“Thanks, Jack.”
He grins at me. “The benefits of having a plumber in the family and a dad who could fix almost everything.” He returns the lid to the top of the tank and washes his hands in the sink.
“Did Gia get you the job here?” I could see her talking up Jack since he knows this building so well. “And you said it was only temporary?”
“Not Gia, and it’s definitely temporary. I like working on small projects on the weekends. Being a full-time super is a bit much. I’m working on the book I started in college, and I actually have time for it now that I’m no longer tearing my hair out with the shop.”
I frown. “So, how did you know about the job here?”
We walk out of my bathroom together, since it’s tight quarters for one person. Two people is downright claustrophobic.
“One of your scent matches threatened me.”
I stare at him, struggling to believe what I’m hearing. “He didwhat?”
“Archer paid me a visit over a week ago,” he explains.
I bristle with anger, ready to charge next door and?—
“Then he apologized and offered me a job.”
My anger fizzles like a deflating hot-air balloon. “What?”
“I think he was jealous.”
I scrunch my nose, more confused than ever. “Then why did he give you a job?”
He shrugs. “Not sure. I was ready to hate him for the way he treated you. And I said as much.”
After what Torin did to Wilkes, I start looking for bruises. “And he didn’t hit you or anything?” Maybe that’s why he’s been keeping his distance these last few days. He was waiting for the bruises to fade.
“Archer didn’t hit me. Are you going to forgive them?”
“Come sit for a bit if you don’t have to rush off.” I settle on my couch and pat the seat beside me. “I’m not sure if I should forgive them. What do you think?”
He sets his plunger down and sinks into the couch. “Only you can know if you should or can, June.”
“But if he hit you and you were waiting for the bruises to fade before seeing me… that would definitely sway my decision.”
He grins at me. “No punches to the face or anywhere. Like I said, I’ve been writing my book and busy closing down the shop.”
“So, what are you going to do now if the super job is only temporary?”
He shrugs. “Just write, I guess. I have the money to take my time to figure something else out if the writing doesn’t pan out.” He furrows his brow. “I think Archer was also responsible for that.”
“Responsible for what?”
“Giving me breathing room. A couple of days after he offered me a job, I had an envelope with a check pushed through the door. Not with the mail. It was hand-delivered.”
“How much was the check for?”
“$50,000. More than enough to pay off the shop's debts and start a new business if I wanted to. I asked him about it since it could only have been him, but he shrugged and said maybe it was just someone looking to give me a step up because they could.”
“That is…” I stare at him. “Insane. Fifty?”
His expression matches my bewilderment. “When I saw the check was addressed to me, I might have briefly blacked out.”
“And there was no name on the check?”
