Page 59 of Chasing Stars
I smile, shaking my head. “Sorry. I was daydreaming, I guess. What did you say?”
“I said, how about I meet you around noon at your house?” He raises an eyebrow.
“Sure. That sounds good,” I breathe, standing on my tiptoes to plant a kiss on his lips.
“I’ll see you then,” Miles murmurs against my lips, and the chill it sends through me makes me want to pull him back to the bedroom and convince him to stay home. He pulls back though and points at Pete. “Be good, boy.”
And then he’s gone, and I miss him already.
After walking Pete,I come back to the condo and bundle up. The Jersey coast finally got the memo that autumn is in full swing. I put on fleece-lined leggings and an oversized chunky sweater. Then I settle next to Pete on the sofa that I’ve grown quite fond of. It’s much softer than the scratchy vintage one in my house. Pete joins me as I power up my laptop and log into my 401(k) account. So far, Danny has been extremely accommodating and hasn’t billed me for a thing.
“I’ll put it on your tab,” he says every time I ask. I am growing tremendously uncomfortable with the idea of a tab, and I feel certain that the number is astronomical by now.
One plus is that I opened a 401(k) at twenty-two, when I got my first job after college, and I haven’t touched a dime of it in thirteen years. Surely, I can take a minor tax hit rather than apply for a home equity loan. After three failed password attempts, I finally log in. That shows how often I’ve looked at it. Though I feel reassured that the number is in the mid-five figures. Perhaps that’s enough to pay Danny what I owe him.
I call the account administrator, and after fifteen minutes on hold, I spend the next thirty learning how to make a hardship withdrawal. I might actually be able to pay Danny without a massive tax hit. Relief floods me, making me realize just how much stress I was carrying over this house. I still don’t know if I’ll stay in Cape May, but it’s seeming more and more likea possibility. Miles could get tired of me in another week and break things off, especially since I’m all but moved into his space. But at least I won’t be leaving town owing Danny anything. And if Miles doesn’t break things off? I’m starting to imagine myself here, with him. Maybe I’ll start my own business in the place my parents loved. It’s a lovely thought that I’m not letting go of yet.
I close my laptop and exhale. Pete lifts his big block head at the sound and puts it back down in my lap. I ruffle his ears. “Oh, Pete,” I sigh. “What does my future hold?” To be honest, I haven’t been able to envision it much past these next few weeks. I have been floundering without the responsibility of my mom to care for and a nine-to-five to go to every day. I’ve been floating around. I think it’s time I put some thought into where I’d like to land. I think it’s here, but I’m scared.
Pete whines and licks my hand, prompting me to look at my watch. Shit! It’s noon. I’m going to be late meeting Miles.
“Sorry, Pete! I have to go meet your da—owner.” I scowl at myself. “I guess he’s your dog dad,” I admit with a smirk.
Pete sits up on his hind legs, looking at me over the couch as I slip into my Ugg ankle boots and jacket. He’s practically begging to come with me.
“Okay,” I relent. “Come on.”
Pete jumps excitedly off the couch and follows me to the front door. I slip his harness over his head, and he pulls me out the door and down the steps to the parking lot.
I laugh. “You riding shotgun?”
When we pull up to my house on Monarch Street, Danny, Miles, and Liam are standing in the front yard. From a distance, they seem to be just shooting the breeze, but as I get closer, I catch Miles's furrowed brow and the way all three men huddle over a notebook in Danny’s hands.
I hop out of the car and Pete follows me out the driver’s side, pulling me around the car to the front yard.
“I was getting worried about you,” Miles says, taking a step toward me and grabbing my hands. He moves closer, ignoring the guys, with a smoldering gaze that looks like he wants to carry me upstairs.
“Sorry,” I say, pecking his lips. “I was on the phone with my investment bank,” I murmur.
“Why?” Miles pulls back, studying my face.
I sigh and gesture toward Danny. “Because this place is a money pit, and I have to be able to pay for it.”
Danny and Liam look up from the notebook. “Hey, Jenna,” Danny says.
“Jenna.” Liam nods in my direction. Man of few words, that one.
“Hi, guys.” I step away from Miles and walk toward Danny. We all stand in a cluster. “Danny, I am ready for you to give me a bill,” I say definitively.
“Well, hold that thought,” Danny says cautiously. “We’ve got to go over some things.”
Fear envelops me just as quickly as relief did earlier. I should have known it was too good to last. “What’s wrong?”
Miles steps closer and puts his hand on my shoulder. “Nothing that we can’t work out, right guys?” Miles raises his eyebrows at his friends optimistically.
Danny clears his throat and licks his lips. “The thing is, Jenna, when the ceiling caved in, it caused a ton of damage to the kitchen cabinets. Water got under the linoleum, so now the subfloor needs to be replaced. I have to take a more thorough look at the ceiling in the dining room and just outside the kitchen—it appears to be sagging in spots.” He hesitates, and I cut in.
“So, what you’re saying is…this is going to cost way more than I was expecting?” I wince.
