Chapter Four
I stared at the screen in frustration. Why couldn’t I stop thinking about him? What was up with me today? It was nearly two and I had written and rewritten pretty much what amounted to one sentence. I took a break for lunch and more coffee and then still, nothing. I kept picturing Finn. Hot, sexy Finn. Then the guilt would set in and remind me that hot, sexy Finn wasn’t in the cards for me. What was his deal? Why was he pursuing me? I was so not all that and a slice of any damn thing.
I slammed my laptop lid closed and blew out a puff of hot air. I so did not need this distraction today. There was no way I would be able to renew my publishing deal with the crap I had been handing in lately. I needed to focus on one thing and that wasn’t going to be me dating anyone.
My phone hopped around on the table and I pounced on it, never one to ignore a good chance at procrastinating.
“George. I need you to come to the mall with me.” Sam was always so good at remembering basic manners.
“Sam, I cannot go to the mall with you. I am so far behind on my deadline. You know I hate the mall on a good day and this isn’t even remotely close to a good day. Not gonna happen.”
“Pleeeeease George. My stylist can’t come with me and I need a new outfit for a red carpet event tomorrow night. You have to come with me. You never come out anymore. Just this once, please?”
“Ah, famous last words.” My voice took on the characteristics of a whiny teenager. “Just this once George. I promise I won’t need you to run up and down Rodeo screaming like a lunatic any more than once. I just need to get a feel for what that would look like from the outside for my latest audition.” I could hear her snickering in the background. “It’s not funny. Do you know how hard it is to convince someone you’re not insane?”
Evil cackling came across the phone and I was tempted to just hang up, but that wouldn’t stop her. She would just keep calling until I answered. “George, please. I swear it’s just this once. You might find you even like it. You need to get out of that house once in a while. You’re developing agoraphobic traits for goodness sake.”
I knew her. She wouldn’t give up. It wasn’t in her genetic makeup. Next she would just drive over and find my spare key and let herself in and drive me bat shit crazy until I agreed to go with her. Better to give in and let her think she won. That way the day will progress as it should much quicker. “Fine, I’ll go. But in and out Sam. I can’t spare much time.”
“Be ready in five. I’m nearly there.”
How did I know she was already on her way?
She got to my house and we switched cars as being who she was, I wasn’t interested in a game of chase off the paparazzi while Sam was at the wheel. Never any fun for the passenger and oh so nausea inducing. I had decided while driving that I would consider buying some clothes while we were there in the outside chance that I did end up on a date with Finn. When we arrived, I made the mistake of letting Sam know I needed to look for something to wear. But I wasn’t going to elaborate. If she knew I was considering this date, she would handcuff me to her, ‘cause she never went anywhere without her handcuffs, true story, and then shop for me and drive me right to his front door.
I was still so far from agreeing to this date that I didn’t need her voice of no reason to sway me either way. All I told her was that I needed to look for clothes. That enough aroused her suspicion. I hated the mall. I hated leaving my house. She stopped walking and grabbed my hands, singlehandedly taking out three elderly people on their afternoon walk around the mall exercise plan. All she had to do was stare me down and I starting talking.
“What are you looking at? Do I have something on my face? What? Fine. I might have a function to go to and nothing to wear that is appropriate.”
“A function? Who says that? What kind of function?”
“Well, it’s casual but classy, but not too classy. And it’s tonight and kind of came up last minute so will you help me? But it needs to be quick and painless? And after all of this, I might not even be going, so don’t go to too much trouble.”
Sam’s eyes lit up and her megawatt smile went high-powered. “Oh, it’s my dream come true. I can give you a makeover! This is gonna be amazing!”
“No, no makeover. Me, with better clothes. That’s it. Please?”
She looked at me with those eyes. Those eyes that people paid a whole lotta money to see on the big screen. “I don’t know what it is, but something is up. I will find you out George Windsor. You can count on it.”
“So,” she says. “What are you looking for?”
“I don’t know. Like, pants and a shirt?”
“1989 called and they want their descriptive words back. The pants and shirt train has left the station.” She rolled her eyes at me. “Where is the event?”
“I don’t know.”
“What? You don’t know? Come on, what’s really up?”
“I was asked out on a date. But I can’t go. I just can’t do it.” Oh no. My lip was quivering. Humiliation was the next stop on the crazy train I couldn’t get off.
“A DATE!” She screamed this so loud multiple people turned to stare.
“Shush, would you? People are staring.”
“A Date! That you set up, on your own?”
“Not exactly.”
“Not exactly what? What does that mean?”
“Doesn’t matter what it means. Will you help me or not?”
“Georgina Marie Windsor. I cannot believe you are just now telling me this. You are in so much shit. I need to text Frankie, like right now.” She pulled out her phone and started texting while we walked and talked like the multitasking pro she was.
“This is huge, George. Like, really huge.” She stopped walking and pulled me aside of the mall traffic. “Don’t you dare even think about saying no. I don’t know who the guy is, but he made enough of an impression to get you this far, don’t let your fear stop you from having some fun. Take it one day at a time, hon. It’s time to think about what comes next.” With those parting words of wisdom, she propelled me forward deeper into her mecca and carried on as if this was the most normal thing in the world for me.
“So, what’s wrong with him? Stalker?”
“No.”
“Ugly?”
“Not in the least.”
“Hm, we’ll come back to that one. Talks too much? About himself? His dog? His mother?”
“No.”
“I know, he’s a criminal. That must be it. ‘Cause you must have a pretty damn good reason to be dragging your feet. How long have you been agonizing over this?”
“Most of the day. I couldn’t think about anything else actually. And that’s why we are here. At the risk of lightening striking me down, I guess I might be here, shopping with you because a part of me wants to go out with him.”
“Then, what’s the problem?”
“Well, that’s the problem. I made a promise to myself when Connor died, not to get involved again. I need to honour his memory and honour my promise to myself. Besides, something must clearly be wrong with this guy. He asked me out. He’s kind of out of my league. I’m not sure I want to waste mine and his time getting through this date tonight.”
“That’s crazy. You can’t spend your life paying for the accident. You just can’t. You know he wouldn’t want you to.”
I pushed past her. I did not want to have this conversation right now. “Not gonna cry in public, Sam. Let’s keep moving.”
“Fine. We’re here. Let’s pretend you’re going on the date and need the most amazing outfit that says, I have the most amazing outfit, body and brains, you totally want me but I’m not giving all this to you just yet.” And with that, she grabbed my hand, and directed me around her homeland...the mall.