Free Pieces of You by Lisa Marie

hand digs in her pocket and pulls out her keys. Turning abruptly she storms out of my house leaving me alone on the sofa regretting everything about today.

Chapter 6
     
    I'm not going to lie, it's awkward as hell with her today. She won't talk to me the way she used to. No joking, no friendship. Just business. She's my boss, and it sucks something bad. I've tried to talk to her several times but every single damn time I enter the room where she is, she's either on the phone, or she holds her finger up with pursed lips and walks away.
    It's just hard to walk away from her. She smells amazing, and her ass looks magical today. She's twisted her hair up in a ponytail and has a tiny piece that hangs in front of her face, that she constantly tries to blow out of the way. I want to brush it behind her ear for her, but I know that I can't. Last night I blew it, just by trying to be honest.
    I finish painting the last of the baseboard trim in the house, and I know that the end is just around the corner. Deciding to take one last look around, I try to buy every moment I can. I need to get the courage to talk to her, to try to save the friendship we had in this last month. It was a pretty good one, and I thought maybe we could continue to be at least friends after this flip.
    Maybe I was wrong.
    I hear her enter the master bedroom behind me. Her shoes on the floor as she walks around the room inspecting it. "You did a fantastic job, Mr. Lorey," she comments. I sense the distance in her voice, and it angers me.
    "Ty. My name is Ty. Your name is Riley." I stand from my crouching position near the far window and turn to face her. She closes her eyes and shakes her head back and forth. Her nose wrinkles and she takes a deep breath.
    "Don't." Her nostrils flare as she turns and starts to walk away from me.
    "Riley." I begin while reaching for her arm and gently urging her to turn around. "Look. I had NO intention of last night turning into this." I motion my hand back and forth between us. "None."
    "What were you hoping for, Ty?" She crosses her arms and purses her lips. I can see her jaw clench as she tries to keep her cool. "What were you hoping would happen by telling me that you didn't want to move on? A roll in the hay? A heavy petting session? What?"
    I roll my eyes and scratch my chest. "That's what you want to see, huh? You think that little of me after all this time? Thanks. You sure know how to make a guy feel good." She's impossible, and I know that there is no way I can make her see my intentions.
    She doesn't want to see them.
    "So now I'm the bad guy? Whatever, Ty Lorey." She hisses. "It's been a pleasure working with you. Your final payment will be deposited on Friday as agreed upon." She spins on her heels and storms out of the room, leaving me standing alone angry and done with the whole damn thing.
    I hop down the stairs, and into the kitchen where I left my tool belt and coffee mug. I see her out in the garden taking pictures of it as I collect all of my belongings. Turning my hat around, I push open the screen door and step out onto the porch. It's an action that catches her attention, and she glances in my direction briefly before taking more photographs on her phone. Storming past the gate, I reach my truck and climb in, slamming the door hard behind me. Turning the key, I shift the truck into gear and speed away from the property, kicking up gravel and dust behind me. Looking in my rearview mirror, I think I see her step out of the gate and watch me as I drive away before being swallowed up by dust.
    ***
    Sweat pools along my spine as I wake up not remembering where I am, and I begin to panic. I'm not as drunk as I was earlier or yesterday. This doesn't feel like my bed, and it certainly doesn't smell like me. I smell strawberries and realization suddenly hits me.
    Sasha.
    I nod at Princess as I enter The Shake. He doesn't even stop me, he just greets me as I walk past him. I make a beeline straight to the main bar