Bryan

I had to go check in on a jobsite and make sure things were progressing all right. The string of storms that had drenched San Diego about a week ago left some of the jobsites needing to be dried out before we could work on them again. I got into my truck that morning and was ecstatic when I saw the crew out there getting stuff done. The homeless man I’d employed for this project looked to have cleaned himself up a bit as well, and that put a smile on my face.

I parked my truck and got out to see if they needed anything. I had a few jobsites I needed to hit today before I could get over to the gallery, and I was secretly hoping no one needed anything today. The homeless man came over and gave me a hug, thanking me for pulling him from his corner a couple months ago. He talked to me briefly about how the money we were paying him helped put a roof over him and his family, and my heart filled with joy.

The man kept going on about how thankful he was and how he wouldn’t have been able to get clean had it not been for the classes I was sending him to. I listened to his story intently as he spoke, and with each word that poured from his mouth, I was reminded of John. My brother could’ve benefitted from something like this if he had just been willing to take the help. But that was the thing about community outreach. You could give them all the tools they needed to succeed, but if they didn’t want to follow the rules or accept your help, there was nothing else you could do.

I was elated this man who had a family to provide for was accepting the tools I was giving him.

I walked around the jobsite when he was called back to work. I charted the progress and talked with a few of the workers. Then, I set off for the next one. I checked them all off one by one before I headed back to the office. I needed to drop this information off with Drew, so he could enter it into the system before he went home for the day.

Then, it was time for me to head on over to the art gallery.

As I got into my truck and began my trek over there, I couldn’t stop thinking about last week. The evening I’d spent with Hailey had been spectacular. She was easy to talk to, wonderful to look at, and warm to the touch. She was inviting and intense but in a fruitful way. She was passionate to her core and had such a giving soul.

Waking up with her in my arms had been magnificent, and I’d thought about that many times since it happened.

Hailey and I were seeing one another more frequently. We went out and had breakfast after waking up together, only for us to turn around and fall into bed again that night. I was officially seeing her more outside of the gallery than within it, and every single time we were around one another, our bodies gravitated toward each other. Never had a woman trembled in my arms the way she did. Never had a woman felt so soft and supple underneath my grasp. When I closed my eyes at night, she sank into my dreams. Every time I saw something pink catch my eye, I wondered if it was her.

Last week had changed a great deal about our working relationship, and I was enjoying as much of it as I could.

I got to the gallery and was disappointed when I didn’t see Hailey’s car there. She was probably busy with something in town, or maybe she had been struck with her muse and was furiously painting something in her apartment. Whatever the reason, I was seeing her tonight anyway, and the thought alone made me smile.

“Round it up, boys. The boss is back!”

“If you’re trying to make me feel good about this project, Duke, that isn’t how you do it,” I said, grinning.

“Well, I wasn’t sure if you’d make it out here to check on things, so I figured I’d drop by,” he said.

“Thanks. How’s everything going over here?” I asked.

“It looks to be going well. The floor’s completely laid, and I gotta say, the black’s a nice touch. All the stuff for the outside of the building came in this morning, so we piled it up in a little back room right over there.”

“That’s fine. We still on track for finishing this up by the end of July?” I asked.

“Oh, yeah. If we keep having decent weather, we could probably wrap this up mid-July,” he said.

“I don’t want to rush it if we don’t have to. So long as we’re wrapped up by the end of July, I’m good with elongating projects to make sure we do it right.”

“Fine by me. These artsy types can be picky anyway. Gives us room for the client to change their mind,” he said.

“Eh, not this client. She’s been with us every step of the way. So long as we paint her vision, she’ll be good.”

“Whatever you say, boss.”

“How’s the homeless crew coming? It’s the first time we’ve employed this many on one jobsite at once,” I said.

“Actually, not so bad. We haven’t had a hiccup since that one you experienced your first day on the job. They’re all lookin’ really good.”

“No problems? They’re all attending their meetings?”

“Yep. I see their paperwork crossing my desk like it should.”

