On the way here, she told me more about the work she was doing prior to signing the noncompete with Geoff. It’s the most animated I’ve seen her as she describes her art and what she loves about creating characters for comics.
When we get to the top of the stairs on the fourth floor, she stops and faces me. Her expression has gone from playful to serious, and maybe even afraid.
“I need to warn you, I wasn’t expecting company when I left here today.” She bites her bottom lip, and I realize she’s nervous.
“I lived with two guys in college that didn’t know what a laundry basket was. You’re good.” I try to ease her fears, but she doesn’t seem to shake it off as she unlocks her door.
When we step inside, she keeps her eyes on me as if waiting for my reaction. I glance around the small space and see piles of notebooks and drawings on a coffee table. There’s a sewing machine on a little table next to the kitchen, but she would have a hard time using it as a dining table because it’s covered in fabric. In the distance I can see a bedroom where the sheets are pushed back like she got up and didn’t make the bed, and there’s a few pieces of clothes draped over the side.
“Well, it’s official.” I let out a long sigh before turning to face her.
“What?” Her eyes go wide, bracing for the blow.
“We’re going to have to call someone who specializes in hoarders to clean this place up. There’s no way around it.”
Abbie rolls her eyes, but I see a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. It’s so fucking cute. “Ha. Ha. Ha.”
“I’m not sure how we’re going to make it through this without professionals.” I shake my head solemnly as she walks past me, fully grinning now.
“Listen, I know I’m messy, but there’s a method to the madness.”
“Spoken like a true hoarder. You know, admitting the problem is the first step.” I’m smiling back at her as she goes over to a pile of stuff on the coffee table. She picks up a notebook, and directly under it is her laptop.
“See?” She holds it out to me in triumph, and I take it from her.
“Abbie, come on. This is nothing.” Her cheeks flush a little, and I’m noticing that happens when I say her name. Interesting. “You made it sound like I was walking into a frat house after rush week.”
I send Taylor a quick text telling him I’ve got her laptop and to meet me here to get it before I take Abbie to my place. Once I’ve done that, I put my phone away and give her my full attention.
“It’s not that I think it’s that bad, it’s just that people have said it to me. A lot.” She shrugs like it’s not a big deal, but clearly it is. She was afraid to let me see this, so someone has made her feel like shit about it.
“People, or a person?” Why do I get the feeling this Geoff guy was doing everything he could to take her down emotionally and financially?
“Umm, more recently? Yeah, I guess just one person.”
“That’s what I thought.” I put the laptop by the front door and go over to where she’s standing. My heart aches for how broken her spirit is, and before I know what I’m doing, I’m taking her hand in mine. “He was intentionally breaking your spirit so you would come to him for everything. Money, praise, support. All of it. It’s not your fault, and you didn’t do anything wrong. You might think you’re messy, but from what I see, your home is yours. It’s lived in, but it’s clean, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”