“No, you didn’t because he’s wrong.” I pointed at my brother. “And I’m sick of him stirring the pot. There’s nothing happening with me and Cassidy.”
“I’ll ask Bertie when I come for dinner on Tuesday.”
Calvin was seeing Ella, Nash’s mother-in-law and had been coming around with her for dinner a lot recently. It seemed things were going well between them.
“Short stuff won’t tell you anything,” I replied. “She’s Team Uncle Gunner.”
“We’ll see about that.” Calvin winked and opened a drawer in his desk. He took a card and handed it to Nash. “This guy is a contractor. He built my sister's house in Telluride.”
Nash took the card. “Markus Gruber. I think I heard of him.”
“You have,” I told him. “He was the one who turned Dad down for the refurb on the house.”
Nash laughed. “The one who told him it was a fucking travesty to such a beautiful home.”
“That’s the one.”
“He’s hired.” Nash pocketed the card and held out his hand to Calvin. “Thanks again and see you for dinner next week.”
As we walked down Silver Peaks corridors of power, Nash groaned.
“What are we going to do about this development?” I asked him.
“Fight it, Gun. What else can we do? Let them screw up the land with ugly apartment blocks and a meat packing factory?”
“Fuck, no.”
“So, we fight.” He slapped me on the back. “Now, let’s go to Missy May's to get a coffee so you can tell me what’s going on with you and Cassidy.”
He strode off chuckling to himself, not giving me a chance to reply. Fucking meddlesome dick.
Chapter 8
Shake It Off – Taylor Swift
Cassidy
Knowing what I did about Lucas’ mom, I felt like I should have gotten the full story before I went to Mrs. Wright. The poor woman was doing a round trip of a hundred and twenty miles every day just to keep food on the table and pay the bills. Not only that she worked weekends. No wonder she had no time for her son.
“Do you think Gunner was serious about offering Ruth Keller a job?” I asked Lily at lunchbreak.
She peered inside her sandwich and frowned. “I was sure I made chicken salad.”
“And what have you got?”
“Cheese salad.” She shook her head. “I still have a baby brain. And yes, Gunner always keeps his word.”
“It would be a shame if he had to move. He’s such a quiet, kind, thoughtful boy and a huge city high school might change him.”
“I’m not sure it would, but I understand you’re thinking.” She took a bite of her cheese salad and frowned. “God, I was looking forward to chicken.”
“Mrs. Wright said that she’s going to call her and get her to come in for a meeting.” I picked up a piece of celery and chewed on it.
“Why are you eating that?” Lily asked, “It’s practically water and tastes like watery string.”
“I didn’t go grocery shopping this weekend. I was too distracted.”
“By Gunner?”
