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I made my way back to the main shop, to find that Aubrey, Sebastian, and others from the block had gathered around the counter by Adam. They were all talking over each other and the general tone in the room felt like panic mixed with fury.
Maybe I should’ve read the message from Travis. “What’s going on?”
“Mr. Paddock”—Sebastian said Travis name with poisonous disdain—“is pushing through zoning regulations about wiring. That all of the buildings have to be brought up to modern code.”
“He can’t do that.” I should know by now that Travis could do a lot more than seemed legal. He had too many connections to the people with money and who made the decisions.
Aubrey scowled. “Well guess what. He is.”
EIGHTEEN
ADAM
It had only beena few days since Brooke stopped by, barely more than a weekend, but her absence was tangible. I filled some of the time by filming Sebastian’s shop and posting the video.
A few friends on the street were happy to help us finish the basement build-out, but scheduling difficulties meant that wasn’t happening for another week. We’d decided to make it an anti-Valentine’s Sunday, the day before the holiday.
By Tuesday afternoon, I was fidgety and looking for something new to fill my time. Deacon and I were sitting in the back room of the shop, having finished getting video of most of the furniture in his basement.
“We should visit Brooke.” The words popped out of my mouth before I registered what they meant.
Deacon looked surprised. “And do what?”
“Sayhi.See if she needs anything. Hang out for a bit.”
“She’d call if she needed anything. Or send one of her kids. And when in the history of ever have we justhung out?”
That didn’t mean we couldn’t start. “Dylan is working. Dean will be in in an hour to help. Let’s go.”
“Dean is coming in because I have a lot to do.” Deacon waved me off. “Admin shit. If you want to go, I’m not stopping you.”
But Brooke isyourfriend. The odd protest lodged in my brain. I saw her as at least a friend at this point, and as much as I tried not to, I was hoping for more than that. “Fine. Go do youradmin shit. I’ll see you later.”
Deacon scowled, but he didn’t stop me.
As I walked to my car, I called Brooke. When she answered, her voice made me smile, even saying something as simple ashello.
“Hey. You busy?” I asked.
“Super, super busy. I’m training for a marathon, and after that I thought I’d go rock climbing.” Her reply was playful.
“That sounds super fun. But how about instead I bring over some pizza and keep you company while youdon’tdo those things.”
“You expect me to drop my busy afternoon for you?”
“And pizza. Extra sausage.”
Brooke laughed. “I don’t know if that’s innuendo or if you’re serious.”
“I never joke about pizza. As for the sausage… All depends on how the day goes.”
“I’d love some company. The pizza sounds good too, but isn’t necessary.”
“I’ll be there in less than thirty.” As I disconnected and climbed into my car, I was grinning. How did such a simple exchange brighten my day this way?
When I got to Brooke’s, pizza in hand, a goofy giddiness was racing through me. I felt like a teenager on a first date.
In some ways, the anticipation felt wrong. I’d watched Deacon lust after her for years, but never act on it. He’d made it more than clear that he didn’t intend to—not at a romantic level—so was there really an issue with me seeing if Brooke was interested?
