Chapter 21
Jayce
I WOKE UP early the next morning, packed a couple of turkey sandwiches for lunch, filled a big jug full of water, and then drove to the construction site to wait for Phoenix.
“Hey, brother,” Phoenix said, arriving shortly after me. He had his long, blond hair pulled back into a ponytail and was carrying a small cooler.
“Hey.” I grinned. “What you got there? Beer?”
“I wish. It’s lunch. Hope you’re hungry. Lily packed up a shitload of fried chicken and potato salad. More than I could ever eat.”
“I actually brought a couple of sandwiches, but your lunch sounds much better.”
“Good. You can help me eat it,” he said, leading me toward the house.
“Is it just us today?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Just wondering what time we’ll be getting out of here?”
He looked at me over his shoulder and grinned. “Let me guess. You got another hot date with that chick from last night?”
“I’m inking her today,” I replied.
“Oh, yeah?”
I told him about the tattoo.
“Damn, that sounds cool and sexy as hell. Speaking of which, you get a piece yet?”
“Nope.”
“You must be losing your touch,” he said with a wry smile.
I chuckled. “Hardly.”
“That’s what she’s going to say later. Hard-ly.”
I flipped him off.
He laughed.
WE SPENT THE next couple of hours sheathing the roof and adding metal flashing. By lunchtime, we had some of the shingles on, but I knew there was still a long way to go. Especially with just the two of us.
“When are you supposed to meet Candi?” he asked as we were eating chicken.
I shrugged. “I told her I’d see how the day was going.”
“I was thinking we could head out around four. We can finish up tomorrow.”
“Sounds good.”
We bullshitted for a while as we ate and then went back to work. As three o’clock loomed closer, I sent Candi a text, telling her that I wouldn’t be at the shop until closer to five. I knew I’d be needing a shower and a bite to eat before starting on her.
After sending her the message, I was about to put my phone away when I received a quick reply. It wasn’t one that I expected either.
Who’s this?
Me: It’s Jayce. This is Candi, right?
Person: Uh, no. You must have the wrong number.
Me: Sorry.
Person: NP
Frowning, I put my phone away.
“What’s wrong?” Phoenix asked, noticing my expression.
“Nothing.”
“You sure about that? You look like someone just shit in your Wheaties.”
I wiped the sweat from my brow. “I think I may have typed in the wrong phone number last night when Candi gave hers to me.”
His smile widened. “You sure she didn’t give you the wrong one on purpose? Maybe she’s ghosting you?”
“Nah, she wouldn’t do that. I mean, why would she?” I replied, not so sure myself now. I thought back, trying to remember if she’d seemed distant at the end of the night. Admittedly, she’d paused before giving me her number.
Fuck.
Maybe she was ghosting me.
“I guess you’ll know if she doesn’t show up at the shop later,” he said.
I nodded and pulled my phone out again. I called Devon’s and left a message with Gigi, who’d just made it in herself.
“If she shows up, tell her all be in around five,” I said.
“Will do,” Gigi replied.
I thanked her and hung up.
“You get ahold of Candi yet?” Phoenix called out.
I picked up the nail gun. “Nope.”
“Did you happen tell her how much the tat was going to cost? She might have gotten sticker shock and decided not to do it. Or you,” he added, cracking himself up.
Snorting, I shook my head.
“You know… you should have told her you’d take payment in trade.”
I smirked. “No shit.” The truth was, after getting to know her more, I’d have done the tattoo for free. She’d seemed like a cool chick and definitely one I wanted to get to know better. The way things were looking, however, I wasn’t so sure I’d ever even see her again.