19
BECK
How are you feeling?
Rosie
Much better. Thanks again for yesterday
Welcome
Mind if I come by tonight? To see Charlie?
Rosie
Charlie wanted to go to the beach today. Want to meet us at Jensen Beach?
If you don’t mind me tagging along
Rosie
Of course not. I want you to be able to see Charlie as much as possible before we go
So you’re still planning on going?
Rosie
We can talk more tonight
Fine
I’ll text you when I’m on my way
Iend the call and have the urge to chuck my phone into the ocean. Instead, I shove it into my pocket and throw my head back and release an untamed groan.
“That good, huh?” Jack’s voice sounds out and I turn around.
He’s standing on the porch holding out a coffee from Seashell Bookshop. I snatch it from him and grunt again.
“You’re welcome.” He takes a drink of his coffee, like him being here on my jobsite on a random weekday dressed in a suit is normal.
“Thanks,” I mumble, eyeing him below a furrowed brow. “What’re you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at work?”
“I’m the boss. I can do whatever the hell I want.”
“Huh. Well, I’m the boss too but here I am at work.”
“You need to hire better employees.”
“My brother works for me,” I argue.
“My point.”
I lean against the railing, facing Jack and the house, and lift my coffee to my mouth. “It’s the middle of the day. And you never just show up at my jobs. You okay?”
His jaw ticks. “Thought I should check on you. You’ve had a lot going on lately.”
“No shit.” I take a swig and shake my head.
