Page 19 of Size Game

“I was doing my job.”

“Did he make eye contact with you?”

I nod.

“Was he smiling with a little sparkle in his eye?”

I thought about it for a second, then nodded.

“And he encouraged Sadie’s playfulness?”

I nodded again, and she put up her hands, effectively saying, “Well, there ya go.”

“You really think he would change his mind about this whole thing just being a fling?”

“Haven’t you?”

I hadn’t really thought that hard about it, but I guess I kind of have. Normally I don’t see my flings afterward. Ever. I mean, I’d still take a job from them, but if they made it weird, like say going to their house for dinner, I’d probably leave. I haven’t left him. Do I feel something for him?

We talk about the job for a short while until it’s clear she has something else to say. I watch her squirm a little trying not to say it but clearly wanting to. I sigh and put my pen down, signaling that she just needs to spit it out.

She lays her hands flat on the desk and looks at me.

“He seems like a really nice guy and I know you can make decisions for yourself, but I don’t want to see you get hurt. You told me everything that happened with…” She gestures with her eyes, not daring to say my ex’s name. She honestly treats him like an evil wizard that gains power by any mention of him.

“I just want you to be careful and not jump in too deep. It may seem nice now, and well, he’s loaded. That’s for sure. But, you know, for your sake, and a little for his… be careful.”

I know she means well. I really appreciate it. I know I shouldn’t just dive in, but in a way, we both kind of have. I mean he invited me tohis house. How much more diving can there really be?

We continue working on the party and make a few phone calls. I ask her to call up one of her old friends who knows a good seamstress for children’s costumes. Once we get her on the line, I go over the details and get everything squared away for Sadie’s dress.

Hailey makes faces at me all the while I’m on the phone. I know she’s questioning why I took the job for him, why I stayed later to interact with Sadie, and why I’m now arguing with an old Italian woman about how many ruffles should be on a five-year-old’s princess gown.

My personal phone buzzes on my desk, and I wave to let Hailey grab it. I’m stuck on the phone with the dressmaker. She’s not going to stop talking, so I hope whoever is trying to reach me isn’t important.

Hailey grabs my phone and looks at the screen. Her eyes get wide, and then she looks up at me with a grin. I mouth, “Who is it?” to her, and she laughs quietly. I lean over the table to snatch the phone from her, and she leans away, gets out of her seat, and walks far enough away that the cord on this phone won’t reach her.

“I had a really great time on Sunday,” Hailey reads.

Oh no. Please stop reading, I think.

“Sadie hasn’t stopped talking about you.”

Oh God, there’s more.

“I’d really like it if we could meet up for final payments.”

Finally, the lady on the other end of the phone is finished. She says she has a dress that’s close enough to what I’m looking for if I want to come pick it up later. I agree and quickly hang up the phone. Then I leap over the desk and snatch the phone from Hailey, who is standing there laughing.

Yeah,we can meet up. I’ll be picking up Sadie’s dress later today too.

Perfect.Want to come by my place to show her?

Sounds good.Are you going to give me another “grand tour”?

Damn it!

Hailey is standing there across from me, watching me text him. She cocks her brow. I know she saw the smile come across my face when I texted him that last bit. She comes closer to me and pats my shoulder.