“You sure, brother?”
“Yeah. I’ll do it.” I can paint, but I also know how to change up a transmission. Besides, I’d already finished up a big job and I’m free for a bit.
“All right. Cool, man. No rush. Don’t really know what we’re gonna do with her when she’s finished. Guess having an extra ride won’t hurt any.” Tank scratches his beard. “Though, not sure if any of us can actually fit inside,” he mutters as he walks away.
Outside the shop, I catch sight of Danika leaving the clubhouse, wrapping her coat closer to her as she steps down the hill from our small community.
I wait for her next move and that’s when Tequila barrels after her, both heading for Tequila’s car. The weather sucks and her neighborhood sucks worse. The idea of her walking anywhere from her apartment creates an unease over me.
With force, I pry my thoughts away. I don’t want to be thinking of her. Don’t want to be concerned about why or what is happening in her life. Telling myself I don’t give a damn will make things easier. For the both of us.
The heel of my boot scrapes against the pavement as I head inside the club, not daring to glance back over my shoulder.
Last night was a shit night. Insomnia got the better part of me even though my body screamed for sleep.
I kick my door shut once I’m upstairs and flop down on the mattress. Sheets are still tucked in like a housekeeper had been here. Maggie likes to play the role of mother, washing our sheets and making up our beds like we’re teenaged boys. Her boys. I suppose it isn’t a terrible thing. It makes me think of my own mother every time Maggie did it.
With my ankles crossed and my hands behind my head, I finally doze off.
Gracie hung up her bag and coat, then collapsed onto the couch beside me. Her flowery perfume invaded me as she slid closer. She looked exhausted as she tucked her sweater in and over her. Her scrubs always left at the hospital.
With a heavy sigh, she laid her head on my shoulder and closed her eyes. “It was another busy one today.” Her answer repeated every damn time she ended a shift.
“Every day is busy at the hospital,” I said, playing with a strand of her silklike hair.
“True. I just… I wish I could do more.”
Gracie being an ER nurse, she saw her fair share of deaths. And it weighed heavily on her each time. Stripped her of her mental sanity little by little when she couldn’t save someone. Knowing it mentally pained her, pains me.
“There was this girl about my age. She had just lost her parents, and she sat there alone and so sad. I couldn’t leave her there by herself, so I sat with her.”
That was the kind of person Gracie was. She wanted to help everyone.
“You have a good heart.” I kissed the top of her head as she burrowed into me more.
“You always say such nice things to me.”
“I say what’s true.”
She yawned, already closing her eyes again.
“You hungry?” I asked, surveying the weight of her shoulders dissipating.
“Not really. I had a big lunch.”
“You should eat something.” I’ve noticed small changes in her appetite, and I felt like work stressed her out to the point she didn’t want to eat.
“Tell me about your day. How’s the new house coming?”
Building a house wasn’t easy. The hours sucked. The weather conditions were shit sometimes. But I liked that it didn’t interfere with spending time with Gracie. Our hours always lined up somehow. And I liked the physical labor of being in construction.
“It’s getting there.” I let out a yawn with a stretch of my back.
“And you say I’m the one who’s exhausted.” Gracie’s breathing slowed. Her small breaths pressed against my shoulder.
“Mine’s a different tired. Yours is—”
Her breathing grew a notch louder, letting me know she fell asleep.