“Wonderful. Well, I’ve got to head back to the office and punch some shit into the system. Call me if you need anything,” I said.

“Will do, boss. Catch ya later.”

I hopped back into my truck when my phone rang. I groaned when I saw my mother’s name scrolling across the screen, and then it hit me.

I was supposed to have dinner with them tonight.

“Hey, Mom,” I said as I pulled out onto the road.

“Hello there, Bryan. I was wanting to confirm dinner plans with you tonight. We have a very special menu we think you will enjoy.”

“Yep,” I said, sighing. “I’ll be there.”

“Well, don’t jump and shout for joy,” she said mockingly. “We’ll see you at seven.”

“See you then.”

I sighed as I hung up the phone and tossed it onto the seat. That meant I wasn’t going to be seeing Hailey tonight. I needed to call her when I got back to the office, but I had a few things I needed to take care of first. I needed to make sure I shut myself down for the day before I dove into any personal plans.

That was the deal I made with myself. If I struck this thing up with Hailey, work still came first.

“Hey there, man,” Drew said. “What brings you to the office?”

“Jobsite checkups,” I said.

“Oh. Fun. Computer work. Yeah, I got the stuff punched in you sat on my desk this morning. You got more?”

“Yep. Those were only half the job sites for the day,” I said.

“Want me to do the rest?” he asked.

“Nah. I got it.”

“You remember how we used to pull fourteen- to sixteen-hour days on job sites. All by ourselves?”

“Don’t remind me,” I said. “Those days were rough.”

“Yeah. All the basic work was on us before we had the money to employ any help for the details,” he said.

“How’s that second story project going?” I asked.

“The house across town? Far as I know, it’s going all right. I’ll check in on it tomorrow. Want me to give ‘em a call, dude?”

“Nah. Don’t worry about it. And since you’re going out to jobsites tomorrow, I’ll punch in the paperwork. Just drop it off here, and I’ll come in and do it,” I said.

“Thanks, man. That really helps me out.”

“Well, you helped me out today. It’s the least I can do.”

“You know, you’ve been more relaxed lately. More willing to come sit behind a desk, which I know you hate doing. What gives?” he asked.

“Honestly? It’s Hailey,” I said.

“Ah, so you’ve seen her again since the night.”

“Are we really calling it the night?” I asked.

“Yes. I have it on my calendar. The night you ended your dry spell,” he said, grinning.

“You’re a dick.”

“And you gave her some.”

“Shut up with that shit. Anyway, yes. We’ve seen each other a few more times since then.”

“A few more times? It’s only been what? A week?” he asked.

“Yeah. And we enjoy each other’s company. So what?” I asked.

“Well, I’m happy for you. It’s about time you had something you enjoyed outside of work. Something to help you de-stress and feel like a man.”

“Because wielding hammers, peeling off sheetrock, and operating heavy machinery doesn't make me feel like one?”

“First off, your truck isn’t heavy machinery. And second, you know what I mean.”

“I do, I do. But she’ll get tired of me eventually,” I said.

“So, ride it out. Have fun while it lasts. It’s about time you took an interest in your personal life again, and I’m glad you’re finally giving yourself permission to do it.”

“She’s a sweet woman, you know? Loves art. Hellbent on spreading nothing but beauty. Wants to spread that beauty in an area that isn’t already beautiful. She’s not damaged, not like I am.”

“Dude, you’re not damaged.”

“Dude, yes I am,” I said.

“You’re really not. You hang onto shit like it’s your job, but you’re far from damaged. Everyone’s got their shit. She’s just really good at covering hers up.”

“Or letting it go. Either way, she’s a refreshing breath of air,” I said.

“That you dive into every night,” he said, grinning.

“Seriously? We’re gonna be like that?” I asked.

“Oh, come on. When things go south with you two, I won’t be able to get my shots in for another five years.”

“See, even you think things will go south.”

“Nope. Just goin’ off what you’re tellin’ me, man. I don’t think things will tank unless you keep telling yourself they will. Self-fulfilling shit and all that.”

