FRANK: It looks fine, kid. I’m more concerned about the size of the job.
Oh, that. I wasn’t surprised. Frank didn’t like big jobs. He liked the ones that took at most a few days and were overall easy to accomplish. I couldn’t blame him for that.
I advised the client that the smarter route would be to tear down the house to its foundation and rebuild.
FRANK: Okay, good. That was my next question. Put that in the report next time.
You’ve got it, boss.
Sighing, I ran a hand through my hair. Yeah, it wasn’t a big thing to leave off the report, but it was still my screw-up. I was trying real damn hard not to screw up Frank’s business, not after he’d gone out of his way to help me as much as he had.
Do you want me to continue on the job, or do you want to give it to someone else?
While he probably wasn’t thinking twice about the small mistake, I was, and I wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t want me doing the job because of it.
FRANK: As long as you’re good, I’m good.
What a loaded statement.I wasn’t good, but Frank didn’t need to hear about the personal bullshit I was wrestling with.
Yeah, I’m good.
FRANK: But no crazy overtime to try to get it done faster. Pace yourself. Remember, you need time off too.
The text actually made me laugh out loud.Jesus fuck.It was like he knew.
Okay.
FRANK: Good. Just check in with me in the mornings before you head over and keep me updated on the progress.
You know I do all that shit already.
FRANK: Yeah, but if you check in every morning, that means you can bring me coffee.
Just tell me you want coffee, Frank lol
FRANK: What one was LOL again?
Night, old man.
Grinning, I shoved my phone back in my pocket. Frank was a fucking riot.
I still had a few more hours I could utilize to clean out boxes and maybe clean up the kitchen for him while I was at it. Did I need to do so much? No, I didn’t. I knew that. But I was great at letting my guilt do all the talking for me, and I wasn’t about to stop now.
CHAPTER 54
harley
Somewhere after midnight, I woke up and, despite trying, I couldn’t fall back asleep. I was surprised I’d slept as much as I had. Sleep hadn’t been my friend in years.
Unfortunately, that left me awake with the understanding that I’d had a panic attack in front of Maverick.How ridiculous was I?I couldn’t even have a conversation with him without turning into a spectacle.
I didn’t want to know what he thought of me. But I still had to face him for at least a few more weeks while we took care of the house.
“Fuck,” I groaned, dragging a hand over my face. This whole trip was turning out to be way more than I’d anticipated. The heightened anxiety as I lived outside of my element was unexpected. Chronic anxiety I was used to, but Vivienne hated my panic attacks—called them a nuisance. I’d somehow managed to learn how to hold them in until I was completely alone.So why the hell had I lost that control around Maverick?
Whatever the reason, I needed to get it together. We couldn’t be stuck together for weeks with me having panic attacks every day.
Unable—or maybe unwilling—to go back to sleep, I climbed out of bed and got changed, finding something comfortable to wear for a few hours while I rummaged through boxes. If I was going to be up, I might as well be useful. I hurried downstairs and stopped in the entryway.
