Page 54 of Do It Yourself
Our time together is quickly coming to an end. My allotted time to shadow Mabel and her side of the business is almost over and I need to meet with Lola to give my final report.
Truthfully, I didn’t see anything that really needed to be changed.
Outside of the fact Mabel was currently doing it all by herself. I could recommend we hire another person or two to help with the workload and possibly expand the number of markets we go to every week, but that would be up to Lola and Mabel to decide. The Farm did well for itself, Warren Honey was in stores not just in Utah but most of the West Coast. No one in the Warren family was hurting for money but I knew Lola wanted to give back to the community more and always make sure employees were paid above a fair wage. Increasing the different markets we’d be able to visit any given week could only help. It’d get us out into the community more like Lola wanted, we’d be more accessible. I had a list to provide Lola why I thought it was a good idea but it wasn’t my place to make those types of decisions.
I may be Lola’s right-hand man but the Warrens had final say in any and all changes.
“I could go with you.”
Wait, huh?
I’d been spiraling in my thoughts and completely forgotten that my family was not only demanding my attendance but also, now, were expecting me to bring Mabel.
“You don’t have to do that.” I hedge, I’d never want to let Leeson even a whisper of opportunity to darken Mabel. And he would.
He was the fucking worst.
“No, I can. I want to.”
“Why would you want that?” I can’t keep the disbelief out of my voice. I thank every star in the sky anytime Mabel is willing to spend time with me and I don’t want to risk whatever it is that we have by introducing her to the poison of my parents. Not when her own parents are the complete opposite, perfect.
Just like Mabel.
Even though Mr. Warren has been dead for a handful of years, I’d rather spend an evening with him than at a party with the Jensen’s.
Mabel shrugs her shoulders. “If it would make being there easier for you…” I’m so honed in on her face as she speaks, when the blush starts to spread across her cheeks, I’m momentarily speechless, transfixed with how beautiful she always is. “I’d like to help make something like that as painless as possible for you. You know, to thank you for how you helped me at the cabin. I believe in friends helping friends when they can.”
Her admission shouldn’t hurt, right?
Is that all this has been to her?
A way to ‘pay me back’ for taking care of her when she was vulnerable? The idea twists my stomach into something acidic. I never considered she’d think of what was between us like that. I don’t want that at all. The idea that this has all been transactional for her makes me sick.
“Jude?” Her voice barely registers, my blood is pumping with this revelation. None of this was real for her. It was just a way to clear her conscience.I’m going to be sick.I need to get out of here. I can’t be here.
“Uh, yeah. Sure. I’ll get you the information when I have it.”
I do my best to walk past her without giving away what’s going on in my head. I’m so fucking stupid to think this was anything but a repayment. She reaches for me and it’s like she pulled a knife on me, I jump back with my hands in the air.
“I have to get going.”
“Jude, wait. What’s wrong?”
I can’t answer that.
Can’t let her know how fucking dumb I was to think this was anything more than what it is.
Can’t let her know that I thought we could actually make this work in the long run.
Can’t let her know that this attraction has turned into so much more for me.
Can’t let her know I was falling in love with her.
Chapter Forty-Five
MABEL
“Have you seen Jude?” I’m out of breath, sweaty and so worried. Now that I’m stopped, I take the opportunity to try and breathe normally. I was so confused by Jude’s reaction to me telling him I’d go to his family get together. I stood frozen just long enough to give him ample time to get away.
