Page 115 of Seasons of Love
“Siblings, eh? I’m sure they were born to terrorize me. Do you have any?”
Milo looks at Sara and runs his hand over the pretty yellow dress she’s wearing today. “No.”
The way he says it makes me wonder if there was ever a brother or sister in Milo’s life that is no longer around.
“So, are you really the person from the advertisement? You need someone to do your backyard?”
I smile. “I really am the person from the advertisement, although calling that jungle-slash-junkyard a backyard is a bit of a stretch.”
“Can I see it?” he asks.
“Let’s go, but I won’t blame you if you run without looking back.”
He laughs, and dammit, I want to hear more of that sound coming from Milo.
“I hear there’s coffee and some other thing I can’t pronounce but might be delicious, so I’m not running anywhere. I can easily pretend your junkyard is the most beautiful backyard in town for coffee.”
His smile is infectious and is doing things to me that a smile from a twenty-something-year-old man shouldn’t do.
Keep your walls up, Ellis.
10
MILO
I follow behind Ellis, still trying to process that one, I’ve kinda just flirted with him. I mean, that was flirting. Could be construed as flirting, right?
Ugh, stupid crush.
And two, that he is the ad person and might become my future boss, which means I’ll see more of him, which is going to be awful for my delicate heart but so good for my greedy eyes that are checking out the way his ass fits perfectly in the pants he’s wearing.
Or how even though it’s the weekend, he’s not wearing jeans or sweats. He’s still dressed like he could be going out at a moment’s notice, like someone who has places to go, like meeting with friends, a brunch, a drive in the country…I don’t know, just things people like me don’t do.
“Is it okay for Sara to stay here?”
“Huh?” I look up at his face, and I’m sure he’s caught me staring at his ass.
“It’s hot outside. Besides, I’m not sure the yard is totally safe. If you’re happy for her to stay inside, you can leave her in the stroller or maybe set a blanket on the floor.”
The job. You’re here for the job you desperately need. Focus, Milo.
“She’ll be okay in the stroller.”
Ellis turns the TV in his living room onto the baby channel and faces the stroller toward it. Sara makes a face like she doesn’t like it at first, but then, as they play a song, she smiles and shakes her arms and legs.
We don’t have a TV because I had to sell my old one to pay some bills. Maybe one day, when I can save enough money, I can buy another.
I want to tell Ellis that he’s just witnessed one of Sara’s rare life experiences since she only watches TV when Florrie takes her to her place, but I’m too embarrassed, so I turn to him instead. “The yard?”
“Right. This way.”
Ellis wasn’t lying when he described his backyard. It’s not in great condition, but it has so much potential.
First of all, it’s huge. He can have flower beds, grass, a deck for barbeques, and a chill-out area with some outdoor furniture.
“This is amazing, Ellis.”
“Are you running a fever? This is chaos.”
