Rescue Me

Rescue Me | Chapter Four

"I have an idea." Jared's voice sang in her ears.

Andie's grey-green eyes lifted from her wine glass to gaze into Jared's. She tucked a strand of her hair behind her left ear and then leaned forward to rest her chin on her arm. "What's that?"

Jared's phone started ringing as she spoke, he reclined slightly in his seat to pull the device from his front pocket. "It's my mom, I should probably take this, be right back." He said, standing from the table and walking back into her home. Andie picked up her glass, finishing her wine and decided it was time to clean up the dishes. She made her way back into the kitchen, placed their dirty dishes next to the sink, poured herself one more small glass of wine and began to put the rest of the lasagna into a glass Tupperware container.

She heard Jared's shoes approaching on her hardwood floors, "Ok, yeah, that sounds great mom. Yes, tomorrow afternoon by three. I love you too." He clears his throat as he walks into the kitchen, "I guess I better get going, thank you for dinner and for letting me help cook."

She placed her hands on the countertop, "It was nice and thanks for helping. What was the idea you had?

He rubbed his neck absent-mindedly, "Oh, I don't remember actually. Sorry." He said.

Andie chewed on her cheek, wondering why he wasn't telling her the truth. No longer making eye contact with her, "Ok, so we're back to the distant Jared. Neat" she huffed. "Andie, it isn't like that, I honestly don't remember." Jared shrugged.

"That's possible, but I don't buy it. Have a good night, Jared. You can show yourself out." She shut off the light in the kitchen, leaving Jared in the dark and walked across the room, disappearing down the hallway.

"Andie, get back here. Aren't you going to say goodbye? I'm leaving in a couple days! I won't be back until October." He yelled after her.

A moment or so later she reappeared across the room, having changed into an oversized tee shirt and a pair of shorts, her hair a mess atop her head. Jared was suddenly thankful the room was dimly lit so maybe she couldn't see the way she affected him. He watched as she crossed her arms over her chest again, and leaned onto her left leg. 'She really is cute when she's pissed.'  He thought. 

"Listen Jared, I don't have time for your bullshit. Go home, have a safe flight, enjoy your gigs, your life, etc., etc.," with that, she turned around and walked back down the hall and Jared heard a door shut. He shook his head, completely shocked by her stubbornness. But he also couldn't help the fact that was one of his favorite qualities about her already. He turned the lock to her front door and shut it behind him, jiggling the handle to ensure she was locked in safely and made his way to his truck.

The next morning he went about his routine and decided it was time to start packing. He really needed a second assistant. "Why didn't you just ask her, you idiot?" he exclaimed.

"Uh, brother, you know some people would have you committed if they heard you talking to yourself in your bedroom." Shannon said as he walked in, "What's up, ask her what? Who are you talking about?"

"I bumped into Andie at Whole Foods last night. I ended up at her place for dinner and"

"Jared. Tell me you didn't." Shannon interrupted, plopping himself onto Jared's bed.

"Jesus, Shannon, would you let me talk! We had a lovely evening, we sat on her balcony and talked for a while. I had this idea to ask her something, but then mom called and I chickened out."

"Oh, so you didn't fuck her." 

"No, you ass, I didn't. It isn't like that with her." Jared shook his head as he tossed clothing into his suitcase. Shannon stared at him suspiciously, "Yeah, sure, if you say so J."

Jared threw his hands in the air defensively, "It isn't. Maybe it is, fuck, Shannon, I don't know." He started, sitting down on the opposite side of the suitcase, "I had this idea to ask her to come work with me as a second assistant. I mean, I've been around her four times now and each time she's around it feels amazing." Shannon watched his little brother talk, the smile on Jared's face made him smile too. It was almost like Jared had forgotten he wasn't alone. "She's intelligent, funny, sassy as hell. Sometimes too sassy and I want to smack her cute little ass to set her straight. On top of all that she's fucking beautiful too." Rubbing his hand over his newly grown stubble, he sighed. "I was about to ask her if she wanted to join the team but mom called. By the time I was off the phone I had lost my nerve." Jared looked over at Shannon to see he had his full attention. He could see the wheels turning in Shannon's head waiting for him to speak.

"Ok, it sounds like you have a crush. If you already like her, do you really think it's a good idea to hire her?"

"I thought if she was around all the time it would be easier somehow?" He shrugged

"You mean daily torture?" Shannon laughed, "Look Jared, I'm not saying it's a bad idea. How did you leave things last night? Just call her and ask her."

"She was so pissed at me. She knew I was lying to her when I told her I'd forgotten what I was going to ask. She literally shut the lights off on me and walked away, told me she didn't have time for my bullshit and to basically have a nice life." Shannon cackled, "Oh fuck, this is going to be fun. No woman has ever called you out on your shit. Well, except mom, Shay, Em's... we have to get her to say yes to working with you." He said still chuckling.

"Yeah, I honestly think she would be a perfect addition to the team. Can't believe I chickened out like that." Jared stood and zipped up his bag, rolling it over into the corner, "I'll try calling her in a few days after she cools off a little."

A few miles away, Andrea was lounging on her couch, attempting to watch a documentary on Netflix. Her mind swimming in flashbacks of the night before, and every other encounter she'd had with Jared. Her dating history was laughable at best, so she didn't have much to go off of, but why was he so mercurial?

Her phone rang from its home on the coffee table. She glanced at the unknown number before accepting the call, "Hello?"

"How's my favorite Vampire?" She jolted forward on her couch, "Shannon?"

"Do you have other friends that call you a Vampire?" he chuckled, making Andrea laugh  as well.
"No, can't say I do, in fact, you're the first."

"Good. Still working on your permanent nickname, but I wanted to call and say hi. So hi, what are you up to today?"