“I promise,” she whispers, her voice cracking as tears flow freely down her cheeks.
“Love you so much,” I whisper back to her, pulling her in for a deeper hug.
Paloma and I get into the car before we can act out our plan of kidnapping Janelle and becoming fugitives of the country. It’s just not something I want attached to my resume right now, but that doesn’t mean I don’t seriously consider it.
For my girls, I would do just about anything.
11
Mama
Why do I have one of those smutty books on my audiobook account?
My bad Mama, I was logged into yours by accident.
Mama
That doesn’t answer the question.
Is it any good? *eyes emoji*
I’m reminded why Anders wears those flashlights strapped to his forehead. He looks absolutely ridiculous, but my phone flashlight isn’t cutting it as I squint, and angle my neck, in a way I’m sure can’t be good for my vision or my spine. I twist the tubing tightly with the wrench before my eyes cut over to the pinging noise from my phone.
It’s been a couple weeks since my visit to Shaken Tropes and I haven’t been able to get Cassidy, all curves and chaos, off my mind. It could also be that we’ve ramped up our texting game, bantering back and forth late into the night. I adjust the pipe again, catching the grooves as I twist and a yawn slips out. Maybe I’ve been staying up later than I should be, but I’m getting to know the world through Cassidy’s eyes.
Getting to my feet, I pick up my phone and check my notifications, running my tongue against my teeth.
Babygirl
Hey, handsome.
What are the chances that you’re all sweaty right now?
*Eyes Emoji*
I stifle a laugh before texting her back.
I’m definitely sweaty.
What are you reading right now?
Babygirl
Maybe a western romance with a little bit of spice.
How do you feel about cowboy hats?
I have a feeling I should buy one right now. lol
I open up my reminders app and make a note to look up western romances the next time I’m in Shaken Tropes. I’ll know which one it is the moment she locks eyes with the cover. The image of her shy smile and slightly tinted cheeks cross my mind before I pocket my phone. It’s an image that may have crossed my mind everyday since I asked her for a book recommendation. I rub my lips together before pushing myself off the counter I’m leaning against.
Anders made a lunch run, since we’ve both been here since early this morning; we needed to put a dent in the work for this house, and I for one, cannot wait for his ass to get back. I still haven’t come up with a name for the place. Each house we flip, we name, but this one evades me. I stand and look around at the progress we’ve made so far, I’m not going to push the name, it’ll come to me. Swiping the back of my hand against my forehead, I brush aside the sweat that’s gathered and has begun to drip, before getting back under the sink.
The primary bathroom in the house is in shambles after taking down the walls and pulling up the flooring, there is dust and insulation everywhere. Demo is easy but the mess is my least favorite part of the job; I would rather be conceptualizing a new add-on or the framework for a feature wall. The Crews team will be here tomorrow, but Anders and I wanted to get an early start on things, simultaneously giving us a chance to hang together in our old element, something we haven’t done in quite some time.
Speak of the devil, Ander’s voice echoes through the empty house but I can’t really tell what he’s saying, not over the afrobeats playing through the space. Water sprays in my face from under the sink in the kitchen and I hold up my hands to stop it from drowning me. I wrap my hand on the wrench from inside the work bag next to me and give the pipe a hard twist before a shadow covers me.
“What’s up, man?” Anders laughs under his breath at the rookie mistake I just made by not turning the water off first. With all the years working with his grandfather, I know better. My mind is focused elsewhere, on a particular someone. He throws a towel to me and I wipe my face, drying off my hands before I take his outreached one to stand. “I’m not even going to say it.” He holds his hands up in defense from the pointed look I’m giving him.
