Page 40 of Brick

CHAPTER TWELVE

Brick

Brick mopped the sweat off his face with the bandana he always kept in his back pocket. The plumbers finished up their part yesterday, and he was knocking out the punch list at the Burgundy house with the quiet guy, Matt. Kane worked at the other site, since this part didn’t really require three men. Brick could’ve done it alone, but Robby never scheduled anyone to do stuff by themselves.

The kid had dropped by to check things out and deliver a cooler filled with red sports drinks. “Can you believe this heat? It’s usually June before it gets this bad. How are you holding up, Brick?”

He took one of the offered bottles and unscrewed the cap. “The drinks help. Thanks, kid.” Guzzling down some icy-cold Gatorade took some of the edge off the sweltering heat.

“The forecast says it will be better tomorrow.” Robby shot him a winning grin. “You look like you’re in a good mood this morning, which is awesome. I worried about you a little after the other day. I guess I’m not used to seeing you bummed out. You were kind of like a sad Incredible Hulk.”

Wait. What?

Robby’s thoughts had obviously moved on, his eyes shifting from side to side. “Um. Where’s Matt? I, uh, I thought he might be thirsty too.”

Ah. One mystery solved. “Matt, huh?”

Robby’s expression looked like a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar.

“Well, I’ll be damned.”

“What? No. I mean. Crap,” Robby stammered. “I wanted to give the man a drink. No big deal.”

Chuckling, he gestured toward the stairs. “He’s on the second floor.”

Robby pasted a bored expression on his face, but his eyes were still like a deer caught in headlights. Taking a deep breath in, then letting it out, he started toward the stairs.

“Hey, kid?”

Robby looked over his shoulder.

“You might want to bring the drinks.”

Squeezing his eyes together tightly, Robby grabbed a bottle from the cooler and headed toward his target. Too bad the kid was barking up the wrong tree. Robby deserved a nice guy to make him happy.

He hadn’t seen Matt so much as acknowledge Robby’s existence. The man wasn’t rude or anything, simply self-contained. And if the car seat in his sensible sedan gave any indication, he had a baby at home.

Still, Robby couldn’t help how he felt about Matt any more than Brick could about Olivia. Knowing something’s impossible in your head doesn’t really change what’s in your heart. If it did, life would be a hell of a lot easier.

Robby came back down, carrying only a fraction of the high spirits he had before. He also still carried the Gatorade. “He already had a drink,” he murmured as he dropped it back in the cooler.

“Sorry, kid.”

Robby flinched a little with his words, and he resolved never to call him a kid again. “Robby,” he said deliberately. “You can’t take it personally. You’re a great guy. Matt…just doesn’t seem to be looking for a guy right now.”

Robby didn’t quite smile, but something in his face did change. “Thanks, Brick. I know I’m stupid sometimes, but you never make me feel ridiculous. I’m glad you’re my friend.”

For once, he didn’t argue. He let the compliment wash over him as Robby patted him on the back and walked out to his truck a little bit lighter than when the day began.

Maybe he could be a good guy. If he could ever get away from his old life.

***

Liv

It had been way too long since Liv had shared a meal with Carol and her girlfriend. So, when they invited her to Alma Cocina for Mexican to celebrate the end of the school year, declining didn’t even occur to her. Besides, Rosita said their carnitas were to die for.

She rushed home and washed off the stink from her visit to the gym. She made it to the restaurant at exactly seven-fifty-nine. One minute to spare before their agreed-upon time.

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