I drink the beer. It doesn't help.
My phone buzzes. For one stupid second, I think it's her calling back. It's not.
Luke: "You around tomorrow? Need help with the deck."
I type back: "What time?"
Luke: "Eight work?"
Me: "I'll be there."
I finish the beer and go inside. The cabin is quiet. Too quiet. I bought this place because I wanted space. I wanted to be alone after too many years of bunking with other soldiers, sharing quarters, never having a moment to myself.
Now the silence feels like punishment.
I shower and get into bed. Sleep doesn't come. I lie there thinking about things I shouldn't think about. Callie's hands when she gave me the donuts. The way her eyes met mine for half a second before looking away. The fact that I noticed she was wearing different earrings than usual.
I notice too much about her. Always have.
At some point, I fall asleep. When I wake up, it's six thirty and my alarm is going off. I get dressed, make coffee and try not to think about how Callie's coffee is better than anything I can make at home.
I fail.
By seven forty-five, I'm pulling up to Luke's house. He's already outside, work gloves on, looking at the deck like it personally offended him.
"Morning," I call out.
He turns and grins. "You're early."
"Couldn't sleep."
"Join the club." He tosses me a pair of gloves. "This shouldn't take more than a few hours if we hustle."
We get to work. Luke's deck needs new boards on the south side where the wood rotted out over winter. We pull up the bad planks and measure for replacements. The work is straightforward. Physical. Exactly what I need.
"How's the tech job?" Luke asks while we're cutting lumber.
"Same as always."
"That good, huh?"
I shrug. "Pays the bills."
"You ever miss it? The military?"
I think about it. "Sometimes. Not as much as I thought I would."
"What do you miss?"
"Knowing what I'm supposed to do. Having a mission."
Luke nods like he understands. He probably does. Luke spent four years in the Army before coming back to Hearts Bend. That's how we met. Different units, same deployment, same shitty forward operating base in Afghanistan.
We work in comfortable silence for a while. The sun climbs higher. I strip off my shirt when it gets too hot. Luke does the same.
"You seeing anyone?" he asks out of nowhere.
I almost drop the hammer. "No."
