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“But I do. That’s literally part of my job. I don’t know why these people look up to you, but I know they’re more likely to listen to you than me. I’ll continue my way down the street, but reinforce with your friends that I’m fine with shutting you all down if you can’t comply with the city’s building codes, both structurally and visually,” Travis said.
I gave him a tight-lipped grin and did some quick math in my head. Was the pay-off of using him as a punching bag, to work out my frustration, worth the cost of the consequences?
Probably not, but if he stuck around I’d want to find out anyway. “I have work to do. You know where the door is.”
Travis snorted. “I’m fine with things if you keep ignoring this. I win either way.”
I didn’t give him the satisfaction of looking back at him, and a moment later, I heard his footsteps retreat and the door chime sounded again.
As much as I hated the words, Travis was right. The only reason I knew I had a basement was because Brooke helped me go looking for a way to pay for a remodel, and two weeks later, I was barely closer to getting there. I needed to crack the books and figure out next steps.
At least it would distract me from the nagging in the back of my brain that insisted on replaying last night and the conversation with Adam over and over for no reason other than to torture me.
My cellphone rang, and I hesitated when I saw Brooke’s name on the screen.
Fuck it. “Hey.” I kept my tone neutral.
“Deacon. I need your help.”
My gut sank at the panic in her voice.
TWENTY-SEVEN
BROOKE
When I steppedin my house, Paige and Jamie were asleep in the living room. Not unusually—Jamie had been sleeping over since the girls were little—but the two of them sleeping together on the couch was new.
I should be upset at the sight, right? It was adorable. My only real concern was how Bryan had reacted. It seemed strange that Paige would flaunt any part of this relationship after his reaction.
When I closed the door behind me and locked it, Paige sat up with a start. She looked around the room, her wide-eyed gaze finally falling on me. She looked panicked.
“It’s okay. Just me,” I said softly.
Jamie was stirring too.
“Oh my God, I’m so glad you’re home. I was worried.” Paige sounded more worried than she looked, and that was a high bar.
I gave her a reassuring smile. “Pretty sure that’s my line.” I’d sent her a text last night and she responded, so she knew I’d be gone for the night.
Jamie sat up and squeezed Paige’s hand.
Okay, that was adorable. My baby girl had a girlfriend. Given how worried she looked, now probably wasn’t the time to coo over them and try to take pictures.
“Bryan saw your message, and”—Paige glanced at Jamie—“He was really mad last night. He left and he never came back.”
Things had quieted down between the twins over the last week. The shouting had stopped, though they weren’t quite on speaking terms yet, and I’d thought they were getting back to normal.
I didn’t like the sound ofnever came back. “He didn’t tell you where he was going?” How did I miss that their car wasn’t in the driveway? Because I just expected it to be there or because I’d been too wrapped up in Adam to pay attention to important things.
“He said he was going to Lucas’s house, but when he left he was so mad, I was worried,” Paige said. “Especially when he wouldn’t answer my texts.”
This wasn’t a big deal. “I’ll call and make sure he’s okay.” I wanted to ask Paige if this was what it looked like with her and Jamie; it wouldn’t do to make assumptions.
Paige glanced next to her and then down at where her hand was tangled with Jamie’s. Paige’s eyes grew wide again. “I can explain this.” She held up their hands.
“Only when you’re ready.” I wasn’t worried about Paige dating Jamie as long as they were happy, but I was worried about Bryan. “Go get dressed, I’ll call your brother, and make breakfast.”
“Thank you, Ms. Mansell.” Jamie gave me a quick wave and the girls hurried upstairs.
