AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Which is exactly why we’re making improvements to it,” I tell him. “As for the neighborhood, it’s beginning to make a comeback. The targeted gentrification is having an effect and I don’t believe it’ll be long before this whole area is changed.”
“I don’t know much about that, but if you say so,” he replies. “I just hate to see you pour that kind of money into this place and get no real return for it.”
“It’ll be fine,” I wave him off.
We arrive at my truck, a new Ford F-150, black with an extended cab and all the bells and whistles. I unlock the passenger’s side door and Daisy waits for the automated step to descend before she uses it to propel her into the seat. Closing the door behind her, I turn around.
“This was my first apartment after I left my parent's place,” I say. “I moved into this building when I was… shit, eighteen, I think.”
“Yeah? I didn’t know that.”
I nod. “It’s also the first building I bought. Seems like another lifetime ago now,” I tell him. “Over the years, I’ve made small upgrades here and there. But about a year ago, I decided to make some major changes. Basically, create a brand new condo complex. Took me a while to get all the planning and permits approved. But I’ve got all my ducks in a row now. That’s why you and the boys are all here. I consider it a sound investment.”
“Sounds more like a nostalgia project. And if I remember correctly, you’re the one who said to always stay away from nostalgia projects. You said they’re money pits.”
I shrug. “Good thing I’ve got plenty of money to burn then,” I say with a laugh.
“Oh hey, I saw that sweet little thing leaving your place this morning,” he says suggestively. “She going to ask you to prom?”
I laugh. “Oh, he’s got jokes this morning.”
“I’ve always got jokes,” he says. “So, what gives? She lives in this complex, right?”
“She does,” I reply. “And she was using my guest room to study because some asshole was bothering her last night.”
“Study, huh?”
“Yeah, study,” I say. “Unlike us, she seems to like school.”
“Hey, I liked school. I just never knew you were into school… girls,” he says and cackles.
Probably because it hits pretty close to home—and reminds me of the significant age gap between Lanie and me—I can’t help but laugh at his stupid joke. Dick.
“Remember to have her home before the streetlights come on tonight, okay?”
“Go fuck yourself,” I say with a laugh. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have to get to the office. Why don’t you try getting some work done instead of busting my balls?”
“Aye, aye, Cap’n,” he says and snaps me a sloppy-looking salute.
I climb into my truck, my trusty co-pilot on the seat next to me, and start the engine. I blast the horn and give Eddie a wave as I pull out of the lot then get out onto the road. There isn’t a lot of traffic, so I turn up the radio and let Rob Zombie's "Superbeast” blare from the speakers. Daisy looks over at me, her tongue lolling out of the side of her mouth and a silly doggy smile on her face, which I take to be approval of my musical selection.
As we cruise down the street, I catch sight of Lanie coming out of the coffee house that’s down the street from our complex. She looks a little harried and is walking like one of those competitive power walkers, so I turn down my music then pull to the side of the road and lean across to open the door.
Daisy’s always good about taking the hint, so she clambers into the back seat just as Lanie is about to pass by on the sidewalk. She looks in skeptically but when she sees it’s me, her expression softens, and she smiles.
“Are you stalking me?” she says with a flirtatious tone in her voice.
“I might be,” I reply. “You look like you’re in a hurry.”
“I am. I lost track of time, and I missed the bus. Now I’m running late.”
“Get in, I’ll give you a lift.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to impose.”
“If you were imposing, I wouldn’t have stopped,” I say. “Besides, I’m the boss and one of the perks of being the boss is I can come in whenever the hell I want. So, hop in.”
Lanie jumps in with a smile on her face and closes the door. She belts herself in as I take off then looks over at me.
