Page 19 of Shake the Habit

Marc heard the story from Taygen, who lived in their neighborhood—the news had spread. He was already laughing about it when he came into the office the next morning. “He ate the whole pot roast?” He snickered and Sir, who had totally recovered, bounced happily.

“It’s not funny. I’m in a terrible mood,” I warned him.

“I know something that will make you feel better. I sent the bid on the barn over to Caleb Woodson yesterday, and he already got back to me.”

I stood up. “And?” I prompted. My cousin smiled and I whooped. “We got it!”

“Thanks to you,” Marc told me after we’d finished our celebration dance. “It’s because of you.”

“I didn’t do anything but tell him the truth about what a fine person you are,” I said. “I wonder who else bid on the project.”

Marc shrugged. “I asked around and nobody even heard of it, so maybe we’re the only ones.”

“That can’t be right. Caleb doesfinancial services.”

“What does that mean?” my cousin asked.

“I don’t fully understand but obviously it’s to do with finances. He’s exactly the type to get multiple bids.”

“Maybe from contractors based in Chattanooga, then. Nobody else local knew about him, unless they’re just not saying because they’re mad that the new guy won.”

We did another dance, and Sir joined in by jumping.

I had Caleb’s number because he’d gotten mine before he’d gone to pick up the pizza, just in case. He’d texted to ask if I wanted him to get some drinks while he was out, and he’d brought back sweet tea. Nothing alcoholic, although I’d told him that I didn’t mind if he had a beer or two. “I’m not much of a drinker,” he’d told me. “I won’t miss it.” I thought about texting him now to say thank you, but then decided that I should leave him alone. This was business, nothing to do with me.

“I’m going out to his place today,” Marc said, grinning, but I made him sit down and together we produced a very detailed strategy and timeline for him and the subs. It took us what felt like forever, and we were both hungry and snippy when it was finally finished.

“Do you even allow lunch?” he asked me.

“You’re the boss!” I reminded him angrily. “If employees are going hungry, it’s your fault, not mine!”

“Let’s blame our lack of food on Sir, because I bet you would have brought some good leftovers if he hadn’t gotten into the roast.”

That was true, because the collards and black-eyed peas had disappeared fast as the dinner party guests had waited for my father to come back with the new main course, pizza. My mama had been humiliated.

Marc went to get lunch for both of us and I stayed back to keep prepping for what would be this company’s biggest test yet. He was remodeling his own house, which had formerly belonged to our cousin Cassidy, and that was a big job, too—but he was generally unconcerned about timelines or even about cost. Now, with this barn project, we would be doing things differently. While Marc was out, I texted him several times about issues I considered very pressing, so that when he got back (still hungry), we had more to argue about.

In fact, my cousin slapped a paper bag on my desk and told me I was taking things too far if I couldn’t even let him go for half an hour without harassment, and I stomped over to him and said that things weren’t going far enough, because I’d seen his credit card bill and if he wanted to pay for his wedding, he’d knock off…

I stopped myself. Most of his charges had been things for Taygen, and we weren’t getting anywhere with fighting.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “We’ll have lunch first and then I’ll take Sir for his walk.” But when I turned around? That dog had grabbed my sandwich off my desk and had left me with only a bit of greasy paper. I got another lunch, then spent some of my afternoon exploring dog training options.

It seemed that he needed some work, but who didn’t? You could fail any number of times, but you had to get back up and try again, even if someone had taken your sandwich.

Chapter 5

“My mama used to say that it’s ersatz. Do you know what that means?”

“No, ma’am,” I answered my aunt. I held up the necklace and admired how the stones twinkled, even though she kept her house so darn dark. At least it was warm, unlike other places.

“I didn’t think you would,” Aunt Paula said, nodding with satisfaction. “It means they’re faux diamonds, not real. But they look good, and no one needs to know. Speaking of looks, what are you doing with your hair?”

“My curling iron broke,” I mumbled. It was a lie. I’d spent much too long out with Sir this morning, exercising him until both of us almost had to lie down and rest in the road.

But it had worked, and my aunt commented on it now. “I don’t know why your mama said he was a devil,” she crooned, petting him. “He’s as sweet as pie.”

“She said he was a devil? My Lord. It was just one pot roast!”

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