Page 64 of Unexpected Love
“Are you sure this is even a relationship? Or is it a matter of convenience, with a side bonus of hot sex?”
And that’s the real question. Is this thing with Cal real? Or have I fallen into a pattern of allowing myself to be used while also taking advantage of the ways Cal could help me. Is it just about great sex and helping each other out of a tight spot?
Unsettled, I shove away from the counter and make a point of glancing at my watch. If I didn’t have the energy to sort things out with Lissette, I certainly don’t have the energy to sort things out about whatever this is with Cal.
“I’ve got to run and get Charlie and check on my sister-in-law,” I say to change the subject. “The woman amazes me. Fresh out of the hospital and already back at her normal life.”
Maggie follows me to the door and waits as I lock up. Then she pulls me in for a hug as we say our goodbyes.
“You know, for what it’s worth. I think you’d be a great mom.” And then she’s heading off across the street, leaving me with more questions than answers.
As I’m pulling in at my brother’s house, my cell phone rings, displaying the name of the inspector.
I shift into park and answer.
“Ms. Lancaster. I wanted to let you know that I’m denying your certificate of occupancy. It seems that you did not file for the proper permits prior to doing the work.”
All of the blood leaves my head, and my stomach drops as dread piles on in waves.
“What?”
“Permits. You failed to file building permits.”
“But how could you do an inspection if the permits weren’t taken out.”
“That’s not the issue. Your paperwork wasn’t filed properly.” He sounds like he couldn’t care less. Like this complete demolition of my entire business plan is but a blip on his radar. “I am unable to grant the CO.”
He ends the call.
I’m stunned. I check my phone to make sure that, yes, he did just hang up without further offering me any recourse. What anasshole.
With shaking fingers, I pull up Cal’s contact and hit dial.
“They denied my CO.” The words tumble out when he answers, and I’m seconds away from completely losing it. I need him to tell me there’s a mistake, that the guy’s wrong. That we can fix this.
“What? Why? We did everything by the book,” Cal argues.
“Well, apparentlywedidn’t doeverything, because he won’t give me the certificate,” I shoot back.
In the background, an alarm rings out, echoing as if he’s in a large room. “Jules…” He sounds exasperated, exhausted. “I’ve got to go. I’ll call them tomorrow and try to get more information.”
The line falls dead.
I want to scream.
I want to punch something.
I want to go home and drown my worries in a bottle of wine.
Instead, I’ve got to go inside this unruly house full of wild children and not yell at them. And then I’ve got to go play mommy to a kid who isn’t mine.
I wish he could’ve taken five minutes to talk to me about this, to help me process how this massive fuckup happened. Instead, I’m left with the realization that he will always have to drop and run. I will always be on the back burner, especially when his work has to come first.
And I don’t know if I want to be with someone who has a job that’s more important than me. I’ve been there and done that.
I don’t want to be the leftovers again.
Inhaling a fortifying breath, I push open the car door, still not quite ready to face my evening but knowing it’sdoing me no good to sit in the car prolonging the inevitable.
