Chances Aren't Read Online Free PDF Page A

praying I'm not busted.
    "It is nice." I agree, although I'm not sure if I'm referring to the pool. "So, are you guys looking to move?"
    "Yeah, right."
    "You could get it dirt cheap. It seems we over developed back here for the neighborhood." I roll my eyes. "Well for any neighborhood outside of Malibu I suppose."
    We share a chuckle.
    "I'm sure someone will fall in love with it and have to have it. You'll see."
    "Maybe."
    "Well, I'd better get back. Got dinner in the oven."
    "Okay."
    Turning, she walks a few steps toward the house and my eyes go directly to her skirt and glaze over as my head tilts to the left. Don't judge me. I'm lonely, okay?
    "Oh, Ben." I snap to attention only milliseconds before she turns back and gives me a hesitant look. "Can I ask you a favor?"
    "Sure. Anything."
    "I opened a window in the basement and now I can't get it to close right. I think I broke it and I know I won't be able to sleep worrying about it. Would you mind taking a look? I'm horrible with that sort of stuff."
    "No problem. Do you want me to do it now or..."
    "If you're not doing anything."
    "I, uh, think I can squeeze it into my busy schedule."

Chapter 4

    After fixing the unbroken window I return from Nina's basement and find her in the kitchen pulling a steaming casserole from the oven. She cringes. "So did I break it?"
    "No." I shake my head smiling. "One of the clips in the side wasn't all the way in and the lock was just twisted closed so the window wouldn't go all the way down. It's all locked up now."
    She smiles. "Thanks. I did it yesterday and I had all this wood piled up on it to stop anyone who might break in."
    "Yeah, I saw that. I'm not sure that would have stopped anyone."
    "No, probably not, but at least I would have heard all that wood falling out of the window sill and I could have run for it."
    I give her a supportive nod. "Emily piles up stuff in front of the door when I'm away. I always tell her that if someone wants to break in, you can't stop them, you just..." My jaw drops wide open. "I mean, you guys have an alarm system right, so..." I shut up when her worried expression finally registers in my idiotic brain.
    "No, we don't have an alarm." She curls her lip. "You haven't heard about any breakins in the neighborhood, have you?"
    "No. Sorry, sorry." Rubbing my hands over my face, I give her an apologetic look. "I always say the wrong thing. No, this is a safe neighborhood... really. What I meant to say is that an alarm wouldn't help..."
    Narrowing her eyes, she looks at me, concerned.
    For some reason, I can’t stop myself, so I say, "I mean no one is trying to break in to your house. I mean, it rarely happens." Sighing, I lift my hands up apologetically. "I'll just shut up now."
    With her hand shaking a little now, she takes a sip of wine and carefully places the glass back on the counter. "I'm fine. I know it doesn't happen that much... yeah."
    I cringe and I can feel my face getting hot. "Sorry. I think I'm just going to go before I say something else completely—"
    "No, don't worry about it. Seriously, it's fine. I overreact about this kind of stuff all the time."
    "When's Tom coming back," I ask simply to get us off this subject although that's probably not the best question.
    "Friday."
    "Oh, that's a long trip."
    "Yeah." She shrugs. "Hey, you hungry? I've got all this and you're welcome to join me if you want."
    "Oh, really. I, uh… You sure?"
    "Yes, please say."
    A few minutes later we're sitting down together and I'm halfway through my second glass of wine and her delicious chicken tetrazzini. "This..." I wipe my mouth with a napkin. "...this is amazing."
    "Thanks."
    I take another bite then wash it down with a sip. "Can I ask you something?"
    Nodding, she takes a sip of wine.
    "Are you guys planning on having any kids?"
    "We've been talking about it. We want to wait until we have some money saved so I can take a few years off work."
    "Hmm. That's a good idea."
    "So you guys never, um..." she