“How waxing poetic of you,” I said.

“Look, you’re just looking for excuses. Everyone’s damaged in some way. If you stick around long enough, you’ll figure out how she got screwed over in her life and who hurt her somehow that changed her into the woman she is now. Everyone’s damaged. It’s just that those who advertise their damage allowed their issues to sink them.”

“Or there are some who hide it better,” I said.

“Whatever. The point is, don’t fuck it up with your bullshit ‘down on your own luck’ talk. You’re relaxed. You’re smiling more. You’re enjoying life. Let yourself enjoy the breaths of air you take.”

“Speaking of, I have to call Hailey and cancel tonight,” I said.

“Why? Dude, what the fuck were we just talking about?”

“Calm down, asshole. I forgot tonight’s dinner with my parents.”

“Ah, Satan and her husband. Way to go. Maybe you should take Hailey. They might turn into proper angels for an evening.”

“It’s way too early to subject her to that bullshit,” I said.

“Well, have you thought about it? Introducing her to your parents?”

“Yep,” I said.

“Awesome, dude. When you gonna do it?”

“After we’re married,” I said, grinning.

I held the ringing phone up to my ear as Drew smiled and walked back to his office. I turned around in my chair and stared out the window, closing my eyes as I heard the phone pick up on her end. Her voice floated into my ear lightly, like a small breeze kicking up a wave in the middle of the ocean. It was peaceful. Inviting.

I seriously considered canceling with my parents instead of with her.

“I was just about to call you,” she said.

“Oh, really? Everything all right?” I asked.

“I sort of have to cancel tonight.”

“Funny, I was just calling to do the same thing. What’s your excuse?” I asked.

“Sister’s flying in early. She’s currently at the airport. What’s your excuse?”

“Dinner with the parents. Another rousing evening of ‘how do you like the dinner? Isn’t it exquisite?’.”

“At least you won’t be eating takeout Chinese,” she said.

“I’d taking eating takeout with you any day over dinner with my parents.”

“That bad, huh?” she asked.

“Oh, you have no idea,” I said. “Why’s your sister coming in early? Is she okay?”

“No. She’s really not. She won’t ever let it on or talk about it, but work’s really getting to her. I’m trying so hard to get her to take singing lessons again. She doesn’t even have to drop her career and do what I did. Just indulge in something that makes her feel like her.”

“Well, if there’s anyone who can convince her, it’s you,” I said, smiling.

“You really think so?”

“Hey. You inspired me to start drawing again. Maybe spending some physical time around you will rub off on her.”

“She’s probably going to come to the jobsite and start ordering you guys around.”

“Did I mention we needed to take a break from the project?” I asked.

Her laughter flooded through the phone as I smiled at her reaction. I drank all of her in. Every ounce she could give me. I hated that I wouldn’t get any sort of alone time with her anytime soon, but I also understood how important family was. My family was fucked up in every single way anyone could possibly imagine, but they were still my family, and I was still going to try and be there for them.

I admired the relationship she had with her sister despite what happened between her and her parents.

“Well, if things get too rough at your parents’ house, and you don’t mind meeting my sister, you can always come here and crash our party,” she said. “Our first night together is usually mindless gossiping over food and wine anyway.”

“Sounds like a party. I’ll keep it in mind. But, I’m not going anywhere if I can’t get my work finished up.”

“Are you telling me to get off the phone or talk longer?” she asked.

“I hear your grin vibrating through the phone.”

“I can’t wait to see you again, Bryan.”

I paused, breathing in deeply through my nose as I bathed in her words. She missed me like I missed her, even though we’d just seen each other a day and a half ago. It lit something in my gut. Something that hadn’t been ignited for a very long time.

I enjoyed the way I felt around her, even though I still couldn’t figure out why she entranced me as much as she did.

“I can’t wait, either. Good luck with your sister.”

“And good luck with dinner. Let me know how it goes,” she said.

“I will. I promise.”