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I head back to Omar and tip up my ball cap. “You know about Lennon’s permit issue?”
“Your brother decided he didn’t need to follow the rules.”
“It was an oversight, not a flagrant rebuff of the system. He did all his permits properly when building his adventure camp. He simply got busy and forgot this time.”
“Rules are still rules.”
“One hundred percent. We’ve just had it rough, Omar. A real hard time for a bunch of years. I hate to see Lennon have a setback like this when it wasn’t done maliciously.”
Omar taps his pen on his clipboard with even, clipped strikes. “I’ll see what I can do to soften the repercussions, but not a nail gets hammered until he gets his permits.”
“Appreciated and agreed.”
He turns to resume his inspection but swivels back. “Almost forgot. I saw Jolene earlier. Had lunch at the Barrel and mentioned I was coming out here. She said to tell you to call her. Specifically, that she’s tired of chasing you.”
This is not a good sign. Up until now, she hasn’t woken me up at night or searched me out at work, as per her threats. Likely because Jake is here, and she knows I need sleep. If I avoid her much longer, she might come through and trap me in an unwanted situation.
“Thanks,” I say with a forced smile. “I’ll be sure to reach out.”
Omar gets to work, checking the room’s framing and plumbing. I grab the wood boards I need to replace and head into the sunshine.
Jake glances at me. Gives me a penetrating stare that has my crew neck feeling too tight. He resumes working on the cabinets. I deposit the wood boards and help him with the construction. We hit that easy stride we share when we’re focused and productive. He doesn’t badger me more about overworking or about Jo. He seems stuck in his head too, his brow puckered as he readies to use the table saw.
Abruptly, he straightens. “Are you and Jo fighting?”
The sun’s rays drill through my skull. “Why would you ask that?”
“I was by the door when Omar mentioned she’s asking after you. Why else would you be avoiding her calls?”
“It’s nothing,” I say, lying like the liar I’ve become.
“Yeah, but—”
Our phones buzz.
We share a concerned glance. If our phones buzz in tandem, it’s always our family group chat. Furious messages about our father, usually. Life-altering bombs dropped on our heads.
We snatch our respective phones…and my tensed shoulders lower. Just Mom’s welcome home party.
E: We need to finalize details for Mom’s party.
Lennon: I thought we decided that Desmond’s hosting a tea party so they can talk about their book crushes?
Desmond: Fuck off.
E: Meeting tonight at the Barrel at 8.
Nope. The last place I can be is at the Barrel. I can’t exist in Jolene’s orbit right now. I’m close to getting her apartment fixed up. If I put in enough hours during the next few nights, she can move out. Then I’ll finally meet with her. Talk about the relationship we most certainly cannot have. I’ll be able to escape to my quiet home after. Her chaotic self will no longer be there to tempt me.
Me: I’m busy tonight.
Jake’s message pops up right after mine.
Jake: Can’t make it.
I glance up at him. “Why can’t you make it?”
“Because I can’t,” he says, terse. “Why can’t you?”
