Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
I couldn’t deny it anymore. I had feelings for him. Feelings I suspected were reciprocated if his display the other night was anything to go by. He was distraught that I wouldn’t be sharing car rides with him any longer. The entire time he’d been arguing with me about my car, it had felt like he’d been trying hard not to kiss me.
Fear clutched me then because I’d never been with a man like Jonathan. He was so far from my usual type that it was almost laughable. Being with a man like him would be new to me in every way.
Forcing myself to go make coffee and put something together for breakfast, I approached the kitchen when my phone started ringing. I stared at the screen, seeing Jonathan’s name, but I was too overwhelmed to speak to him yet. In the end, I let it go to voicemail.
Unsure how to feel about the gifts, I decided to ask my sister’s opinion. Snapping a quick picture of the flowers and earrings, I texted her and included the photo.
Ada: If your landlord/friend sent you this for your birthday, how would you feel?
After grabbing a quick bite to eat and taking some painkillers, I set off for work, only checking my phone when I arrived at my office.
Frances: Oh my gosh! How did he know to get you tulips? And are those diamond earrings? Did something else happen between you two?
Ada: Aside from a whole lot of unexplored sexual tension, nothing.
Frances: I don’t know about this. That’s a girlfriend gift. Or a gift for a person you’re really trying to shag. Maybe you should return the earrings. Otherwise, he might get the wrong impression.
Ada: But they’re so pretty.
Frances: Then be a messy bitch and keep them.
I chuckled at her response, but my amusement soon faded, quickly replaced with apprehension. Frances was right, the painting and spa voucher were one thing, but I couldn’t keep the earrings. They screamed expensive. A few minutes later my phone rang, Jonathan’s name once again displayed on the screen. Biting my lip, I decided to face the music and hit answer, lifting the phone to my ear.
“Hello.”
“Ada, happy birthday.” His voice was warm and husky. “Did you receive my gifts?”
“Yes, thank you,” I said, my words unexpectedly breathy. “The flowers are beautiful, but the earrings and the spa voucher, the painting … it’s all far too much. I can’t accept them.”
“Why not? You deserve them,” his voice pitched lower. “Especially if no one else in your life is going to get you anything as nice.”
“You know why I can’t, Jonathan,” I replied pointedly. “It’s inappropriate.”
A heavy silence followed, then he finally replied, “I see.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.” A pause. “Keep the gifts, Ada. Inappropriate or not, they’re already paid for, and I’d rather not inconvenience Therese by having her return them. We’ll put it down to an error of judgement on my part, and I’ll remember not to buy you such extravagant items in future.”
“Jonathan, I can’t—”
“I have a meeting. I need to go. Have a good birthday, Ada.”
He hung up, and I sat staring at my phone, feeling like I’d messed up the conversation. He’d sounded offended that I’d refused his gifts, and now, it felt like he was mad at me. Ugh, I should’ve been clearer with my meaning. I just wanted him to know that he didn’t need to buy me things in order to woo me. Despite my best efforts to resist the draw between us, I was already wooed, gifts or no gifts. Plus, being a wealthy man, his past relationships probably centred around extravagant gifts and trips to health spas, but those things just weren’t me. Honestly, the flowers and the painting meant more to me than the earrings or the spa day.
I tried to push the call with Jonathan from my mind as I focused on work. As expected, we were still short staffed. I’d been on to the agency again about sending some temp workers, but they were in high demand since the flu was affecting lots of care home staff, and everyone was running on a skeleton crew. It was a good thing I’d had the flu a couple months ago so my immunity was still high.
I spent my birthday rushed off my feet, picking up the slack for our absent workers.
The only saving grace was the big slab of Victoria sponge cake I got at the end of the day, courtesy of Rina, and we all received larger than expected portions since so many people were out sick. That evening, Frances came over, and we ordered Chinese food and held a movie marathon. My sister oohed and aahed over how fancy the apartment was, and she was a little hesitant to make herself comfortable at first, but as soon as I told her Jonathan was away for work and wouldn’t be stopping by unannounced, she kicked off her shoes and stretched out on the sofa.