“I don’t think I’ve heard you yell at anyone all week.”
“It’s a start.”
“And we all start somewhere.”
“You need to make motivational posters.” He leaves, passing Hart in the doorway, who’s back from his drive.
“What are you doing?” Hart asks, letting go of his tape measure with an aggressiveziiiipas he eyes where I’m sitting on the floor.
“Motivational posters, apparently.”
“I think I’d be great at that,” he deadpans. “Like … hang in there.”
“That one’s already taken.”
“Yeah, but instead of having a cat, mine would have a picture of a noose.”
I should have picked that he was going somewhere like that. “Sounds more demotivating to me.”
“Art is up for interpretation.” He points to the back frame of the house. “I think we went too short. I’m about to measure it, but we might need to bump out that back wall.”
Of course we do. Nothing about this build is going to plan, and hoping that something as simple as a measurement would go smoothly feels like too much to ask for at this point.
“I’m not doing that today,” I grumble.
“Did I say you had to?”
“I’m getting in before you do.”
He ignores me. “Grab the end of this and stand there.”
I grab the end of the tape measure and do as I’m told as Hart pulls it the length of the room.
He’s quiet for a few moments.
“Is it too short?”
“Yes. But I think it’s close enough that we can get away with it.”
“Are you sure?”
He gives me a flat look. “What part ofI thinktells you I’m sure?”
I let the snark go. Having lived with Hart for my entire life, he doesn’t get to me. Just like with Hudson, I know they have their own demons, and I love them no matter what. That’s family. “I’m assuming you can find out?”
“Yes. I’ll head into town tomorrow and call my guy.”
I let go of the tape, and it zips loudly back into the holder.
“Or …” I’m pushing because he’s gone more than he’s here. “You could stay here and try to call. The reception picks up best on the road.”
“OrI can drive to a slightly bigger shithole town and waste most of my day rather than spending it here. That sounds like the better option.”
“What do you have against this place?”
“There are only so many times I can list how much I hate it.”
“Then maybe you should give loving it a try.”
