His girlfriend leaned back slowly. “The barn job you’ve been talking about for weeks?”
“She didn’t even ask me. Just ‘Roy, get those pavers in. Roy, what are you doing? Roy. Roy. Roy.’” He slapped the steering wheel. “But when something big comes along? She forgets me.”
“After everything you do,” she whispered, rubbing his arm. “That doesn’t seem right.”
“It isn’t,” Roy bit out. “I’ve been helping her dad for years. Doing everything around that place. And she just handed the biggest project she’s ever had to some guy she just met.” He shook his head hard. “Like none of it matters.” Like he didn’t matter.
His girlfriend rubbed the back of his neck, her touch warm. Comforting. “Roy, she doesn’t value you the way she should. I’ve said that before.”
He swallowed hard. “I don’t know what else she wants from me.”
“Nothing,” she said softly. “She wants nothing from you because she’s so used to you doing everything without asking for anything in return.”
Roy blinked hard. “That’s not fair.”
“No, it isn’t,” she agreed. “You deserve better than being treated like a background extra in her life.”
Roy looked away. His throat was tight. He hated how true that sounded.
“I’d never hurt Mia.”
He meant it. Even if part of him was starting to resent how easily she’d forgotten him.
“I’m not saying hurt her,” his girlfriend added quickly. “You know I’d never tell you that.”
He turned his head slightly. “Then what are you saying?”
She gave a small shrug. “That people forget who keeps their world running smoothly.”
Roy frowned. “Forget?”
“Disrupt it,” she said softly. “Just enough to make her notice. To make her realize you’re the one holding everything together.” Her thumb brushed across his knuckles. “Nothing big. Nothing that can’t be undone.”
Roy closed his eyes for a beat.
Was it wrong of him to want Mia to notice him? To look at him the way she looked at the stranger with the dog?
It wasn’t that long ago that they worked side by side at the hardware store when they were both in high school. She used to laugh with him back then. And Roy had a crush on her he never admitted. She was so far out of his league, but a guy could wish. Right?
Then she left town. Left the store. Put him in the rearview without ever knowing how he felt and never looked back.
And now she was back with the same smile, the same thank-yous, at least at first. But those smiles faded. She spoke to him now as if he were useful when needed, invisible the rest of the time.
Meanwhile, he’d never stopped liking her like he had when they were teenagers. Not that he would ever admit that to his girlfriend.
But today, Mia hadn’t even glanced his way before walking off with some new guy and his perfect dog.
“Roy?” his girlfriend asked softly.
“I’m thinking. What kind of disruptions?” He knew he shouldn’t be asking, but the words slipped out anyway.
Her smile was faint. Almost satisfied. “Enough to make her slow down and appreciate what she’s been taking for granted.”
Roy stayed silent. The idea shouldn’t have sounded as easy as it did.
“Come over later,” she whispered. “We’ll talk more.”
She kissed his cheek and then eased out of the truck.
