Page 38 of Summer Sweethearts
What the hell does that mean? I tap to send it again, but no luck. None of them will deliver. Throwing my phone on the dash a little harder than planned, I lean my head against the back of my seat.She fucking blocked my number.
I grab my phone and slam the door as I head inside. I sink into my mattress, closing my eyes while trying to organize my thoughts. I need to let her cool down. Tomorrow, I’ll head to Orchid and talk to Jessica if she hasn’t called me by then. She will see this is all a huge misunderstanding and help me clear the air. Then things will be back on track, full steam ahead. No need to panic. This will be something we laugh at in the future.
* * *
Parking my truck in front of Jessica’s store, I feel like shit. I barely slept, and when I did, it was a shitty sleep, full of tossing and turning. Getting out of my truck, I walk to the door, opening it. Hope fills me at the sight of Jessica behind the counter. Her head snaps up when the bell over the door dings, letting her know someone is inside.
“What are you doing here, Mike?” she snaps, and I freeze. She can’t possibly think I’m leaving too. This was supposed to be my one shot at clearing the air, but the petite brunette scowling at me is leading me to think otherwise.
“I was hoping to talk to you and explain what happened yesterday,” I tell her, sincerity fueling my words as a half smile works my lips.
“Loretta told me she overheard you and Miss Molly talking. That you’re moving, leaving again.”
“That’s what I was trying to explain to Etta yesterday, but she wouldn’t let me get a word in before she threw me out. I’m not leaving, but I am moving. Molly is giving me my grandparent’s old house that’s been vacant for years. I was hoping to surprise Etta with it after the paperwork was official… and you too, of course,” I tell her, hope filling me that she’ll believe me.
“You’re serious?” she questions.
“Yes, I swear it. I was going to ask Etta to meet me there, tell her I wanted you guys to help me renovate it and move there with me. I wanted toreallystart a life together.”
“I swear, Mike, if you’re fucking with me,” she sighs, leaning against the counter.
“I’m not. Promise. It’s unconventional and new, but I like what we have, and I don’t wanna mess it up,” I plead with her.
“I’ll talk to her tonight after work. We’re supposed to be packing the shit you left at her house this weekend,” she teases me, and while I get she’s trying to lighten the mood, it’s not working.
“Perfect,” I grit. “I better get to work myself, or Cain is going to have my ass.”
I turn and exit the store as she calls ‘bye’ loudly behind me. Throwing her a wave over my shoulder, I push through the door, getting back in my truck.
Getting to the job site, I grab my tool belt and head inside. The homeowners are gone for the month while we renovate their kitchen. I turn the radio on, turning the volume up, and get to work ripping out the old cabinets.
Using my drill, I remove the screws before taking the cabinets out, section by section. Happy when they’re all off the wall, I carry them out to the dumpster we rented and throw them in. Next, I do the same with the laminate countertops and lower cabinets.
By the time I’m done, it’s lunchtime. I take a break, sitting down on my tailgate to eat. Deciding I need to check in with Molly, I shoot her a text, making sure we are still on for tomorrow morning at the bank. She responds right away, telling me we are. I thank the Lord at least one thing is going my way right now.
My hour break is up, and I head back inside, ready to tear up some flooring to work out the tension and anger pulsing through me. I can’t believe I just got Etta back and, just like that, she might be gone again.Damn infuriating woman.
JESSICA
Iget home from work, finding Loretta already in the living room with a tub of cookie dough ice cream while watching a movie. “Hey, babe, I didn’t expect to beat you home.” I put my keys on the table by the door and kick off my shoes.
“Dwight was training someone and was putting them through the wringer, so Aiden sent me home a bit early. Said he’d handle the chaos,” she rolls her eyes. Sounds about right. I don’t know Dwight as well as the others, but from what I do know, he’s an absolute drill sergeant in the kitchen.
“How was work?” she asks as I flop down on the couch next to her.
“It was good. Pretty busy, actually. Everyone was coming in looking for clothes for school since that starts next month, and I even had someone ask if I’d be getting in Halloween costumes. Which I never thought of carrying before, but I think I’m going to look into it.” I lean over and wrap my lips around her spoon, stealing her bite of dough.
“How are you, though? I mean, after last night?” I don’t wanna pry, but I think Michael is telling the truth, and she needs to hear it.
“Fine. I was prepared for him to leave again. Not like it’s anything new,” she deadpans.
Taking a deep breath, I decide to just get right to it. We’ve always been honest with one another, and I will not change that now. “Mike came to the store today.”
“For what?” she asks, her tone a mix of curiosity and pissed off.
“He said yesterday was all a misunderstanding, and that you didn’t hear all of the conversation. And you wouldn’t let him explain.” She whips her head toward me, her eyes glowering with disdain, and it makes me wince.
“There is no explanation. He’s moving. I heard that loud and clear,” she snaps.
