“Oh, I already did that,” Christina said. “Last Tuesday.”
I eyed her. “What? Why would you do that before we knew for sure we had this house?”
“What would go wrong?” she asked. Then she asked Ji-Ho, “Hey, what’s it like to be an assistant for someone famous? Do you love your job or do you hate it?”
Like he was going to be honest. “Chrissy, you can’t ask him that.”
“I like my job,” he said. “Mr. Beckett is easy to work for, because I get the way his mind works, and he’s generous.”
“Are you single?” Christina asked. “And at least twenty-one? I can’t date a man who can’t buy me a martini.”
Oh, God. I quickly told Ji-Ho, “Don’t answer that. It’s an insult.”
“What? How is that an insult?” she asked.
“You have terrible taste in men.”
“I’m trying to change.” She smiled at Ji-Ho. “It’s a compliment. You’re not my type, at all, which means you’re probably awesome. I’m trying reverse psychology.”
I could only describe his expression as terrified. “I…” He seemed at a total loss as to what to say.
“Ignore her,” I said. “She’s kidding.”
“I’m actually not,” she said. “You’re very cute. You could be in a K-pop band.”
“I’ll just be in the car,” Ji-Ho said.
Smart move on his part.
“Wait!” Chrissy said. “Before you go, can I ask you a favor?”
This should be good.
“Of course.”
“Hold Kadin,” she said, thrusting her son at Ji-Ho. “I don’t want to put him down because he’ll take off running.”
“I…” Ji-Ho sputtered. But his instincts had him automatically taking Kadin and holding him.
I was shocked Kadin didn’t kick and fuss. He wasn’t a toddler who enjoyed being passed around.
Christina said, “Thanks. I need to just do this.” Then without warning she did a cartwheel across the empty living room. At the end of it, she jumped up and down and did cheerleader-like moves, yelling, “We live here, we live here!”
Kadin started laughing. Those big belly laughs that kids do that make you laugh too.
“Your mama is crazy, isn’t she?” I told him, highly amused.
“I’m crazy happy!” Christina said, fist-pumping and running in circles.
Kadin laughed harder.
Even Ji-Ho laughed.
Christina did a high kick that had her shirt riding up, exposing her stomach and a touch of underboob. She pushed her hair back and reached out for her son. “Thanks,” she said. “I just had to get that out of my system.”
Uh-oh.
Ji-Ho had a look as he passed Kadin back to her. That was appreciation.
“You’re welcome. I’ll wait outside.” He took two steps and then he turned, adjusting his tie. “Oh, and I’m twenty-five and single.”
Christina grinned. “Damn. Okay, then.” She put her hand to her face to mimic talking on the phone. “Call me.”
He hesitated again, but then just left without another word.
After he closed the front door behind him, I told Christina, “You could at least try to be subtle.”
“Subtle isn’t going to get me a date.” She walked toward the kitchen. “Flashing my boobs was an accident, though, for the record.”
“You could wear a bra.” She never did when she wasn’t at work. Not that I cared. But it did run its risks.
“Meh. I value my freedom. Besides, I could chair the Itty Bitty Titty Committee. It’s not a big deal.” She turned on the water in the sink, opened the fridge. “This is crazy that this is your house. Are you freaking out or what?”
I was pretty sure all my freaking out was out of my system, but it wasn’t a guarantee. “This is crazy, isn’t it? But I have a plan,” I told her. “This is a golden opportunity I will never get ever again. It’s like winning the lottery. I have to capitalize on it.”
“What do you mean? I think having a house that’s paid for is basically winning.”
“It is. But it doesn’t give me a career. I want to work my way up to manager at the coffee shop, see how everything is run, then buy my own franchise in three years with equity from this house.” The idea had been on my mind nonstop, and I had turned and turned it around looking for flaws. But I didn’t really see any. “I don’t want to go to college at this point. I’d rather move into owning my own business.”
“Wow, that’s impressive,” she said. “If anyone can do it, it’s you. I’m just grateful that you’re only charging me a hundred bucks in rent. I’m going to be able to save so much money and spend more time with Kadin. After I catch my breath, maybe I can plan my own future a little better.”
“We can both catch our breath.” I looked at her and grinned. “Okay, now it’s my turn.”
I did my own cartwheel on the living room carpet, though I didn’t have Christina’s skill. I barely got my legs up and I fell down at the end, laughing. Kadin jumped on my belly. “Ow, buddy,” I said.
He just laughed like crushing me was the greatest game ever. I lay there and pulled my phone out. “I need to call Mama and tell her this house is amazing.”
It was. It was safety and friendship and family and the future.
It was the greatest gift I’d ever been given.
For a second I got distracted by the memory of James touching me everywhere, then giving me an orgasm with his tongue...
My phone started ringing, jerking me out of my sexy daydream.
Speaking of James. It was him. “How is the house? If you hate it, we can just resell it and find another one.”
He sounded genuinely curious. Casual about just chucking it if I didn’t like it.
“What would I change about a house I didn’t pay for?” I said, dryly. “It’s great, seriously. As soon as I move in, I’ll cook you dinner here and it won’t even be toasted cheese. It will be a steak or something.”
“That sounds kind of scary, actually. Do you know how to cook?” he asked.
“No,” I said, cheerfully. I sat up and pulled Kadin more comfortably into my lap. “But saying I’ll clean for you is decidedly less girlfriend-like and much more maid-like.”
“I don’t want you cleaning for me. Are you ready for Nashville?”
“I am. I’m excited.”
“You need to scale down your bag before we fly. I don’t think Mississippi will get through security and I’m not feeling like a body cavity search this week.” James’ voice was stern, like he expected me to argue.
I rolled my eyes even though he couldn’t see me. “I know. I have a wrench in my bag and duct tape. I don’t think TSA would appreciate that.”
“I got you a smaller bag. Choose wisely what goes inside it.”
I should have known. “I have smaller purses. You did not need to buy me one. You can return whatever you got.”
“Just keep it. Do you have a suitcase?”
“Yes, I have a suitcase.” I actually laughed. “I promise, I’m not going to show up with a stick and a sack made from a hanky attached to it. I save that for when I jump on trains.” I bounced Kadin and he made sounds like he was going over seriously rough terrain. “Do not buy me expensive luggage. That stuff probably gets stolen a thousand times more often than a black bag from Kohls does. I can’t show up at Cash’s ranch with no suitcase and be an outfit repeater.”