Chapter 17
For the last two months Zoe and I were inseparable. The summer was almost over, and she'd be back to work soon, giving me time to think about what I wanted to do with my life. I had money to live off for a while, but I needed something more, something better, for her. I decided to start my own contracting business. I knew the skill well, and now that I was finally able to, I could do something that I loved.
Cole and I had only spoken a couple of times since his announcement about being California's newest drug kingpin. Despite my efforts to reach out to him, he was ignoring my calls. I'd seen him around town a few times, each time he was flanked by body guards, and being ushered into the back of a dark tinted SUV. He looked well enough, but it looked like he'd lost a few pounds, and he'd traded in his jeans and tees for a suit and tie. As much as I wished he'd respond to my calls, I was glad that I at least knew he was alright.. for now.
Zoe lay asleep upstairs in my bed, where she spent most of her nights. She even had clothes in the drawers and toiletries in the bathroom. It was the most natural thing in the world for us, we just kind of fell into this relationship, and I couldn't be happier. I smiled to myself as I cracked eggs into a mixing bowl. Since my pool wasn't finished being installed, she slept later, giving me the opportunity to make her breakfast. My phone vibrated on the counter, catching my attention. It was Jake. He'd been skyping more and more lately, making things difficult, because he still didn't know about Zoe and I.
We both agreed that telling him in person was the best way to go, and I'm glad she was on the same page as me. Mostly. She didn't like hiding us from her brother, but she did it for me, which she reminded me daily, making me love her even more. Love, that was a word we hadn't said to each other yet. I knew how I felt, but I didn't want to scare her off, so I was waiting until the right time. Until I was sure she felt the same way.
“What's up man?” I asked, answering the call, and pouring the eggs into a pan simultaneously.
“I smell eggs!” Zoe called down from the top of the stairs before he could respond.
“Is that Zoe?” Jake asked, lifting a brow suspiciously.
“Uh, yea, I uh invited her over for breakfast.” I stammered. “Ba- Zoe, come here your brother's on the phone!” I called out, nearly slipping, and calling her the pet name I'd given her.
“Just a minute!” She called back, rushing up the stairs, probably to put some clothes on.
“Wes, is something going on?” Jake asked skeptically.
I tried to ignore the question, using my eggs as an excuse to put a little thought into my answer. “What do you mean? She probably just needed to use the restroom or some shit.” I said adding salt and pepper.
“Yea.” He said, not sounding very convincing.
“Hey big brother!” Zoe said from behind me, causing me to turn in her direction, and drop the spatula.
“Butter fingers.” She teased, before snagging the phone from my hands and walking out into the living room.
I tried to focus on breakfast, while she spoke to Jake, but it wasn't an easy task. He asked her about me, how I was handling being back in the real world. She answered, like she knew me. Because she did, and I was sure Jake was going to pick up on it. While his social skills weren't the greatest, his intuition was spot on. It was only a matter of time before I got another lecture about why I was no good for Zoe.
It was something I battled with every day. In some ways, she knew more about my life than Jake did. She was easy to talk to, and no matter what I said, I never saw an ounce of judgement in her eyes. She just listened, and it was the most refreshing thing in the world. I knew Jake wouldn't understand that though.
Zoe's arms wrapping around me from behind, shook me from my thoughts and I smiled, turning the burners off. “How's he doing?” I asked, turning to face her.
“He's coming home in two weeks.” She said searching my eyes, trying to gauge my reaction.
“He sure this time?”
“Bosses orders. He doesn't have a choice.”
I nodded my understanding, before turning away from her and plating our dishes. We ate in silence, her contemplating whatever she and Jake had just talked about, and me wondering how the hell I was finally going to break the news to a man I called my brother. After clearing our plates and tossing them into the dish washer, Zoe headed into town to do some shopping. We were going to another fundraising event for her school tonight, and she wanted a new dress to wear.
This would be nothing like the gala, but still a formal event with a sit down dinner. There was talk that Robert Drake would be in attendance, and if that were true, then Cole may be as well. He was considered a high roller now, how he stayed alive after stealing an entire shipment still didn't make any sense to me. Greater men were shot dead for less. I kind of hoped he'd be there tonight, at least to give us a chance to talk. Regardless of what I thought about his newfound business, he was still my brother, and I loved him.
I made use of my time alone, getting in touch with some old contacts that I'd done work for in the past. If I wanted to get my business started, I was going to need some recommendations, a portfolio of sorts, and a business front. I knew of a great little building down town, and with any luck, I could get a good price for it. I'd need a crew next, and that was going to be the hard part. A lot of the guys that I worked with were loyal to my foster Father, and he was a man I'd rather not get in contact with again.
I put an ad up on craigslist instead, hoping I'd get some real responses, and not just a bunch of scammers. I was meeting with the realtor who held the vacant building in half an hour, leaving me just enough time to jump into the shower.
I arrived right on time, taking my helmet off and resting it on the back seat of my bike. I took a good long look at the building in front of me. It had some broken windows, and the brick was cracked, but with a little TLC, it could be as good as new again. When the realtor stepped out of her car, I laughed out loud. Of course it would be the same snotty woman who found me my house. I was about to turn and leave when she stopped me.
“Mr. Granger.” She called out. “I know you were expecting someone else, it's just, I wanted to apologize.” She said in a rush. “I can have my associate take over.” She added, gesturing to the woman waiting in the passenger seat.
“No.” I said, taking a few steps towards her. “I appreciate the apology, let's just get inside yeah?”
“Of course.” She beamed, stepping quickly towards the door, and punching in the key code.
When we walked inside the first thing that I noticed was the smell. I wasn't sure what the building was in it's former life, but oil permeated the air as if it were covering the walls. I walked over to the bay door, releasing the pin, and watched, as it rose up above me. The warm California air drifted in to the dank building, and the sun shone brightly throughout it. I noticed how high the ceilings were for the first time, and smiled when I spotted a lone chandelier made of what appeared to be craftsman wrenches hanging directly in the center.
“What are the terms?” I asked.
“The owner would really like to sell. He's getting older, and leasing is just more hassle than it's worth.”
“How long has it been on the market?”
“A little over a year.”
“Why so long?”
“The neighborhood isn't the best. I'm sure you've heard of Robert Drake? He owns most of the properties on this street.”
“That just means I can get a better deal.” I said, reaching for the folder in her hand. I reviewed the asking price, and read all the specs on the property. He was asking a fair price, but I knew at this point in his life he would probably take anything he was offered. Grabbing the pen from my back pocket, I wrote down a number, and handed the folder back to the realtor. “Cash.” I said, before walking past her and back to my bike.