Stay With Me by Sharla Lovelace Read Free Book Online Page B

that’s real interest, Savi.”

    I looked up from my laptop, where I was posting items on eBay. Something my dad still hadn’t fully embraced. He was still totally old-school in his methods. Sales were in person, on the floor, on the street, on-site. He’d say something was “on the Internet” like there was just some button bringing you to one big computerized chalkboard that everyone just went to scribble on.

    “Why?” I said. “Why do you say that?”

    “Because he’s putting his privacy on the chopping block,” she said. “Giving you his address right out of the gate, before he even really knows you—that’s an intimate move.” Lily snagged a peppermint from a dish on my desk and unwrapped it as she sat cross-legged on the small futon couch I’d hoarded for my office. “You could be a serial killer for all he knows.”

    I smirked. “He has met me a few times, you know,” I said. “I’m in there all the time.”

    “Exactly,” she said, popping the candy into her mouth. “He knows you’re either obsessive-compulsive about your dog or in serious need of a life, and still hands out his home address without a second thought.”

    “Ha ha,” I said. “Remember when you wanted to grow up and be a therapist, and then changed your mind? Good decision.”

    “I’m just saying,” she said, holding her palms up to me. “He must really like you.”

    I grabbed my water bottle and slugged a third of it down. It was my fourth bottle in the last hour and a half, as every time I thought of the evening ahead of me or what was across the street from me, my mouth turned into a sand bar.

    “I kind of wish we were going out,” I said.

    “Why?”

    “Because of that whole intimate thing you just said,” I said, gesturing at the air. “Puts all the balls in my court on when to leave.”

    Lily grinned. “No pun intended?”

    I felt flushed. “Yeah, exactly.”

    “Look at you,” she said, pointing. “I’ve never seen you so nervous about a man.”

    Yes, she had. We were just dancing around that particular elephant.

    “I just—I don’t know,” I said. “I’m so not in control around Duncan. That’s—”

    “Not normal for you,” Lily finished.

    “Exactly!” I said, slapping my palms on the desk. “I’m terrified that if he kisses me, I might start flailing like a seal or hump his leg or something.”

    Lily laughed, bringing me with her. It was nice—and kind of rare—these silly sister moments. Most of the time, Lily held back a little with me, almost motherly at times. Like indulging in anything reckless would just encourage me to revert back to my old ways.

    And on that thought, I remembered why she was really pushing Duncan. Would she be so invested if a certain bad influence hadn’t arrived back in the picture? Not that Ian was in any picture. He was just a major distraction, like a buzzing fly. A sexy one, with really hot wings.

    “There’s my pretty little ducklings,” Dad said, his voice booming from the doorway. “Love seeing you two giggle like old times.”

    Lily smiled and got to her feet to hug him. “Those old times are getting more ancient by the day,” she said, sounding weary.

    “Now, don’t be talking like an old woman, Lily-bug,” he said. “If you go getting old, my bones’ll just turn to dust where we stand.”

    She stretched and rolled her neck, and I saw that certain something I’d seen the day before but was too worked up over Duncan to question it.

    “I’m just tired, Dad,” she said, a small smile flitting across her pretty features.

    “I know you are,” he said, sinking into the spot Lily had vacated. “You work too hard. Too long. I told you that the other day, you need a balance.”

    “Well, when Leonard comes back, it’ll get better,” I said.

    Lily averted her eyes, and before I could think too much on that, Dad rendered me stupid.

    “There’s a lady from that Antique Nation place who’s coming by day after