Page 123 of Mountain Boss

“That’s probably not good.”

Crawling backward until I clear the table, I shift onto my butt and use my phone to google possible issues.

Ten minutes later, with the small metal panel removed from the end of the heater, I accept that I’m fucked.

Sometime since the previous winter, when the heater was last used, some small creature got in here and chewed the wires. Which are hardwired into the unit and way above my pay grade.

And from what I can tell, it costs just as much to have an electrician repair this as it does to just install a new unit.

I bite down on my lip.

The cost is… It’s too much.

Anywhere from four hundred to twelve hundred dollars.

And I have two hundred to my name.

Fighting the urge to cry, I stand and pull Spike off the windowsill.

“Promise I’ll figure this out,” I tell her. Then I place her on top of the counter over the dryer. “This will help in the meantime.” I twist my discarded sleep pants around her, gently resting the material on top of her spines.

I go back to the thermostat and turn it off.

I don’t know if there’s a risk of fire or if turning it off even mitigates that risk completely, but it makes me feel like I’m doing something.

Back in my bedroom, I pull on my thickest socks and I drag my sweatshirt on over Sterling’s flannel before climbing into bed.

Lying in the dark, I run through the list ofshould I or shouldn’t I.

I should tell Sterling because it’s his building on his property.

I shouldn’t tell Sterling because he wouldn’t have to fix the heat if I wasn’t staying here.

I should tell him because I think he would want to know.

I shouldn’t tell him because he’ll feel obligated to fix it. And then he’ll spend lots of money on something that’s just for me, and that makes me feel weird. Especially since I’m already dependent on him for a place to live. And for the money I’m earning. And because even at the end of the month, when I get my first paycheck, I still won’t be able to afford to live anywhere else.

I shouldn’t tell him.

Another shiver runs through me, and I pull the blankets up to my nose.

I can ask one of the guys if there’s a space heater available. Keep it on the down-low.

I just need it warm enough so the water pipes don’t freeze.

Once I get paid, I can get my own heater. Maybe a heated blanket too.

Closing my eyes, I snuggle deeper under my bedding.

If Sterling extends my work past December, I’ll probably have enough money to fix the heat.

And if he doesn’t…

I roll onto my side.

It’s still October.

That’s future Courtney’s problem.

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