The problem with knowing too much, is knowing too much. 

As I enter Zak's home for yet another cleaning session that I know he won't need, I can't help but think back to the conversation myself and Avery had the other day...

A quick google search would have brought up enough information on him, any information would have been something, like how he is able to afford that house and fancy cars. Well being on TV would definitely be how, and I was no longer working for a museum curator, I was working for a celebrity.

I'd also learnt that he was a ghost hunter, music creator, charity worker, ladies man and author.

Every now and then, I liked to change up my routine and do it backwards, to give it a little more energy and with Zak gone and no Gracie to let into the garden, I was free to open the back doors and let the air bellow in whilst I scrubbed every inch of the kitchen. 

It wasn't on my list to tidy the cupboards, set the pantry straight or take everything out of his fridge to clean it fully, but I did, because it silenced my mind from a few buzzing questions that flew around like wasps.

Like why didn't he say who he really was? Should I be signing a disclosure form? Did he really want to speak to someone like me when he has this new.. Status? But before I can digest even more questions, my phone begins to ring which makes me snap off a rubber glove to answer it.

"Yello?" I answer seeing Avery's number.

"Hey! Where are you?"

"At work." I respond cautiously. 

"At Zaks?"

I roll my eyes and sigh, it appears Avery had either fallen for this guy based on looks, or she was set upon finding out if he was single, for me. Because we all know those romance books, where the millionaire falls in love with a cleaner and they live happily ever after. Not!

"You know I am.." I mutter picking up the sponge to scrub the bottom of the fridge.

"Is he there?"

"Nope. Away."

"Where?"

"Jesus, Avery, I don't know. I'm not his assistant or google maps." 

A hoot comes down the phone followed by "Someone is cranky today! Does your boobs hurt? Bottom of your back? Has Mother Nature swung by?"

"No. To all of it. I'm not cranky, I just don't need your questions as well as my own."

There is silence at the other end as Avery take it into consideration. "Why is it bothering you so much? It's just a job..."

I couldn't explain why it irked me so much. It wasn't like it was any of my business either. But for some reason I felt like he withheld that information to make a fool out of me. Whether he believed that I wouldn't understand or would try to use it against him, I don't know... Just don't ask, I can't explain it.

"I don't know. Maybe it's to be mysterious, but in truth it's just flaming annoying." I growl taking my frustrations out on the fridge. 

"What on earth are you doing?"

"Cleaning."

"Can I ask a question?" 

I pause for a few seconds to relieve the ache in my hand. "Go on."

"Has he still got the brown marble floor?"

My eyes shoot to my feet, where in fact brown marble is laid. "How do you know?"

"I've found his house online, well the realtor's photos anyway. He has some good taste. His old house was dope too. Ghost hunting pays well."

"Tell me about it." I mutter as I wipe the fridge out and begin putting all his food items back. 

"So, when are you gonna get yourself in there?"

"In what?" 

"In his sights. Riley that house is awesome, think of all that space. The twins would love playdates at their aunty Riley's when she goes out with Zak."

I groan "That is weird and creepy. Stop it.. I have to put you on loudspeaker, I haven't put a shelf back properly."

Setting the phone down, I put her on loudspeaker and wiggle the shelf until it goes back out and carefully try to put it back as Avery continues. 

"Well I think you should make the first move." She decides. 

"Me? Why me?"

"Uh because it's the 21st century and Beyoncé told us we run the world."

I roll my eyes so much during our conversations that I'm surprised I haven't lost them in my head. "You're jumping ahead of yourself here.."

"Who run the world? Girls. That's who."

"Listen Av, I know you mean well, but if that last date was anything to go by, then I think I'll pass. It's not often I'm called fat in so many words but it still sucks and it still hurts. What is fat anyway? He is and will always be out of my league so lets forget it." I finish as the shelf clicks back into place. 

"Don't be a wimp. Just do it. You both know each other already, just ask him out, it's not going to be that big of deal."

"And if it goes bad, it's going to be awkward as hell. The answer is no. I won't ask him for a date like some desperate.... I don't know what!"

As I turn to get rest of the food, I'm frightened half to death by Zak who is sat at the kitchen island, right behind me looking slightly amused that he managed to make me scream and shout the word 'Fuck.' 

"What is it? Are you okay? Riley?!" 

"I'm fine!" I answer to Avery who is most likely halfway to her car to get to me. "I'm fine.. I'll Uh- I'll call you back."

"What? Why?"

"I'll call you back!"

"Don't be a wimp. Do it. As-"

"Bye Avery!" I announce hanging up quickly before she can put her foot in it anymore. Satisfied the phone is disconnected, I turn back to face Zak who is still sat quietly at the island. "Um, hi. I didn't think you were home."

He reaches up to tame his bed hair, whilst I secretly thank my instinct to do the cleaning backwards today. That could have been a little awkward this morning... 

"Came back early hours." He answers before yawning "Sorry, I thought I would have been up by now."

"I'm doing it backwards today." I gesture to the sparkling kitchen which makes him smile. 

"Looks nice. Thank you."

I shrug "It's my job. Do you want me to start somewhere else whilst you make yourself some food-"

"No, no." He waves off the idea. "I can't eat anything yet."

Silence falls between us, as I ponder on what to do next, when my eyes land on my phone. "So umm, I know it is your house and all but did you hear a lot?" I ask gesturing to my phone. 

"I didn't hear a lot. Why? Was it about me?" He teases.

"No.. Just about my awful date the other night." I answer collecting a few more food items and setting them back onto the fridge shelves.

"What happened?" He asks behind me.

