Sitting on my heels, I swipe beads of sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand. “I wouldn’t have thought he cared since the front looks so…” I make a face. “Boring.”
Yasmin waves a hand in the air. “That’s for show. When he first moved here a few paparazzi tried getting photos. He didn’t want to give them anything to talk about.”
“Does that happen here a lot?”
“Oh no.” She walks over and squats down next to some of the yellow pansies I planted. “In fact, this area is typically secure. Of course, some people can be bought off, but it’s rare. Most people live here for the privacy so few will sell anyone out. But, you know how people are about money these days…”
Her words are soft, the statement not directed at anyone specific, but that doesn’t change how I react to it. I make a face as I stare at my dirt-covered gloves. “Yeah, money has a way of influencing people…”
A sharp inhale comes from her. “Oh, Rylee, I didn’t mean you! I’ve met some interesting people in my day, and you’re one of the genuine ones despite your past.”
My eyes fly over to hers. “You know?”
It’s the sympathetic look that goes right to her mocha-colored eyes that makes me flop on to my bottom and heave out a sigh. “I’m friends with Garrick’s mother Elaine. He confides in me like an aunt sometimes. Plus, he and Chase hardly talk quietly and Elaine’s youngest has always had a lot to say.”
I cringe. “I bet.”
Reaching over, she pats my arm. “It’s nothing getting to know you can’t fix. I’m team Rylee. You’ve brought something into this house that’s been missing since Garrick moved in.”
What on earth could I bring here? “I don’t think there’s anything I can provide that he doesn’t already have. I’ve looked around the place and swear I find something new every time I wander.”
Yasmin laughs goodheartedly. “Life. That’s what you bring. Not that I’ll ever admit it, but I worry about that boy sometimes. Me and his mother both.”
“Garrick?”
Something somber crosses her features as she nods, standing up again and brushing off her dress. “He’s always so hesitant, so serious. It’s rare he makes spontaneous decisions, yet here you are. And I’m glad for it.”
It’s a moment before I ask, “Why?”
She seems to know what I mean. “He cares deeply about everyone and everything, so much so that he forgets to look after himself. If he meets someone who makes him rethink everything, who makes him happy, then I hope whoever she is sees what a lucky person she is to have him and he the same.”
My tongue swells as I try to swallow.
Yasmin walks back over to where she left the broom and picks it up. “You should plant violet pansies too. I think he’d love those.”
“Really?”
“Violet is his favorite color.”
I don’t say anything before she disappears back into the house, closing the door behind her as she goes.
It’s a cop out when I wait until the clock strikes one before I open my laptop and click on my best friend’s username. I nibble on my thumbnail as I click on her profile picture, an Avatar from her favorite anime series that her and her husband love watching together.
CannonIsMine95:
I need some advice.
I know it’ll be a few minutes to get a response, so I uncurl my feet and slide off the bed to look out the window of my room. The view is of the beautiful houses on the hills. Garrick’s house sits on a slightly elevated piece of land, which means there’s a wider view of the landscape around us, including a gorgeous sunrise in the morning that I discovered early on when I couldn’t sleep and would sneak out to the balcony to watch with a blanket wrapped around me wishing I had some of my mother’s famous hot chocolate she always made when the weather started cooling down.
I’m absently studying the other elegant houses neighboring this one when I hear the telltale ping of an incoming message.
Walking over, I graze the screen with my eyes and let out a tiny sigh knowing this conversation probably won’t end well for me.
IceQween:
Bring it on
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I rub the sweaty heels of my palms against my sweatpants and roll my shoulders back before typing.
CannonIsMine95:
Hypothetically speaking, what would you do if you were offered a chance at a better life, even if it’s temporary?
I know Moffie is at the school she teaches at right now trying to control her classroom. This time of day is when they usually go over whatever book of the week they were assigned to read with their families so they can come in and talk about it. My best friend has always been a huge nerd and loved talking literature with my parents since none of them could have a lasting conversation on the topic with me.
IceQween:
It depends on the hypothetical terms. What do I have to do for this life? What’s the cost? If it’s temporary, will I still have a better life than I did before getting that chance? Or would it be the same one I’m going back to when it’s over?
It shouldn’t surprise me that she’d have all those questions. She never makes a choice without thinking of every avenue something could take her down. It’s why I’ve always consulted with her before I’ve made up my mind about something important.
IceQween:
What’s going on, Ry?
Of course she’d know this isn’t a hypothetic situation we’re talking about. Then again, I’ve always started conversations like this when I needed her thoughts. Like the time I asked her if, hypothetically, it’d be a bad idea to lose my virginity to Tony Walker on prom night our senior year of high school. She’d come back with a firm “it’s a bad idea for you to lose your virginity to
