Page 22 of Roughing
Maybe working for a homeless organization was a good way of atoning for my sins when it came to my sister. She’d spent the majority of her short adult life as a homeless person despite my efforts to help her. I hadn’t been there when she’d needed me most, and now I’d never have the chance to see her again.
The studio was a pet project of the team’s ownership group. The focus was on providing homeless or disadvantaged adults with a creative outlet and a source of income. The creations at Rainbow Unicorn were sold in a trendy art gallery owned by the team owner’s granddaughter and daughter-in-law. They’d also been sold for big bucks at charity auctions.
The Uni was in a run-down part of town and not far from Michella’s office, which gave me a reason to be in the area without looking as if I were interfering or hovering when I actually was.
I’d done a lot of thinking about the mysterious “prowler” at Gone Missing and who the person could be. The obvious choice would be her ex, Gordon, of course, as he had a history of stalking her. But what if it wasn’t him? Several young women had disappeared in Portland in the past couple years under questionable circumstances. The Portland PD hadn’t admitted to the cases being connected, but the press sure as hell thought they were and had dubbed the alleged serial killer the Rose City Killer.
All of this talk of a serial killer brought out my protective instincts. I wasn’t up on the news about this asshole, but I worried about Michella spending time in areas where he’d dumped bodies. In fact, one had been dumped within blocks of her office. Working for a PI could put her in his line of sight. Or I was being suspicious, which was more likely the case.
And what the fuck had I been thinking to propose this friendship thing with Michella? I was setting myself up for heartbreak because I didn’t trust my ability to control my baser needs around her, but I’d promised to try my best. She wasn’t completely on board, but she seemed willing to give our friendship a chance.
Her car was in the shop owned by her uncle, who’d offered to do the repairs for only the cost of parts. The downside being that he’d work on it when he didn’t have more paying customers waiting. I’d gladly become her chauffeur these past few days, but she kept me at arm’s length. Other than our time in the car, we didn’t see each other.
Tonight, I picked her up from work as we were both going to the Rainbow Unicorn. She walked out to my truck dressed in heels, leggings, and a colorful blouse that billowed around her slim body in the most provocative way. I took a moment to appreciate what a striking, put-together woman she was. I’d never seen anyone as beautiful as her. I appreciated the time she took on her appearance, but she looked fantastic the rare time or two I’d seen her without makeup and in ratty clothes.
In keeping with our just-friends status, I didn’t get out and open the door for her. She didn’t notice my lapse in manners, probably because I often had lapses in manners, so this was nothing new.
“Off to the Uni,” she announced with one of her radiant smiles. We’d be working on reclaiming part of the old building to increase the studio size and create space for other activities.
“I’m a little nervous,” I admitted.
Michella shot me a questioning glance, her surprise evident. “Nervous? Why?”
“My teammates probably won’t welcome my presence.”
She patted my leg. “Deal with them like you do any hockey game. Keep it simple and be confident. You’ll do fine. You know what else?”
“What?”
“That’s the first time you’ve volunteered how you’re feeling.”
I’d volunteered too much. I’d rather be the strong, silent type who never gave away his feelings.
“And you hate every minute of it.”
“Yeah.”
Michella laughed. “Briggs, why are you doing this?”
“What?”
She waved her hands around to encompass the area inside and outside the truck. “Why the change of heart? Is this because of your suspension? Is the team forcing you to do this?”
“Yeah.”
“There’s no other reason?”
“Does there need to be anything else?”
“You’re so infuriating. Why won’t you talk to me?” Michella sighed heavily and pressed her lips in a thin, disapproving line. I’d disappointed her, but there were places I wasn’t willing to go, even for her.
We walked into the Uni, and several of my teammates were already assembled along with their significant others, including Dash and Everly, Grady and Aspen. Trent, one of ourAcaptains and Dash’s best friend, was also there. I ignored their questioning glances and stood off to one side. I wasn’t here to shoot the shit with these guys. I’d come to work. After multiple aborted attempts to draw me into the conversation, they gave up.
Relief rushed through me when we finally made our way into the warehouse area where walls needed demolished and decades of crap hauled to the dumpster behind the building. Trent and I were tasked with dismantling metal shelving after we cleaned off the shelves. Dust and grime coated every flat surface, and I noticed Michella gravitated to a cleaner task. She hated to get dirty.
Trent’s phone buzzed as we started our task.
He gazed down at it and muttered expletives under his breath. After tapping out a response, he grimaced sheepishly at me. “Sorry, I’m in a group chat with my sisters, and we’re having a disagreement. The three of them against me.”
