“Hey,” I greet after tapping the button to answer the call.
“Still working?” Camden asks.
“Nope, just finished up. Heading back to town now.”
“Good deal. Wanna grab a burger and then head to The Lizard?”
I quickly take stock of what I have in my fridge and realize it’s bare-bones. Not even leftovers I can reheat for a quick meal before showering and going to bed early. My mouth waters at the thought of a big, juicy burger and fries. “I’m in.”
Of course, that also means I’m in to go to The Tipsy Lizard afterward, because if I know my best friend at all, he’s not about to let me out of going. But honestly, maybe a good meal and a beer or two is exactly what I need at the end of a very long workweek.
“Want me to pick you up?” he offers.
“Sure.”
“Six thirty give you enough time to get ready?”
I glance at the clock. It’s almost five thirty. “Plenty of time.”
“All right, see you soon,” he says before signing off.
I drive to my little house on the east side of town, pressing the garage opener as I back into the driveway. The garage is really what sold me on this place a little over a year ago, when I decided to work for myself. It’s deep enough to fit my truck when I’m home but also has workspace in the back. The garage door is eighteen feet wide, big enough to accommodate two regular-sized vehicles, and thankfully, the previous owner installed one eight feet tall since they had a boat. If it was a standard seven-foot door, I’d be screwed.
Cooper Town is a relatively safe small town. Sure, we have the occasional theft or breaking and entering, but nothing terrible. I could leave my truck out in the driveway—and I do when I need a bigger space to work—but with the amount of money I have in the toolboxes, I just prefer to keep it inside.
Once I park, I lower the door and exit the garage. My stomach growls, reminding me what little bit I ate for lunch on my way to Ernie’s farm is long gone. Unlocking the back door, I step inside the tiny house and take a seat at the bench to remove my boots.
This house was on the market for months because of its small size and need for a little TLC. I got it for a steal, thanks to the previous owner just looking to offload it in an overly saturated housing market. Most people aren’t looking for an eight-hundred square foot one-bedroom, one-bath home, even if the garage is a handyman’s dream. For me, it’s perfect, thanks to the fact I can use the oversized garage space for my business. The house is just a place to eat, shower, and sleep, and none of those things require a large space.
I place my boots on the dryer and slowly rise from the bench. There’s a pinch in my lower back and my shoulders are stiff as hell, but I’m sure it’s nothing a good hot shower won’t fix. Well, that and some ibuprofen. When you work bent over a big part of the day, it does a number on your body.
When I reach the bathroom, I crank on the hot water. One thing about this place is, even though it’s small, I spared no expense on a top-of-the-line water heater. We installed a tankless system that turns hot and stays hot, so by the time I strip out of my work clothes and turn on a true crime podcast on my phone, steam is billowing from inside the shower and filling the space.
It’s heaven.
Thirty minutes later, I’m dressed in a pair of well-worn jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt, since the temperatures still drop at night, and a pair of athletic shoes. I wear work boots most days, all day, and sometimes, I just need the comfort of sneakers, even on a Friday night.
Camden will no doubt poke fun at me for my casual appearance, but I don’t care. I’m not going out to pick up women. I’m going to hang out with a friend and relax over a couple of drinks. Not that I’m opposed to meeting someone of the opposite sex and getting to know her better, but I’m not looking right now.
And, as if on cue, an image fills my brain.
One beautiful, perfect picture that always seems to pop up when I least expect it, with her quick wit and smart mouth.
Charli Miller.
My best friend’s older sister.
Ever since I was a young boy, probably about thirteen, I’ve been completely enamored with her. Okay, fine. I was smitten long before I was thirteen. Of course, back then, I was just a little boy wanting to play with Camden’s cool big siblings. Collin and Cade would only allow us to play with them because we tattled on them to their parents, and they insisted we get to play too. However, the moment their parents turned their backs, the twins took off, leaving Camden and me in their dust.
Charli was usually right there with her older twin brothers. She was a tomboy, climbing trees and hurdling fences until she hit junior high. Then, all of a sudden, she started paying attention to styling her hair and hanging out with her friends at the coffee shop in town.
And I was still paying attention to her.
I’m certain she’s going to be at the bar tonight. She usually drops by to see Lizzie, even if she’s not going to drink. Charli is all about gossiping and catching up with her brother Collin’s girlfriend, Lizzie Meyer. Ever since Lizzie purchased the old bar in town, where Collin works part time a night or two a week, the entire Miller family has brought her into their close circle.
Same with Oaklee, Cade’s girlfriend. She’s a nurse at the local medical clinic and started dating Cade sometime last fall. She’s pretty great too and fits in seamlessly with the entire Miller clan.
I’ll forever owe a huge debt to this family. When I was young, I was brought into the fold, and I will always believe that simple act changed my life and possibly even saved it. It gave me stability, something I never had in my actual home, and love. Not that I believe my own parents didn’t love me, but I was definitely not one of their top priorities.
