Page 27 of Mixed Connection
We started focusing on our own houses in college when we did odd jobs for his dad and grandfather, Anders being naturally handy with an eye for seeing the end goal before the walls are even up, he simply had a calling for it. Besides, he’s always had a way with hearing my ideas and turning them into the vision I pictured in my own mind, even if I was unable to fully explain everything. He may be a general contractor, but I think design is his true passion. I’m just waiting for him to admit it or open up a new division in our company. Working together is seamless and that’s the way I like it. Since joining forces and co-owning Crews, we haven’t often had the chance to work side by side with each other. He is the ying to my yang when it comes to business. Having the chance to work on this project together feels like old times. But fuck if I am not tired of working and it is barely past two in the afternoon.
“I’ll say it. It was a rookie mistake that I wouldn’t have made if I wasn’t living on the property. I’ll start looking into hotels. I even considered my parents’ place.” The tension in my voice is apparent but not aimed at Anderson.
“I don’t know why you aren’t there anyway, the place is fully renovated and I didn’t think anyone was living in it,” he says.
“Before I came into town, there was a family using it as a short-term rental but they just requested an extension. I don’t have the heart to tell them no,” I respond to a flighty Anders, who’s already shouting his response back to me.
“Shit, forgot something in the truck. Be right back.” He rushes out to the car, leaving the front door open in his wake.
Glancing at the doorway, I pile some of the old flooring in my arms before making my way to the backyard where the dumpster was delivered at the crack of God’s ass this morning. Nothing in my body would make me a morning person. Did I still get up early as hell and get things done? Yeah, but I am still going to hate it when I do. Shrugging to no one but myself as I toss the old tile. Just as I’m about to turn back into the house, my phone chirps with a notification from my girl. I don’t quite know when I decided she was mine but she is, whether she knows it or not.
Anders walks in before I get a real chance to respond to Cassidy and he’s right back into work mode. He has no off switch unless there is food involved. Dude is a foodie!
“I’m glad you are finally seeing it my way, brother. There’s always space on my couch if you want it.” He claps me on the back and points his thumb over his shoulder at a bag on the counter.
Walking over to it, the plastic crinkles as he pulls out a couple of brown paper bags that have darkened in some areas. Grease. My stomach chooses that moment to express just how hungry I am.
Still holding my phone in one hand, another notification pops up on the screen. “You got that goofy-ass grin on your face again, fool. Let’s take a break.” Anders walks out of the room with his hands full, his arms holding multiple brown paper bags.
“You are the man!” I exclaim and I follow, grabbing one of the bags from his extended hand.
He laughs before biting into one of the Cuban sandwiches he picked up for us. Simple pleasures are my favorite. Nothing is better than good food, no matter if it’s a five-star meal or a toasted Cuban from a corner sandwich shop.
I quickly unwrap mine, diving in and taking a bite far too big for my mouth, but enjoying it regardless. That’s until I feel something cold drip down the side of my face and just know it’s mustard.
“You gonna tell me about that goofy grin or what man? It’s Cassidy who’s got you acting all gooey isn’t it?” He asks, exaggerating the oo sound in gooey. Anders and I have always been really close and I’m surprised that he held out this long. This fool can’t even keep gifts a secret, at most he rolls the bag up before handing it to you, way before the day it’s meant for.
I shake my head, holding back a laugh from the memory of him handing me my birthday gift early, a few years back. My birthday was months away but he couldn’t stop himself. I was picking him up for lunch before we had to go into work; he got in the truck and tossed the gift bag at me with a big-ass smile on his face. He had just bought it and still had the receipt in the bag and everything. He’s not just a friend but a brother to me.
Swiping the napkin across my mouth, I swallow and finally answer his question, “Yeah, it’s her. I can’t get her out of my head and I don’t want to. I don’t know man, we just click together like puzzle pieces.” The grin makes its way back to my face as I think of her. She makes me feel a lightness in my body, and a calm that can remove any worry plaguing me, things I’ve not experienced before.
“There is just something about her that makes it easy to be who I am, even in the small interactions we’ve had. It’s” —nodding my head side to side, I attempt to find a word about her that fits—“effortless man, she is just the right amount of everything, and somehow it’s effortless. Cassidy isn’t a woman I want to ever forget about. I’ve always wanted a woman who’s sure of herself, strong in her beliefs, and knows what she wants in her life. I want to build a life with someone who can ebb and flow with me, where we can laugh until we grow old and senile.She’s funny as hell bro, and beautiful. I’ve had a crush on her since seeing her in the halls in high school. It’s crazy how the universe brings people back together.”
“It sounds like you might have found your girl,” he replies, not quite a question as he shoves a piece of the honey-toasted Cuban sandwich into his mouth.
I nod my head, taking another bite of mine.
“When Crews worked on Shaken Tropes, Cass and I built an easy friendship. She has a way about her that makes you feel like family, like you belong in her circle. If she’s the one for you J, how are you going to make a relationship work being a nomad?”
“It’s a concern I’ve been trying to figure out.”
“You know the answer is as easy as moving, right?” Anders squints his eyes at me as he stuffs the last bite of his sandwich in his mouth.
“Isn’t it too soon for that? She would think I was crazy if I just up and moved here,” I reply. But even saying that out loud doesn’t seem quite right.
“Look bro, I’m gonna be real with you, okay?” He pauses briefly to make sure I’m listening. “Cassidy isn’t someone who is going to give a rat’s ass about ‘too soon’ if it’s right and if what you say is true, then it is. Figure out your shit and make a choice.” He’s right and I know it. There is only one choice I have to make but I want to be sure, I won’t flip flop around with her heart.
“Guess I have some figuring out to do. I can’t imagine not having her in my life. I’ve got it bad.” I huff a laugh through my nose thinking about her book suggestion and make a mental note to start reading one of them tonight if I’m not too tired from the day’s work.
I’ve never bothered with dating around. Have I dated? Of course, I’ve dated women but I never let it get too deep. I knowwhat I want and maybe I was just waiting for the curls and hips to show me the way.
Grabbing my phone from the counter, I open the text thread, unable to hold back any longer. After our date, I switched her name in my contacts to the nickname I call her by, even more than her own name.
Babygirl
Do you want to come over to the bar tonight?
Is 9pm too late?
