Page 12 of Do It Yourself
“Meet me at my workshop tomorrow morning, 7:00 AM.”
She’s mad—understandable—but I had honestly expected more of a fight. I’m so surprised, all I can do is offer a quick nod before she turns and leaves me standing somewhat stupified, like always when I’m around Mabel. Even more so now that I know what she feels like pressed against me..
It’s 7:15 and Mabel is nowhere to be found.
I’m leaning against a wall of her workshop, my arms crossed and my pulse racing. I know it’s not unusual for her to run late but that doesn’t settle my nerves.
Where is she?
Is she okay?
My leg shakes with anxiety.
Should I call her?
I check my watch, 7:17 now.
I curse and pull out my phone, preparing to call Lola or Elle or someone who can help her.
Is she hurt?
Scratching my jaw, I take in a deep breath, a failed attempt to calm down.
My phone buzzes with a text message and it scares the ever-loving shit out of me. I almost drop the damn thing.
Mabel W
I don’t know where you are but I can’t wait any longer. I’m going to be late.
What the hell?
Me
What do you mean you can’t wait? I’m at the workshop like you told me to be. 7 AM
Mabel W
I have to leave at 7. Not get started at 7. Have you never been to a market before?
My jaw creaks with how hard I’m grinding it.
This woman. She knows I’ve never worked in a market before. I’ve done everything but work the freaking markets
I should have known she gave in too easily yesterday.
Should have known she would have something up her sleeve.
Dammit.
I really didn’t want to do this but Mabel was leaving me no choice.
I swipe out of the messages without replying and pull up Lola’s contact information, hitting the call button with a little more force than necessary. Each ring is like a knife in my ear, I can feel the start of a tension headache and I’m tempted to say ‘fuck it’ and find some other job that needs my attention for the day.
Lola finally answers on the fourth ring,
“Hey Jude. How goes it?”
I grind my jaw again, sure that I was going to crack a tooth here soon, working up the nerve to force the words out.