"Ehh. The guy was two hours late, I know pretty pathetic for me to even wait that long, but the bar tender was really nice and she kept the conversation light. Plus I got a free drink or two from her. Um.. When he finally showed up, he came from work, made no effort, spoke the whole time, or rather complained the whole time, hates dogs and pizza and then ordered a salad for me because he was thinking of my health and the implications of my weight.."

"What an asshole." He says making me turn to look at him. 

"Exactly!"

"Who doesn't like pizza?!" 

I laugh at his seriousness instantly which is returned by a tired grin. I appreciate his response to the pizza more than the attempt to tell me that he is an asshole for commenting on my weight. I'm more than enough woman for a guy, I've grown to appreciate and hate my body at times. I am what I am and Zak's comment to that rather than him trying to blow smoke up my ass with 'You're not fat', 'you are blah blah blah' is appreciated more. It seems like this day and age, everything is about your weight.

We are born different people. Let's just get over it!

"So on the phone, that was your...."

"Sister." I answer. 

He nods "Who are you suppose to be asking out on a date?" 

I look up from my phone which I had been turning in my hands "I thought you said you didn't hear a lot?"

He smiles "Might have lied."

Brilliant...

Now do I go with the truth? Or lie?
Truth or lie
Truth or lie
Truth or lie
Trut-

"The same guy as the other night. She wants me to give him another chance." I lie and quiet spectacularly. 

"Pizza and dog hater?"

"Uh-huh."

"Damn.. That's tough." He answers before looking at the kitchen island in thought.

"I mean, who hates pizza and dogs right?"

"Exactly..."

"It's a shame cause the bar was really cute, but he ruined it." I sigh before picking up a bag of lettuce, seeing the date, I pause. "You are really organised. You should see my fridge.."

"Woah, we haven't been on a first date yet and you're inviting me into your home and fridge." He jokes making me laugh as I set the lettuce back.

I fuss with a few items, mainly to give my face a chance to cool down at the thought. Considering his height, he'd probably be too tall for my home. The guy is over 6 foot, at least. He must hang off regular bed, I wonder what size bed he sleeps in-

Stop imagining him in bed!

"So he hates Pizza.."

"And dogs." I add. 

"And dogs. What kind of food do you hate?" He asks as I place the juice back into the fridge.

"Um.. Mushrooms, they remind me of slugs when cooked, raisins, because I think they are choc chips sometimes and it's a shitty surprise when I realise they aren't."

"I feel you on that." 

"Calamari. I don't like squid or octopus, they scare me. I haven't tried a lot of sea food. I have tried crab though. Crab was good."

"They do the best crab in Chicago, you ever been there?"

"To Chicago? No. Was that for a holiday?"

"No it was for work. They do the best dungeoness crab."

Now was my chance to probe about his other job, the one he didn't mention. But instead, I leave the opportunity.

"You went to Chicago with the museum? Damn that certainly gets you around." I answer wondering if he will take the bait. 

He doesn't and simply agrees with me.

"So what is this guys name? The one you're suppose to be asking out?"

"Mike. He is in sales, he didn't tell me what he sales though, just moaned about his work colleague the whole time, he wants to become a partner in the business but he isn't getting enough commission and well, guess he won't be making partner."

"Does that bother you? If he did or not?" Zak asks propping his head onto his hand as he leans on his elbow. 

I shake my head "No, I don't care what you are. As long as you gotta job right?" I ask picking up the last bits of his food. "I've dated bin men before, you know the guys on the trucks. He used to come home smelling awful. But he loved it and he never came home bad tempered from it. It sounds really cheesy now, but he used to find flowers on his run and bring them home."

Even now, I smile at the thought of the mix-matched flowers stuffed in water bottles because I didn't have a vase.

"What happened? Why did you two break up?"

"We grew apart. Better off as friends, the usual kind of thing. I went to his wedding a few years ago, his wife is a elementary school teacher and he still does the bins." I smile. 

"So you wouldn't say money was important?" 

I shake my head "No for me it isn't. If you're concerned about money all the time then you're not happy. Everyone knows money isn't the key to happiness. I was... I am happy with flowers picked off the road than delivered by florists. Because he had chosen them, picked them and thought of me throughout the day. Does that make sense?"

He nods "That you have cheap taste."

Most women would probably be offended by this, but I simply agree with him. "I do, but I also know my worth and now when to walk away."

"So if you had to pick your date, where would it be?" He asks making me think. 

"Always wanted to do those drive thru cinema things. Apple and fruit picking.. Oh! Star gazing, I love the night time. Anything that doesn't cost the earth and you haven't got to dress up all stuffy and uncomfortable."

"So no restaurants?"

I shake my head "It's all made in a kitchen, everyone has a kitchen at home. So why not cook it at home?"

"You're serious, aren't you?" He asks amused. 

I nod. 

"You really are an odd woman." 

"I am.. Now can I ask you a question?" 

He sits up and straights his back. "Go on then, what do you want to know about my dating life?"

I frown "Um, It's actually not about that."

"Oh."

"I just want to know where Gracie is?"

He smiles instantly, probably in relief. "She is coming back this morning."

"You put her in a kennel?!" I almost shout. 

"No! No. I wouldn't put her back in those. I got her from a shelter, so she will never go back into a kennel. God no. She's at my moms with her dog. Having a playdate whilst I was away."

I let out a small sigh of relief myself at that.

"Dog lover huh?" He asks. 

I nod my head instantly. 

"So how you gonna get on with a dog hater?"

The truth was, I wasn't. But he doesn't need to know that.