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That is a new one.

“I don’t actually like talking on the phone,” I confess to Millie, my unpredictable mouth running away from me once again.

But she agrees with me. “I don’t either. Makes me uncomfy. I had to practice what I was going to say a few times.”

I feel my cheek twitching and drop my head, brushing my hand back and forth over my wet hair, as if I could cover up my threatening smile, even though she has no idea. “Uncomfy? What else makes you uncomfy?”

“Random men offering their phone numbers to women crying about not having a job.”

“Are you ever going to stop giving me shit about that?”

“Probably not.”

“Good to know.”

“So why did you answer the call if you don’t like talking on the phone? You could’ve let it go to voice mail.”

“I don’t know,” I tell her honestly. It was simply a reflex. Intuition. Like yesterday.

It didn’t make sense to offer her this job since I don’t have any plans or reasons to hire a personal assistant, but I had an urge I couldn’t ignore.

“Are you taking the job?” I ask, suddenly tense, and a few seconds pass until she answers.

“Yes, I am.”

I clench my fingers into a fist, feeling as if I just struck out a .400 batter. “I’ll text you my address. I assume Noah has school tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

“Can you be at my place by nine?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll see you then.”

“Okay. And thank you, Austin. Really. Thank you.”

I don’t know what else to say besides, “You’re all good, Millie.”

Then I hang up and immediately text her my address.

I’m on my way out toward the parking lot when Yadi catches up to me, grinning. “Hey, good game!”

I don’t stop, digging my key fob out of my pocket. “Yeah, man, you threw a helluva game.”

“You did too.” He pats my shoulder, but I ignore him, tossing my bag in the back of my truck.

“Want to get food?” he asks. “I’ll pay.”

I shake him off. “No. I got shit to do.”

“Like what?”

That makes me pause. “I gotta find a fucking bird.”

CHAPTER 6

AUSTIN