Page 18 of Faker
“I swear, you’re more like a mom than my big sister. We owe you. Seriously.”
“The only thing you owe me are regular Skype sessions while you’re away,” I say. “Internet access permitting, of course.Speaking of Mom, I emailed her and let her know that I’d be Skyping you today, so be prepared for an onslaught of questions from her delivered through me for our next Skype session.”
“You’re an angel for how you accommodate her when she travels overseas.” Addy crinkles her nose in mock frustration. “Way to make me look bad, by the way. Even when she’s out of the country and you can’t do your weekly phone call with her, you email her regularly instead.”
“You’re traveling. She understands you’re not available. And every time I offer to pay for international coverage on her phone when she visits Auntie Marla in the Philippines, she rebuffs me. Says it’s not worth the money and that emailing is better anyway since we don’t have to pay extra for it.”
She chuckles. “I wish you were here.”
My throat squeezes with how much I miss her.
“We’d have a blast together and you’d be thousands of miles away from that jerkoff at work.”
I let out a heavy sigh. “It’s fine. I’ll survive. If you could send some good thoughts my way, though, I’d appreciate it. It’s our first day volunteering at the jobsite tomorrow. I have zero construction experience and will probably embarrass myself in front of everyone.”
“I’ll wish for a million construction hotties to magically show up and offer to help you.” She waves her hands in the air, like she’s casting a spell.
Her joking words make me think of Jamie.
“Oh, that face! Tell me!”
I curse the wide grin I let slip. “It’s nothing, but you know that hot guy I mentioned who dropped off the supplies? His company will be volunteering at the worksite too.”
Addy claps her hands. “Perfect opportunity to flirt some more, maybe even ask him out.”
Heat hits my cheeks. “We’ve only met once. I’m probably reading too much into it.”
“Come on, think positive! You’re a pretty girl. Give him a show while you hammer away in front of him tomorrow.” She winks, and I burst into a laugh.
“Enough about that. Enjoy the beach. Get a tan for me. And eat all the yummy tropical fruit you can find.”
She peers down at her watch. “Shoot, I’m supposed to meet Ryan at the market. I’d better get going. Miss you! Skype again in a few weeks, okay?” She waves at the screen and I wave back.
“Absolutely. Be safe. Love you!”
I shut my computer. Chatting with Addy was just what I needed to regain perspective. Tate isn’t some faultless saint. Yes, it’s wonderful that he’s helping Cal, but it doesn’t erase his treatment of me. Tomorrow I will be a beacon of professionalism, but I will take no crap from him if he tries to pull anything.
•••
NUTS & BOLTSemployees scatter around the worksite, eager to get started. Despite the nearly triple-digit temperature, everyone is in surprisingly good spirits.
A foundation for the house has already been laid by Midwest Family Homes. According to the emails Lynn sent out, we’re building a four-bedroom home with a basement. The entire block this house is located on boasts a half dozen homes in various states of progress. Volunteers from other companies and organizations hammer away around us.
Lynn finds an empty bucket to stand on and hollers for everyone’s attention.
“Everyone, thank you so much for volunteering your time to help with this worthy cause.”
Soft clapping follows, as well as more of Lynn’s encouraging words. I’m half listening, gazing at the neighboring worksites, wondering if the universe will smile upon me and bless me with a visit from Jamie. I even tucked his pen in the outer thigh pocket of my yoga pants. In my head, I play out our run-in. I retrieve the pen from my pocket while Jamie indulges in a full-body scan. I’m wearing an oversize T-shirt, but I’ve tied it into a side knot. Hopefully, that will make him think—
“You ready to work?”
The sound of Tate’s voice yanks me out of my midday fantasy. I twist around and am greeted with him scowling in ripped jeans and a loose-fitting gray T-shirt. He grips a drill.
“What?”
Lynn jumps off her bucket and the crowd disperses. She waves while darting past us, her thick bangs peeking from under a yellow hard hat.
Tate lets out a slow exhale. “Weren’t you listening? We’re working on the frame, and those of us with construction experience are supposed to buddy up with the clueless—I mean, inexperienced volunteers.”
