“I don’t know if you're interested, but my brother-in-law mentioned a job to me last night. A night job, like you said you wanted.”
I dropped my tools and tugged off my gloves. Wiping the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand, I studied him.
I was panting from the hard work; the only way I could stop the endless thoughts of losing Lila and of being a part-time dad.
The night job, he told me, was working security on a site that was near completion not too far from here. Decent money for what it was, he reckoned.
“Okay, thanks.” I nodded to him as he told me where he’d seen the job advertised—on a fence surrounding the building.
Terry whistled as he walked away, and I pulled my gloves back on.
Night work. In addition to a full-time day job.
Who needed sleep anyway?
34
LILA
“I’m sorry, I honestly thought you’d have a few offers on the table by now,” the realtor admitted, plastering on a smile.
I stared at her before my gaze dropped to my stomach. I needed to get the house sold ASAP or ask my cheating husband to move back in to pay the bills.
What a choice. One I had no control over.
“Here’s the thing,” I said, glancing around us. Her office was huge, but she shared it with other realtors and assistants. The receptionist was constantly answering calls, and people were milling about waiting to be seen. “I either need to sell it, like,yesterday, or take it off the market. I need you to be real with me.”
The realtor stared back at me. “Well, youcouldtry dropping the price, but… other houses in your area sold for what you’re asking for six months ago, and the market hasn’t changed that significantly. It doesn’t help that the school year has just started, so there aren’t many families looking to buy right now. Maybe take it off until spring?”
I appreciated her honesty, I did; butspring? It’s months away. I’d be heavily pregnant and?—
I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
I knew what I had to do.
“Take it off, and I’ll come back to you in the spring.”
Her face brightened, already checking out the people looking at the listings on the wall. “Okay. That’s a smart move, and you get one last winter and Christmas there!”
I filled in the paperwork, signing every dotted line until I was back outside in the chilly air.
Fuck. I was pretty much up shit creek with one broken paddle to hold onto, and Ireallydidn’t want to use it. But even if I worked full time, I couldn’t afford the mortgage and bills myself. I was struggling to pay half!
Fuckingfuck.
I slumped onto a bench and dropped my head into my hands, jumping a mile when I heard a voice say my name.
“You okay?”
I looked up, shielding my eyes from the bright sunshine.
Enzo stood there, his car keys in his hand. He was holding a bakery box, which he tried to hide sheepishly.
“Yeah. I’m okay; is that cake?” I asked, already wondering if I should get one. I could happily devour an entire chocolate cake with the way I was feeling.
“Uh…” Enzo reddened. “It’s cupcakes.”
“Oh?” I didn’t know why I was interested, but then my stomach growled. “With frosting?”
