Life is just one big science experiment to them.
The disapproving look on my mother’s face deepens her crow’s-feet, and I have another concrete reason to strive to be her opposite. Wrinkles from being a judgmental cow require Botox, and I’m terrified of botulism.
“Thanks for the tip, Mom. I’ll get right on that.”
Chapter 19
Banner
Itold myself I wouldn’t lay this on her doorstep because it’s not her problem, but my first call is to Greer.
She gets straight to the point when she answers. “What did your parents say?”
“About what you’d expect. They’re not going to help. Such a shocker, and not in a good way like when a guy decides to surprise you with a finger in your ass.”
Greer chokes out a laugh, but cuts it off just as quickly. “Crash at my place. It’s fine.”
I shake my head, even though she can’t see it. “I can’t. Don’t freak out, but I actually put together a rough budget on the Uber ride to my folks’, and I need to cut all my expenses to the bone if I want to buy myself some time. I think I have to leave Manhattan.”
A few moments of silence stretches between us before she replies. “I know you told me it didn’t end well, but ... I have an idea.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Logan.”
“What?” Shock forces the word out at about twenty decibels louder.
“Jesus, no need to yell. Just hear me out. Do you want to see him again?”
I could kick myself for how fast the wordyespops out of my mouth.
“I think I might have a solution for you. I started thinking about it earlier, but I wasn’t sure you’d go for it. Now, though, if you’re thinking you need to leave the city anyway, it could be kind of perfect.”
“What are you talking about?” I’m not following her.
“I’d have to talk to my brother first, but Holly still has her gran’s house in Kentucky, and from what I could tell, it’s a pretty inexpensive area. She doesn’t need to be worrying about it with the baby, so if you don’t have an issue seeing Logan again ... I was thinking you could work out a deal to housesit for Holly to make sure the place stays in good shape.”
The wheels start turning in my brain immediately.
Kentucky?
BFE?
Logan?
A cheap place to live. A break from the rat race.
A fresh start.
I can work from anywhere as long as I’m only going to be working for myself. All my communications are online, and as long as the factory can ship to me ... this might actually work.
“Are you for real? You think they’d let me? I’d pay rent, though. I don’t want anything for free.”
Even if the rent is a quarter of what I’m paying in New York, I can swing it.
“Let me make a call and I’ll get back to you. But if I know both of them, I’d say it’s time to start packing your stuff.”
“I have to do that anyway, so I might as well get on it.”