Page 51 of Under the Radar

“Okay.”

I pressed a kiss to her head. “I’ll see you in the morning. Sleep well, baby.”

I hated leaving her, but I changed and brushed my teeth, sliding into my new bed with the soft sheets she had bought me. I left my door open, worried about the fact that with everything we talked about, Hannah might have nightmares, and I wanted to hear her. I lay there for about half an hour, sleep eluding me. I was staring at the ceiling when I heard the creak of the floors in the hall. Hannah hurried across my room, sliding into bed and tucking herself against me. I slipped my arm around her, holding her close. “What’s the matter?”

“I don’t want to be alone tonight,” she whispered. “Everything is too close. When I shut my eyes…” She trailed off.

“Okay,” I agreed easily. “I got you.”

She snuggled into my side, her head on my chest. “I like it here. I feel safe.”

“You are. Go to sleep. I’ll keep the ghosts away, okay?”

“We’ll protect each other.”

I passed my hand over her head. “Okay, baby. Sounds good.”

* * *

Nothing could bring me down on Monday. Not the customer who bitched about his bill. Not the fact that some parts we needed were on back order. Not even the news that the shingles I wanted were only available in a dark gray, not the light gray I wanted. I didn’t care.

“I don’t spend much time staring at my roof,” I said to the salesman on the phone.

“I can offer you a five percent rebate.”

“Sure. Order them.”

I hung up, and Charly cleared her throat from the doorway before sauntering in and sitting down. I kept my eyes on the pile of paperwork in front of me. “Yeah, Charly? What’s up?”

“That’s what I am wondering,” she said, tapping the pile of paperwork. “I’m over here, Chase.”

I sat back, meeting her gaze. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

She leaned close. “Horsefeathers. When I saw you last, you were moping around, all worked up about Hannah seeing someone. Regretting buying your house.”

“Your point?”

“Today, you’re Mr. Sunshine. Solving problems, dealing with assholes with a smile. Accepting a five percent discount. You should have held out for ten.”

I burst out laughing. “I don’t care about the color of the roof, Charly. Whether it’s light gray or dark gray. And I don’t need the money, so why make the guy’s life miserable? He probably dreaded making the call, and five percent is fine. As for the assholes and problems, it’s part of my job. I’m only doing what you pay me for.”

She crossed her arms and legs, one foot swinging in agitation. “How’s Hannah?”

“Not dating anyone else.”

Her eyes widened, her irritation with me forgotten. She grabbed my arm. “You talked to her?”

I bent over and kissed her cheek. “Yes, Mama Charly. I took your advice, and I talked to her. She and I spent all day yesterday talking. Sharing our stories. She knew about me being in jail. I gave her all the facts. She told me why she has nightmares.” I huffed out a long breath. “That was hard to hear.”

She rubbed my shoulder. “But you listened?”

“Yes. And I admitted my feelings to her. She told me she felt the same way. So, we’re working on that.”

Charly smiled, big and bright. “Oh, Chase. That’s awesome.”

“We’re going slowly. Neither of us wants to mess it up. It’s too important.”

“But you cleared the air.”