Dustin walks with me up to Jera’s doorstep. I set Squint down and he runs off to sniff the rocks by the side of the house. I glance around, but I see no sign of Luke. Still, I have no idea if Jera gave him her gate and door codes. He could be inside the house waiting for me.
“Do you mind checking out the house for me?” I ask tentatively.
Dustin stares at me. “You think Luke might be inside? Did you give him your security codes?”
“I don’t know.” It comes out before I realize how stupid that sounds.
Dustin makes a face. “You don’t know? What does that mean?”
I scramble to think of something rational. “He could have looked when I typed in my code. I don’t know if he can get inside or not.”
He nods. “Ah, I get it. I don’t mind looking around for you.”
I punch in the code and let Dustin in. “Wait here,” he says. He disappears into the house.
I watch Squint do his business and then pick him up again, holding him tight to me. Dustin comes back after a few minutes. “He’s not here.”
Relief floods over me. “Thank you for checking.”
“You really should change your codes.”
I nod, even though I don’t know how to change the codes. Maybe Jera will help me do that. “I’ll look up how to do that in the morning.”
Dustin doesn’t like my answer. “Why don’t we do that now?”
“It’s one in the morning.”
He pulls out his phone. “These locks aren’t hard to change. Let me just Google it.”
He’s right. It only takes a few minutes to figure out how to program the lock for a new code. I type in my old ATM PIN number, resolving to change it back to Jera’s code in a couple of days so she never knows.
Dustin steps back. “Okay. I feel better now. At least he can’t get inside.”
“Yes. It’s unlikely he would bust the door down.”
Dustin flinches. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay the night? I could sleep on the couch.”
Even though Jera has an alarm system, it would be better with Dustin around. “Yeah, I’d actually like that. And you don’t have to sleep on the couch. There’s a spare bedroom.”
Dustin comes inside with me. “I just want you to be safe.”
My face warms. “Do you need anything? I think I can find a toothbrush for you.”
“That would be great.”
I get Dustin set up in Jera’s spare bedroom. By the time I make it to bed I’m exhausted, but I’m very glad Dustin is spending the night just in case. I feel safe with him here.
The next morning I find Dustin in the kitchen cooking breakfast. “Hey,” he says when I enter. “How do you like your eggs?”
“Scrambled.” My heart melts. “You didn’t have to make me breakfast.”
“It’s no problem.” He cracks an egg on a bowl. “I know you have to record a class today, but you weren’t up yet, so I decided to make you something to eat.”
“That’s really sweet.”
He whips the eggs in the bowl with a whisk. “You know, I wanted to tell you I had a wonderful time with you last night.”
I stare at him with wide eyes. “How can that be? I ruined your night at the gala.”
He shakes his head. “No, you didn’t. I got to dance with the most beautiful woman there. And afterward, I enjoyed talking with you. I think it’s the most real you’ve ever been with me.”
I blush at his compliment, and then I realize what he said. How he liked that I was real with him. My insides churn as I break eye contact. I’m not being real. I’m pretending to be someone I’m not. I force myself to smile at him. “I enjoyed our time as well.”
We eat breakfast together, then Dustin goes home to shower, and I go into the library room. I spend the rest of the morning filming my class on light and shadow. I love the new paints Jera bought me, and I take some time to play with them. The watercolor paper is a higher quality than I normally buy. It’s taking the paint so well I lose track of time and am late for lunch with Dustin.
I scoop up Squint and rush next door. As I ring the bell at the gate, Dustin comes on the screen. “I wasn’t sure you were coming.”
“Sorry. Got distracted by my new paints.” I pet little Squint and he barks.
Dustin laughs. “Come in.” He buzzes me through.
As he lets me into the foyer, his phone rings. He looks at the screen and frowns. “I have to take this. Sorry.”
“No problem.” I walk into his kitchen to give him some privacy. Squint follows me and sits down by the patio door. I open the fridge and pull out the salad that Dustin had obviously made for our lunch. It’s a fancy salad, with shaved almonds and feta cheese. It looks delicious, and I get out two salad bowls for us.
Dustin walks into the kitchen, a strange look on his face. “That was my attorney.”
I glance at him. “Oh?”
“She said your attorney is asking me to pay for a land survey.” He stares at me.
My throat goes dry. I forgot about the fence war again. I could just kick myself. “Oh. Right,” I say, placing the salad forks on the table. I don’t look at him. The moment turns awkward.
“I don’t understand,” he finally says. “Why didn’t you just ask me? Why send a message through your attorney?”
My brain stutters as I try to come up with something to say. I need some reason we can’t come to some kind of arrangement. It’s becoming weird the more I spend time with him and get to know him that we’re not just hashing this out. I can’t think of anything smart to say. “You know how lawyers are. I thought we weren’t going to talk about the fence.”
He exhales and runs his hand through his hair. “I know I said that. It’s just…I feel a little blindsided, Jera. It’s like I’m dealing with two different people.”
I clamp my lips together as all the blood drains from my face. I’m sure I’m as white as a snowman. The table settings become very interesting to me. “I don’t know what to say.”
Dustin comes up to me. “Look, I don’t mind paying for another survey, but I think we’ve already established that the fence is on your property. I’m not arguing that. It’s just going to take a lot of money to tear the whole fence down and rebuild. And for what? One inch?”
It totally sounds like Jera is being unreasonable, but I don’t know why, and I can’t make decisions for her. I can’t even explain anything to Dustin because I have no clue what Jera’s thinking. “I’m sorry, we shouldn’t talk about this.”
Dustin sets his phone down on the table. He studies me, and I avoid his gaze. Finally, he says, “Are you upset with me? Did I do something to offend you?”
I take a step toward him, putting my hand on his. “No. Please, don’t take it that way.”
He shakes his head and stares at me with those brilliant blue eyes. “I just don’t understand.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
He pulls back from me. “All right. As long as you’re not mad or anything.”
“I’m not.” I grab the salad and dish it out into our bowls. “Let’s change the subject.”
“Okay.” Dustin sits down and picks up his fork.
I stare at the table, trying to think of something to say. “Do you like being an actor?”
He raises his eyebrows. “Do I what?”
“You know, do you like what you do for a living? If you had a chance, would you do something else?”
“No one has ever asked me that before.” He stabs at his salad.
I wait for him to answer the question. When he doesn’t, I prod him. “Well?”
“I don’t know. I mean, it was sort of just expected of me to take this path.” He shrugs. “I guess I like it. Everyone says I’m good at it. I’ve never thought about doing anything else.” His gaze connects with mine. “What about you? Do you like acting?”
Jera was born to be an actress. She was made for the limelight, the cameras, and all the glitz. I slowly nod, knowing I have to answer as her. “Yes. I love it.”
Dustin cocks his head to the side. “There’s something you’re not saying, though. I can see it.”
Yeah, well, that’s because I suck at lying. But I can’t tell him that. I shift a bit in my chair. Best to be vague. “I mean, the acting part is great. There are other aspects that aren’t so great.”
He gives me an understanding look. “I get that.”
I eat my salad, amazed that Dustin can make even salad taste fantastic. I just need to hold out for a little while longer, until my phone works. Then, I can talk to Jera and everything will be fine.
We finish our lunches and clean up. Then Dustin turns to me. “All right, let’s go power up your phone and see if it works.”
I cross my fingers and my toes and hold my breath as he slips it from the Ziploc baggie.
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