Page 59 of Lovingly Restored

“You should get on with your day, Isaac. When I was starting Forward, I certainly didn’t have time to play Mr. Fix It. Besides, it looks like Ashlyn has some cleaning up to do.”

I bite my tongue until it hurts, and Isaac mouths an apology at me.

“Ugh, and Miss Carter?Thisis not the type of food I want to see in this house.“ He lifts up the box of Lucky Charms, clicking his tongue in disapproval.

Isaac barks out a laugh before he snags his shirt and opens the back door. I plunk the last few apples into the fruit bowl, probably bruising them.

Chapter nineteen

Isaac

Therockskipsoncebefore it sinks beneath the choppy waves. I needed to blow off some steam, so when I left the house and texted Chris, he told me to meet him at a nearby beach where he’d be finishing up his run. Pebble Bay is littered with broken shells that crunch beneath my boots. Faded driftwood decorates the coast, brought ashore by strong winds. I used to come here with my grandparents to have picnic lunches or with other kids in the neighbourhood to beachcomb at low tide. Maybe when our first job is done I could bring Mummo and Ashlyn here on a calm day.

“Your parents still have that cabin?” I ask Chris while he stretches his hamstrings.

“Yeah, it’s been empty all winter, though.”

“Think I can use it this weekend?”

“Thisweekend?”

A group of seagulls screeches nearby, fighting over the remnants of a dead crab.

“Yeah.” I give up trying to skip the rocks, trying instead to toss them as far as possible into the Pacific.

“Don’t we have work?”

“Everything’s ready.”

I’d made sure of it. Icouldpour over the plans again and again, stressing myself out, but that won’t make a difference. I’m going to go away for two nights and come back fresh.

“It’s only two nights.”

“You’re taking her, aren’t you?”

I nod, pulling at the back of my neck.

“Seems serious.”

“It’s not.” I whip another rock into the bay.

Chris tosses one a bit further. “You sure?”

No.“Yep.”

“You’re so full of shit,” he says, fiddling with something to do with his run on his smart watch.

“Wow, thanks for that.”

How can I be mad at him for stating the obvious?

“You ran out the door to get her from the bar a couple weeks ago like your first-born child was in mortal danger.”

“Excuse me, I had a very important role to play that night.”

He snorts, “More likeroleplaying.“ In a falsetto voice he says, “Nurse Ashlyn, help me, my dick is swollen.”

I shove him toward an incoming wave, soaking his sneakers with icy water. It’s gonna be a squishy walk home, asshole.

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