13. Jenna
JENNA
“ T hat son of a bitch,” I mutter, staring at the invoice Frank slides in front of me— PAID IN FULL .
Frank sucks in a breath and raises his eyebrows. “That’s not the reaction I’d expect from having your bill paid for you.”
“I just…didn’t know.” I sigh, exasperated. “Why would he do this?” I grumble. “He should not have done this.” I know why Miles did this; he feels bad for me. I’m trying desperately to keep my guard up around him and he keeps knocking it down. I hate it.
“Maybe the guy likes you.” Frank shrugs with an amused glint in his eye. “I took the liberty of giving you a little tune-up too. You were way overdue.” Frank looks pleased with himself.
“Thanks, Frank,” I mumble, offering him a smile so he knows it’s not him I’m mad at.
He hands me the keys with a warm smile. “Don’t mention it.”
“See you later.” I wave, rushing out the door. I whip out my phone to call Miles immediately and yell at him for paying my two-hundred-fifty-dollar bill, but Danny’s name flashes on the screen.
“Hi, Danny,” I huff into the phone.
“Hey Jenna—everything okay?” Danny asks warily. I must sound exasperated every time this guy talks to me.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m sorry. I just picked up my car and found out Miles paid the bill,” I grumble, climbing into the front seat.
Attached to my steering wheel is a Post-it note.
Thank me later. - M . I groan. He must’ve beaten me here at some point, though I have no idea when he would have done that.
“Wow.” Danny lets out a low whistle.
“Wow, what?” I snap. It comes out harsher than I intend.
“No, nothing. It’s just…he must like you.” Danny laughs, and for some reason, it annoys me.
“That’s what Frank said. It’s not funny.
I’m not staying here. I don’t want to be indebted to anyone,” I whine, banging my hands on the steering wheel in frustration.
The horn beeps angrily. I’m not used to people doing nice things for me.
In fact, I’ve had to do most things myself for most of my adult life.
Of course Miles is super thoughtful, and one might even say this is a romantic gesture.
But he’s really complicating my feelings about selling my house and leaving Cape May—and him—behind. He’s making me want to stay.
Danny chuckles. “You’re going to have to tell him that.”
“I’ve tried, ” I say, sighing in defeat. Well, first I tried to hook up with him, but Danny doesn’t need to know that.
“Try harder. The Miles I know doesn’t do nice things for girls he doesn’t care about… Just think about that.” Danny is quiet after that.
“I have. I know,” I mutter. I don’t say this to Danny, but the problem is, I don’t want Miles to care about me.
I don’t know what I’m doing with my life at all right now.
I’m alone, I’m unemployed, and I’m floundering.
I should not be getting tangled up in some fling.
Sure, last night was a moment of weakness.
And of course I liked waking up in his arms this morning.
But a new relationship in a new place is the last thing I need.
Neither of us is in the position to catch feelings right now.
“Listen,” Danny changes the subject, “I have an hour free to come do an estimate. Are you home?”
Home. I try not to think about how the word makes me feel like a foreigner in a strange land who desperately wants to find her place, but not knowing where it is. “Not yet, but I’m five minutes away or so.”
“Great. I’ll meet you there,” Danny says. He hangs up before I can reply. I guess Miles will have to wait.
An hour later, I’m sitting on my front stoop when Danny comes around the side of the house, writing on his clipboard. He startles when he sees me. “Geez!” He flinches, jumping backward.
“Sorry.” I smile nervously, standing. “I didn’t want to follow you around, but I’m also anxious as hell to hear the news.” I shift my weight and look at him expectantly.
“I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but there is more damage than you probably thought.
” Danny grimaces. “The damage to the foundation and the structural beams is extensive. You’re looking at about seven thousand dollars for those repairs—and that doesn’t include anything cosmetic after we repair the wall.
” He furrows his brow. “And we’re going to have to rip this fence out.
The termites have been feasting on that, too.
” He turns and gestures to the old wooden fence that separates the front yard from the back.
“I thought you were giving me the friends and family rate.” I force a half-hearted smile.
“Unfortunately, that is the friends and family rate. I’ll tell you what…” Danny gives me that pitying look again. “I won’t charge you to demo the fence.”
