Page 61 of Seven Summers Ago

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BECK

How are you feeling?

Rosie

Much better. Thanks again for yesterday

Welcome

Mind if I come by tonight? To see Charlie?

Rosie

Charlie wanted to go to the beach today. Want to meet us at Jensen Beach?

If you don’t mind me tagging along

Rosie

Of course not. I want you to be able to see Charlie as much as possible before we go

So you’re still planning on going?

Rosie

We can talk more tonight

Fine

I’ll text you when I’m on my way

Iend the call and have the urge to chuck my phone into the ocean. Instead, I shove it into my pocket and throw my head back and release an untamed groan.

“That good, huh?” Jack’s voice sounds out and I turn around.

He’s standing on the porch holding out a coffee from Seashell Bookshop. I snatch it from him and grunt again.

“You’re welcome.” He takes a drink of his coffee, like him being here on my jobsite on a random weekday dressed in a suit is normal.

“Thanks,” I mumble, eyeing him below a furrowed brow. “What’re you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at work?”

“I’m the boss. I can do whatever the hell I want.”

“Huh. Well, I’m the boss too but here I am at work.”

“You need to hire better employees.”

“My brother works for me,” I argue.

“My point.”

I lean against the railing, facing Jack and the house, and lift my coffee to my mouth. “It’s the middle of the day. And you never just show up at my jobs. You okay?”

His jaw ticks. “Thought I should check on you. You’ve had a lot going on lately.”

“No shit.” I take a swig and shake my head.

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