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CARSON
The summer is winding up. I can’t believe I’ve already been in this house for almost two months. Two months of working hard and playing hard.
It’s hard to believe I was somewhere completely different a couple months ago. Working with Kyle, handling a rocky relationship with Denise that didn’t make either of us happy.
My phone chimes from my pocket and I place my shower tile before I check it. I admire my work while I pull out the phone. This bathroom isn’t anywhere near as extravagant as the master, but it looks polished. Clean.
I peer at the screen through a layer of dust and see the notification. Mom’s birthday. Shit. Good thing I put the note in my phone. Days are blurring together here. I can’t remember if it’s Monday or Friday, and forget remembering what the date is. Libby’s good at all that stuff. She keeps the schedule.
I work, she organizes. And it’s a great compromise so far. In fact, I’m surprised it’s working so well. Me and Kyle never stayed that organized when we were working together. He was a constant procrastinator and cared more about the business end of things. I wanted to be in the house working, creating, building. Which left the planning and organizing and scheduling up in the air.
Dusting off my hands, I step out of the shower. I might as well call her now or I’ll forget again. I hear humming from the next room over where Libby’s working.
Once I finish in here, I’ll go help her. Maybe put in another hour of work before I make her quit. Before I suggest we take a shower together and spend the evening relaxing. We’ve managed to get a lot of use out of her bed, and I’m planning on more before we’re finished with the house.
But then…I sigh and press the button for my mom’s number. Then, I don’t know. Libby and I have got this thing—I’m not sure what—but I’m not ready to see it end.
My mom answers after the third ring. “Son,” she says.
“Mom,” I answer back. “Do you feel older?”
She laughs. “Younger.”
“I don’t doubt that.”
My mom is the biggest go-getter I’ve ever known. She probably gets more done by nine am than most people get done all day. Maybe that’s why I’m an early riser. And why I still believe hard work pretty much tops everything else.
“Just wanted to say happy birthday. I sent your present in the mail since it’s your year to travel.”
My mom and her sister visit every year for their birthdays. They’re twins. Even though they live in separate states, they insist on being together for their birthday. This year it’s my mom’s turn to go to see her sister.
“Please tell me you didn’t buy me tools,” she says. “I have more than enough.”
I chuckle. “No, I didn’t buy you tools. You’ll see.”
“Thanks, sweetie. How’s Denise?”
I curse under my breath. I forgot to tell her about Denise. And the job situation. Which is just another indication I’ve been so busy I haven’t thought about the real world.
“We’re not together anymore.” I don’t want to explain why, and I think she senses that because she moves on quickly.
“Is there another girl you have your eye on?”
I open my mouth to tell her about Libby, but then close it again. I don’t know what we are. I definitely have my eye on Libby, but is it more than that?
The lights flicker overhead, I hear a curse, and then a loud thud.
I cover the mouthpiece on the phone. “Libby?” When she doesn’t answer, I call her name again.
“Everything okay?” my mom asks.
I’m already running out of the bathroom, my heart racing. “I have to go.”
I shove the phone in my pocket as I round the corner. My breath catches in my lungs when I see Libby on the floor next to the ladder, which has fallen over.
I slide to my knees next to her. “Libby? Libby—”
She eases up some and I put my arm underneath her to help her up. She blinks a few times at my face. “The light.”
I glance up at the lightbulb and see an exposed wire. “What happened?” I ask. “Are you hurt?”
“It’s…” She clutches her left wrist with her right hand and winces. “Just my wrist and…”
Shit. She must have hit her head or knocked herself out briefly. Had she shocked herself?
I grip her chin and turn her to face me, studying her eyes, trying to get her to focus. “Libby, look at me.”
Her eyes meet mine.
“Are you okay? Did you hit your head?”
“When I fell off the ladder.”
“Off the ladder?”
She grimaces and nods.
“I’m calling an ambulance.” I pull out my phone but she catches my hand.
“No, I’m fine.”
“You just fell off a ladder, Libby.” And she can’t seem to focus.
“Wait. Hold on.”
“Libby—”
“Really.” She nods slowly. “Just give me…a minute.”
Damn it. I don’t want to give her a minute. I want to whisk her to the hospital to make sure she’s okay. When I saw her laying on the floor, it felt like someone squeezed my heart with some pliers. If Libby got hurt, I…
I don’t even want to think about it. I didn’t realize how much she meant to me until now, and the only thing I want to think about is making sure she’s not hurt.
“Can you stand?” I ask, ordering myself to focus. I need to assess what happened.
She nods, but I can tell it hurts her by the expression on her face. I wrap my arm around her when she sways a little.
“Libby—”
“No, it’s fine. I hit my head, but—”
“It’s not fine.” I touch her shoulders gently. “Tell me exactly what happened.”
“I was trying to change the lightbulb and I touched the wire accidentally. It—it shocked me and I fell.”
“Damn it—you could have a concussion. You could be really hurt.”
“Please don’t yell at me. I didn’t mean to.”
“I’m not—” I break off and take a deep breath. “I’m not yelling. I’m worried. You hit your head. Anything else? Your wrist?”
“I fell on it. It’s not broken.”
“You sure?”
She wiggles it gently. “Pretty sure.”
I put my arm around her again. “Humor me, okay? Let’s at least go to urgent care.”
“I really don’t need…” She swallows when she sees my face. “Okay. Let’s go.”
“Good.”
I stick next to her side to make sure she’s safe going down the stairs, and then I drive her to the urgent care facility on the edge of town. There are only a few other cars in the parking lot when we get there, and we go straight for the desk to check in. They’re quick as they take us down the hall, but when we round the corner, I freeze.
There’s someone heading out of one of the rooms. Someone I never wanted to see again.
Kyle. He starts walking my way when he sees me, already looking angry.
Fortunately, Libby doesn’t see him. When they usher her to a bed, I lie and say I have to use the restroom, and then make a beeline for Kyle to stop him from getting anywhere near her.
I’m not sure if he saw her or even remembers her, but I’m hoping neither.
“What a coincidence,” Kyle says.
I take a few more steps down the hallway so we’re not overheard. “What are you doing here?”
“What are you doing here?” he asks.
“I’m with a friend.”
“I’m with an employee,” he says, gesturing. “Just a little cut. A few stitches. You never got back to me.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“Yeah, so have I, which is why I called you in the first place. What? You too good for this business now?”
I cross my arms. “No, I’ve got my own projects.”
“Ah.” Kyle’s lips curve slightly. “So it’s a competition now?”
“It’s not anything. You’ve got your life, and I’ve got mine. You got what you wanted so I don’t know what your problem is.”
“You’re right,” Kyle says. “I did get what I wanted.”
I resist the urge to punch him. What the hell is this? I thought I knew Kyle—thought we were friends. But I should have read the signs more closely.
“And you know you’re making a mistake,” Kyle continues. “You know I’ve got this town in my pocket. If you want work, I’m where to find it.”
“I’m not making a mistake,” I tell him. “I’m right where I want to be.”
“Yeah, well…” He grins and turns. “When you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
He walks away, and I flip him off. No way. I don’t need Kyle. I’ve got a job, and I’ve even got a woman.
A woman who needs me now.
I try to forget about Kyle so I can take care of Libby.