Page 59 of Mended Fences
How’s it looking?
I took stock of my surroundings. The place didn’t look half bad. It was in no way good enough for a Harvard-educated doctor, but I couldn’t imagine she’d be staying here forever—just long enough to get away from that douchebag and get settled.
CHASE
Sorry, just saw this.
Looks better. Want me to grab some pizza? I can help you unload.
It was an innocent enough offer. Tessa didn’t need to know my motives behind it. I held my breath while I waited for a reply.
TESSA
That would be great. Thanks, Chase. You really came through.
CHASE
No prob. See ya in an hour.
Fuck. An hour.I needed a shower—bad.
I loaded the industrial-strength cleaning supplies back in my truck, leaving Elena a few bottles of the household cleaners under the sink.
On the drive back to Mom and Dad’s house, I ordered a pizza for pickup. When I got home, I bounded down the stairs and across the basement, shedding my clothes as I went. The hot water hit my tired muscles, and I scrubbed away the day’s grime with drug store body wash.
My reflection in the foggy mirror revealed dark circles under my eyes.Not my best look.I ran my fingers through my wet hair, trying to achieve that perfect balance between styled and effortlessly messy.
The clock ticked away as I dabbed on some cologne—not too much, just enough. My hands shook slightly as I put on jeans and buttoned up a clean flannel shirt. I grabbed my keys and headed for my truck, stopping quickly in the garage to steal a six pack of beer from Dad.
I reached the Sable Point Pizza House with ten minutes to spare. My fingers drummed on the carryout counter as I waited for whatever high schooler was supposed to be waiting on me but was probably in the back making out with their girlfriend.It’s what I would have done.
When three minutes ticked by, irritation got the better of me. “Hello! Anyone here?”
“Chill, man,” the little pimpled prick said when he finally came up front.
I pointed a finger in his face. “Donottell me to chill. I’m picking up for Everton.”
By the time I finally had the pizza in hand, it was nearly seven. Fortunately, the cottage was just around the block.
When I pulled up, there were two cars in the driveaway.
And one woman standing on the walkway to the front door.
Mywoman.
Chapter Nineteen
ELENA
Then, April 2024
I waselbow-deep in a box of medical textbooks in what would become my living room when Tessa’s voice rang out from the kitchen.
“Oh, damn. Chase did good.”
The heavy Harrison’s Internal Medicine textbook slipped from my fingers, thudding against the worn hardwood floor. My breath caught in my throat, and I had to grip the edge of the box to steady myself. Just his name was enough to make my pulse skip. “What? Did good with what?”
Tessa appeared in the doorway. She’d been unloading dishes in the kitchen for the last few minutes. “I didn’t get a chance to come over and clean good for you, so Chase came over this morning and did it.”
