She Drove Four Hours
Eddie
Icrash out on my couch after another long day, staring at the beer in my hand like it might solve the world’s problems if I give it enough time.
But it won’t.
Nothing does.
At least the last week on the job has been easier. The guys have settled into a rhythm, which is typical once everyone finds their footing, but it’s more than that.
There’s a calm now.
A truce.
Kiki and I called it on the scaffold.
It wasn’t easy to set my anger aside, and I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t still creep back in from time to time. But the truth is, it wasn’t doing any of us any favors. Not her, not me, not my crew.
And for a few minutes that afternoon, it was just Kiki and me again. Our own little world.
The conversation was rough at first, but we scrounged ourway to something manageable. By the end, I realized I didn’t hate her. If I’m being honest, I never did.
But I hate how much I still love her. That I can’t shake her.
More than anything, I hate that she’s no longer a part of my life except on the job site.
Kiki is the one thing I look forward to every morning, but the second I see her, I lock it all down so I don’t give myself away.
Yeah, it would be a hell of a lot easier on me if Ididhate her. But that would mean not loving her anymore, and I don’t know how to do that.
I drag a hand over my face and take a sip of beer, letting the cold liquid wash down my throat.
Another thing that doesn’t make any sense is Kiki’s pointed comments about Romy and me. She seems genuinely envious of the easygoing camaraderie between us.
Not that there’s anything to be jealous of. It’s a non-situation. Romy’s cute and sweet and trying really fucking hard, but she’s not Kiki, which means she doesn’t stand a chance.
No way in hell I’m telling Kiki that, though. The woman has made a big enough fool of me already.
My phone buzzes against the arm of the couch.
I glance down and roll my eyes. It’s Deirdre. Can’twaitto see what she wants. Until recently, the two of us talked regularly, but that’s a thing of the past now.
I let it ring twice before picking up. “Yeah. What’s up?”
“Can you take Theo to his hockey game tomorrow after school?”
“What time?” I ask, downing another sip of beer.
“Same as usual.”
I pause, mapping out my day. Delivery in the morning. Electrical being run. Another delivery in the afternoon. Drive to Theo’s school, then the rink?—
Apparently, I take too long, because Deirdre snorts into the line. “Let me guess. You have to check with yourgirlfriend?”
Woman, donotstart with me today. “I’m going to ignore that comment.”
“Really? Why?”
