I scoffed. “No, I’m not.”
“You literally just described how you’re becoming part of a community.”
“It’s temporary,” I said firmly. “I was just trying to illustrate to you why I’m working odd jobs at the motel.”
“For the free pie.” It wasn’t a question, but the way he said it made me realize he was getting worried now. “You’re talking like you’re about to buy a truck and start saying things likemy local feed store.”
I snorted. “Please. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get in with the guys at the feed store? One step at a time, dude.”
“Theo.”
“What?” I shrugged. “I don’t have animals and they know it. Some of Avery’s friends work there, though. Maybe after this weekend?—”
“Jesus, Theo.” He shook his head. “You’re in some serious denial if you can say all that and still honestly believe you’renotputting down roots.”
“I’m not. This is just for now. I’ll be home by New Year’s. That was my deal with Alex. Three more months and then I’m back.”
I meant it, too. My family loved me, but there was a line to their patience, and while I was toeing it, I wouldn’t cross it. I just wasn’t in any hurry to reach it, so I was enjoying the slower pace of life and squeezing the best out of every minute.
Colin studied me for another second. “Okay. If you say so, but just keep that in mind while you’re trying to get in with the guys from the feed store and eating all that free pie. What about the girl, then? You still haven’t told me about her.”
“There’s not really much to tell. She’s just a girl. A local mechanic, actually. She’s helping with my bike and we’re becoming friends. Sort of.”
“Sort of?”
I shrugged. “She’s different, you know? She’s been through—and is going through—a lot, and she’s not the type who opens up easily. When I first got here, she didn’t trust me for shit, so yeah.We’re sort of becoming friends, but that’s really the only thing I can say about her.”
“What, you’ve actually met a woman who’s resistant to the charms of the great Theo West?—”
“Yep,” I cut him off before he announced my last name over the speaker to anyone who might be listening. He cocked an eyebrow at me, clearly surprised, but before he could latch onto it, I changed the topic. “I have a random question for you.”
“That’s a weird start, but okay. What’s up?”
“Do you know any contractors or factory connections in Arizona?”
His eyebrows shot up, surprise flickering clear as day in his eyes. “Uh, sure, but why?”
“No reason yet. I’m just asking. Business opportunities are about to become abundant out here, so I figured I’d find out.”
He frowned. “What does that mean,about to?”
“Half the town is aging out at the same time,” I explained. “Gaps are going to start forming and there’s a lot of potential here, but I’ll keep you posted.”
Unlike every corporate instinct I’d been raised to develop, this didn’t feel predatory. I liked these people and I wanted to help if I could.
Colin’s expression softened a little. “Yeah. Okay. Just keep me in the loop and we’ll see what we can do.”
We said goodbye a minute later, and when I looked up as I slid my phone back into my pocket, I caught sight of Frieda from the corner of my eyes, snooping as usual. I shook my head at her, but she just pumped her eyebrows in return, taking a long drag of her cigarette before motioning for me to get back to work.
So far, I’d been pretty good at flying under the radar, but I had no idea how long that was going to last. Especially once she finally put two and two together.
CHAPTER 14
RAQUEL
By Friday morning, I was packing up my renovation supplies. With the future still so uncertain, the only thing I knew for sure was that for this weekend, at least, I wouldn’t be getting anything done at the house.
Since Avery would be out of town, there was no one else to check on Dad and I didn’t want to be stuck on the roof or in a drainpipe if he needed me. I also wasn’t sure yet what to do about the house long term, but for now, I’d decided to keep fixing it up as and when I could, which meant neatly boxing up the supplies until I had time to dig back in again.
