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CHAPTER 20
Skylar
Iopened the back door in the kitchen and noticed that Hank had repaired all of the screens in the sunroom and the flooring.
It seemed like every time I walked into a room, I found something else he’d repaired or upgraded. I couldn’t believe how much he’d done in such a short amount of time. Especially since he was doing it in the evenings and over the weekend during his free time.
On the nights that I worked, I’d come home and find little notes on the fridge saying things like he hoped I had a good day and asking me to choose paint colors or varnish finishes.
Part of me felt guilty for all he’d done. But there was another part that was honestly just grateful. He’d made this place safe and comfortable for me and Luna. I wasn’t sure how I’d repay him, but I knew that I’d find a way.
I noticed some of his tools sitting in the corner of the sunroom and the sight made my heart and lower belly flutter. Hank was sexy without the added layer of being handy, but that bonus trait was what made him irresistible.
That wasn’t hyperbole, either. I honestly had no idea how I was going to resist him. The only reason nothing had happened was because he hadn’t made a move and didn’t seem to be interested.
I’d been working a lot, but on the nights I had off, he was here and we fell right back into the rhythm of our routine. He worked while I made dinner. Then we all ate dinner, sans Sherlock much to Luna’s dismay. I’d help Luna with her bath while Hank worked. He was on bedtime story duty. Then, I’d walk him to the door, we’d say goodnight and he’d leave much to my dismay.
He’d had ample opportunities to kiss me and hadn’t taken one of them. The night before last, I’d even resorted to trying to give him a subliminal message. The inspiration came to me when Luna was having a dinner picnic watching The Little Mermaid. While Hank was reading to Luna, I’d rewound it, paused it at a very opportune moment and then pushed play and pretended to be watching it when he came out of her room. I walked him to the front door with “Kiss the Girl” playing in the background. He hadn’t taken the hint.
I still wasn’t sure that I wanted to date him, but I was absolutely freakin’ certain that I wanted to kiss him. I needed to kiss him. I felt like I was going to explode if I didn’t kiss him.
But it wouldn’t be tonight.
When I got home from work last night, or should I say early this morning, I’d found a note from him saying that a couple of his guys had called out the past week and he’d be pulling doubles the next few days to catch up so he could come in on schedule.
I’ll admit, the thought of not seeing him for even a few days was much more depressing than it should be. I’d known him such a short amount of time, the fact that I was this attached to him wasn’t healthy. And I wasn’t the only one. Luna had made him a friendship bracelet while she was over at Mrs. Birch’s and she insisted we leave it on his door tonight.
I’d love to see his face when he comes home to find a braided friendship bracelet with black and pink thread in an envelope for Mr. Hank. I did tell her that I didn’t think he’d be able to wear it when he worked because it might get caught in his tools and be dangerous, so I had given him an out that wouldn’t hurt her feelings, but she still insisted on dropping it off.
The thought of him wearing it did put a smile on my face as I turned the water on and started doing the dinner dishes. I’d just rinsed out the pan I’d fried pork chops in when my phone rang. My heart skipped a beat as I looked down expecting to see Hank’s number. After getting my number under the guise of giving me Mrs. Birch’s he had never actually used it, but I figured he must’ve found the bracelet.
I glanced down and saw that it wasn’t Hank. It was Richie’s mother. My stomach sank with dread.
Mr. and Mrs. DiNardo had never called me out of the blue. They called on holidays and Luna’s birthday but never on a random Thursday. I almost didn’t pick it up, scared of what news they might be sharing with me.
Had something happened to Richie?
Was the call I’d been dreading for five years finally here?
How would my life, Luna’s life change after I answered the phone?
Knowing that avoidance would only buy me a short reprieve, one that would be filled with anxiety of what was to come. I dried my hands and took a deep breath shoring myself to face whatever the news was head-on.
My voice was shaky as I answered. “Hi, Mrs. DiNardo, how are—”
“Do you know where Richie is?” Mary DiNardo cut off my greeting.
“Um…no. I don’t,” I answered honestly.
“Skylar.” Frank DiNardo’s voice came on the line.
“Hi, Mr. DiNardo.”
“When is the last time you saw Richie?” he asked in a clipped tone.
“He stopped by a few weeks ago.” At the time, I’d thought it might be a good sign that he was stopping by to see Luna. That maybe she could be a catalyst for him getting sober. But it turned out he was just there to steal my debit card.
“How did he look?” Frank asked.
