My Spy 5: A Southern Girl in Paris

Fearless

I stayed out of the office until my face lost its red blotchiness and Annabeth was so excited about her milkshake, she didn't linger on the tension from earlier. I tried my best to get through the day without dwelling on Ryan but the office was the last place I wanted to be.

After I finished the order forms, I prepared the winery for opening but as soon as Tinsley got there to handle the customers, I ducked back into the office and spent the remainder of my shift looking at condos. I know I am always annoyed at Annabeth for using company time to research baby stuff but my brain wouldn't allow me to focus too long on anything important today.

I found a two-bedroom condo near the town center that was far enough away from Ryan's house that caught my attention. After clicking on multiple pictures, I decided to reach out to the agent and set up a viewing. I know I won't receive my trust fund until my birthday in May, but I can spend the next two months researching and figuring out what I like and what I don't like. That way once I have the money in my account, I will be ready to purchase and move out!

I kept my phone glued to my hand over the next few days hoping the agent would get back to me to set something up but it wasn't until Saturday that I realized neither she nor Sebastian was great at communication. I sat disappointed at the kitchen table and slid my silent phone toward the window when my momma rounds the corner.

"What's up, Sawyer? I feel like you've been moping around since that article came out. What happened on Thursday that made you such a sour puss?" She snaps as she strides over to the counter to pour herself a cup of coffee.

I shake my head, "Nothing. I'm just bored is all." I don't want to talk to her about how the realtor is crushing my excitement about the condo, nor do I want to speak with her about how Ryan told me we are officially and forever done. I also didn't want to mention how I overheard my best friend talking smack about me. So I lie and say I'm just bored.

"Still no word from Sebastian?" She asks and I sigh loudly, "Nope. But it's only been two days."

"Why don't you reach out to him then?" She asks like it's the most obvious thing in the world but I immediately shake my head, "No, if he is interested then he can call me."

"Maybe he doesn't think you're interested, so he's not going to bother. Didn't he set up the last two dates? You could put some effort in you know," she tells me before taking a sip from her white ceramic cup.

"And what would I invite him to do?" I ask her tartly as there is nothing to ever do here in Hollis if there isn't a society function. She shrugs and then replies, "Don't y'all go to movies still? Or go grab a cocktail somewhere? It doesn't have to be a big thing."

"No, I am not going to take Sebastian to a movie mother," I snap and she sets her coffee down and stares at me.

"Do anything that will take you out of this house then. Your foul mood is sucking all the air out of this place." I glare at her but the woman is right. I've been couped up in this house and I need to go somewhere before my thoughts drive me insane.

I glare at her before I snatch my phone off the table. I kick the screen door open and trot onto the patio and over to the porch swing. I drop into it and it sways while my thumb finds Bash's number. It lingers over it and I take a deep breath in before hitting dial. I am rehearsing the voicemail I am going to leave but he unexpectedly answers at the last second, "Sawyer Sweeney."

"Sebastian Crawford," I say nervously and he replies, "I was just thinking about you."

"Were you?" I ask in surprise and he answers, "I was. I just saw someone miss every disc and I thought of you." I can't help but let out a light laugh before I say, "At the range then?"