I suck in a breath. “Okay.” I nod. “That’s fair. Now I have to figure out how I’m going to pay you.”
Danny shifts uncomfortably. “I take cards, but there is a three percent fee. How about I have my secretary call you to work out a payment plan?”
Relief floods me instantly. “Really? Thank you!” I throw my arms around his neck.
Danny stiffens and carefully peels me off. “Hey, anything for Miles. I know it’s what he’d want me to do.”
“So, when can you start? Actually…the better question is…can I live here while you work?” I scrunch up my nose, embarrassed. “I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
Danny nods. “You can. We will be working off your sunroom so you can just avoid that area. We may wake you up early with our construction noise though.”
I shrug, relieved. “It’s okay. I am an early riser.”
“Okay, well, then I’d say we’re looking at a couple of weeks before I can start. We’re a little backed up.” Danny starts walking toward his truck. “I’ll call you as I get closer to a start date.”
“Thank you so much, Danny,” I call after him.
He turns back and smiles. “Don’t mention it. And Jenna?”
“Hmm?” I raise my eyebrows.
“Go easy on Miles. He means well.” With that, Danny climbs into his truck and drives off.
My next task, if I’m going to be sticking around for a few weeks, is to find some temporary income.
I clearly won’t be using my design skills here in Cape May, but I need something in the interim.
Then I remember I saw a Help Wanted sign at the hardware store.
The woman, Joy, mentioned it was just seasonal help when I asked, which might actually be perfect for me since I don’t plan to stick around.
Without thinking twice, I hop into my newly tuned-up car and drive over there. I stride into the hardware store and spot Joy sitting at the counter, scrolling on her phone. No one else is in the shop. This place really is a ghost town in the off-season. Joy’s face lights up when she sees me.
“Hi, Jenna!” She hops off her stool and comes around the counter. “Are you back for more paint?” Her eyes glimmer with excitement.
“Uh, no,” I start. “Actually, are you still looking for holiday help?” I wince. I should not be embarrassed about applying for a retail job. Joy gets it, she works here. Sometimes, you do what you have to do to make ends meet. My ends are nowhere close to meeting, so beggars can’t be choosers.
Joy squeals, clapping her hands. “Yes, we are!” She walks back around the counter and rummages underneath it for something. She reappears a moment later with an old-school paper application. “Does this mean you’re staying?”
I suppress a grin, unable to hide my amusement as she pushes the application in my direction. I chew on my lip, hesitating. Joy is so nice, but is this really what I want? “I…” I falter. “For a little while, maybe. Some things came up with the house, and I can’t list it as is, so…”
“This is so great! ” Joy claps her hands, delighted. “I’ll hire you on the spot.”
“You’ll hire me?” I ask, raising my eyebrows.
“Yeah. I own the store.” Joy smirks. “I thought you knew that.”
“Nope.” I shake my head, a giggle escaping. “I definitely just thought you worked here.”
“Well, now you know!” Joy hops onto her stool. “So, when can you start?”
I let out a laugh. “Does tomorrow work?”
Joy laughs with me, which I appreciate. If she only knew.
“So, most of the time, weekdays are really slow. It is the off-season after all. I’d like to have you work Fridays, Saturdays, and Wednesdays, if that would work for you?”
I shake my head. “To be honest, anything works for me.”
“Great!” Joy takes the application and shoves it under the counter. “I’m not even going to have you fill this out. Just put your number in my phone.”
I do as she asks and hand the phone back to her.
“Yay!” Joy squeals, her enthusiasm is contagious. “I’m so excited. Tomorrow you can come in and I’ll train you on the register. You’ll never be working alone, my older brother, Leo, works here too, so one of us will always be around to help you.”
“Great. That’s great.” I let out a sigh of relief. “Well, I’ll see you tomorrow?” I raise my eyebrows.
“Ten a.m.” Joy grins.
“I’ll be here.” I smile. “Thanks, Joy. You’re really helping me out.”
“Anytime, Jenna. And you’re the one helping me out.” She winks. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I step outside and immediately feel a little bit lighter.
I got a job.
Now there’s just one thing left to do—deal with Miles.