Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 105697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Summer starts for the house. “What are you thinking? A new pipe for the shower will need to be installed, but I didn’t want to bust up the tile to see how extensive the damage is.”
“It’s extensive,” he says, his eyes going from her and landing on me. “You’re going to need a full install of new pipes starting at the entry point from the shower to where it meets the main line.”
Summer crosses her arms over her chest. “That doesn’t sound like a quick fix.”
“It won’t be.” His eyes deviate from her to me again as he continues, “I’d have to get a small crew out here to demo. After that, one of my guys and I can replace the pipes to the main line.”
His disrespect for her pisses me off. I start toward them, and say, “Ms. Season oversees the property. I’m only a guest.”
“That’s too bad this happened during your visit. You might be able to seek legal restitution if . . .” He points at her. “They don’t give you a fair shake for the refund.”
“Listen here, pal!” I catch Summer by the wrists just as her arms fly into the air. She shoots me a glare.
Shaking his head like an idiot who walked into the lion’s den, he adds, “Sheesh. Women are so temperamental.”
Fucker.
Temperamental. Emotional. My dad never gave my mom a break. He pushed her buttons and yelled at her for reacting. It was always my fault or hers, but never his. And just like the fight that got me kicked out of the house at fifteen, I’m not putting up with shit humans treating women like they’re beneath them. “Watch your mouth, Bryan.”
Shock wiggles his jowls. “What are you talking about, Mav?”
“I’m talking about treating her with the respect she deserves. She’s doing her job, and you’re trippin’ over your balls trying to impress me for some fucking reason.”
“Yeah.” Summer crosses her arms over her chest and says, “I’ve seen more emotion from you fanboying over this guy than I’ve seen from a tween at a Taylor Swift concert. So watch how you talk to me.” There’s the spitfire I knew she had in her. Tugging the hem of her shirt down, she raises her chin in defiance. “We won’t be needing your services. Good day, Bryan.” And there’s her sweet side showing out to clean up the mess.
“Hey,” he barks. “Slow down there. The lady on the phone told me I had the job if I drove out here. That’s an hour and a half each way. I hope you didn’t waste my time because you’re still going to pay for it.”
How’s this jerk not getting the picture?
This doesn’t need to escalate. Before this gets out of hand, I say, “Walk with me.” As I turn to walk away, he rushes to my side. “This seems like a complicated job, bigger than tightening a few split rings. You drove a long way, and it’s probably not a trip you want to make if the gas is going to eat your profits.”
“Hell no, I don’t.” He looks back at Summer over his shoulder. “And she’s already reneging on the deal. I’m not putting up with that shit.”
We stop outside the door to his van. “It’s nothing but trouble.”
“Yeah, it’s bullshit. You’re right. I don’t want this job. Too much trouble.” His expression lifts. “But I got to meet you.”
“And I got to meet you, Bryan, with a Y.” Asshole.
Snapping his fingers, he points at me. “Heeeey, you got it. My friends are going to be so jealous.”
“But the rest is a secret, right?”
He pulls out his phone to take a photo. “Yeah, no worries.”
The photo is snapped. While he studies it, I open the door. “You got a long drive back.” When he gets in, I shut the door and punch the lock down. “You take care, buddy.”
“You, too, Mav.” He starts the engine as I walk back to the house.
As soon as the van pulls away, I see Summer standing there, beautiful as if a weight was lifted.
Her arms are still crossed, but a smile has filtered the anger away. “You didn’t have to do that. I can handle a jerk of a plumber.”
“I know you can, but isn’t it more fun when you don’t have to?” I walk straight for her and cup her cheek. Tilting her head back, I lean down because kissing her seems to currently be my only mission in life, and whisper, “Now, where were we?”
Just as her eyes flutter closed, my phone rings in my pocket. Not just any ring, the team’s theme song. Her eyes open again as I gently release her. “Sorry. I need to take this.”
“That’s fine,” she says, indicating by her tone that it’s not actually fine at all. “I have calls to make too.” She turns, pulling her phone from her back pocket, and walks inside the house.