Ellen and Dave Miller are good people, and I can see why they might not like me. But I’m still hoping that they might change their minds.
Dave’s face immediately falls, glaring at me and the cat. “What the hell are you doing in our house?”
I keep my voice even and calm. “This cat’s been living inside. I didn’t think you’d want to deal with a cat trying to stay in one of your properties, so I’m taking him to the vet to see if he’s micro-chipped. If he’s not, I’m adopting him.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ellen’s face soften from the harsh expression that it wears.
“Well, unless you’re with my daughter, I don’t want you on our property unaccompanied. Got it?”
I nod. “That’s your choice, Mr. Miller. I’ll respect it.”
He’s still glaring at me. “I don’t suppose that telling you that I want you to stay away from my daughter would work, would it?”
“You’re right there. It’s Klara’s choice whether or not she’s with me. Not yours.”
“You’ll ruin her.”
Sighing, I lean down and slip the cat into the carrier before I turn back to them. “Mr. Miller, Mrs. Miller, I know who I was when I was younger. I know that I was a troublemaker and I acted out. One hundred percent, I leaned into the identity of this neighborhood.
“But that’s not who I am now. I own my own home and my own business where I’m very sought after for my skills—which is how I secured the crew for these properties. I’m not in debt and I’ve never been to jail. So, while I understand the memories that you have of me and I’m not bothered by that perception, I won’t just take abuse for no reason.”
Klara’s father is staring at me, and at the very least he’s not ripping into me. Now it’s Mrs. Miller’s turn. “What are your plans with Klara?”
I shake my head. “Right now, we have no plans. Neither of us expected this to happen. But I know that I don’t want it to end when this project is over, and I know that I’m going to do everything in my power to keep seeing her. Even if that means driving to Austin every chance I get. But whatever it is, it will be Klara’s choice.”
They’re both still staring, but now both of them seem uncomfortable. “I’m not going anywhere. If you’d like to talk to me more about what I’ve been doing since you knew me, I’d welcome it. If not, that’s your choice, too.”
There’s really nothing else to say, so I pick up the carrier and head to my car without looking back. I can feel their eyes on me the entire time.
I set the carrier in the front seat and take a look at him, totally comfortable. He’s got black and white fur in big patches. The very image of a stray. But cute, too. “What do you say we call you Oreo until we find out if you have a different name?”
I swear he looks at me like he understands me, and I grin at him as we pull away. Hopefully he won’t be chipped. I like this cat, and I want to see the look on Klara’s face when she comes home and sees him there.
My mind stumbles. I don’t know when I’ve stopped thinking of it as my house and just home, but it seems like I have. I swear that my heart skips a beat in my chest.
I’m in love with Klara.
Talking to her parents made me realize it.
Who am I kidding? I already knew. But it just jumped up and punched me in the face with those thoughts just now.
“Oh my god, I’m in love with her.”
Saying it out loud doesn’t make it any less real. Panic and excitement and dread drop down on me in a wave. Three days. I have three days to make her see that we can work. We’ve been so caught up in the renovation and each other, I don’t know if she’s even had time to think about it.
But I’m going to find out.
I start the car and pull away from the Miller’s house, leaving them staring after me in the dust. All it took was thirty seconds, and I’m yet again a completely different person.
I’m in love with Klara Miller.
And I think…I think that she’s in love with me, too.
14
Klara
I’m dragging by the time I get back to Rey’s house. The last week has been grueling, but I’m so proud of our progress on all the houses. There’s really only one left. And other than that, being with him has been…great. We’re a team. And so much more than that.
Thank fuck we decided not to work late tonight because the only thing that I want to do is drag him up to bed and actually fuck. And then sleep. Between him and the renovation, I haven’t been getting much of that.