Chapter 10
Popping the tab on a beer, Derek took a long swallow, grinning as Nick’s truck rumbled into the driveway.
“Why are you on my roof again?” Nick called, stepping out of his pickup.
“I waited until afternoon this time,” Derek hollered back.
“Barely! It’s twelve-fifteen,” Nick retorted, glancing at his watch as he walked toward the house.
Nick climbed the ladder with ease. “You’re going to ruin my shingles.”
“What do you care? You’re moving.” Derek held out a cold beer can as Nick settled beside him at the peak. “I hear you showed up at Piper’s door with flowers and she sent you packing.”
Nick choked on his beer. “Where’d you hear that?”
“Overheard Mom and Vanessa. Margie Stayner came into Vanessa’s salon for a wash and set, talking all about it.”
“Wash and set?” Nick’s eyebrows shot up.
“Yeah, you know, the old lady helmet hairstyle that lasts a week.” Derek chuckled. “Margie’s daughter lives across from Leighton and Piper. She saw the whole thing. Saw Piper hand back the flowers and slam the door in your face.”
“She must have pretty good eyesight,” Nick muttered. “So? What’s it to you?”
“It’s going to take more than flowers and a lame apology to win her back.”
“How do you know my apology was lame? Does Margie have supersonic hearing too?”
Derek lifted an eyebrow. “No, I just know you well, my friend.”
“Okay, yeah, it was pretty lame,” Nick sighed, taking another swig. “What can I do? She’s really angry. I hurt her, and she isn’t going to forgive me anytime soon.”
“You need a grand gesture,” Derek advised. “Like Ryan Gosling did in ‘The Notebook’.”
“You watched ‘The Notebook’?”
“Don’t look so shocked. Mom and Vanessa were watching it last night. They had an amazing charcuterie board. I’d sit through a musical for mortadella and gruyere.”
In addition to gossiping, his mother and sister-in-law had gushed over Ryan Gosling’s character, Noah, and his grand gesture of restoring the old house where he and Allie had spent their last night together.
A police cruiser pulled up to the curb just as Ophelia Meddler stepped out of her house.
“Looks like the Meddler called the Po-Po on us,” Derek chuckled.
“Hey Burke,” Nick called out to the officer. “What’s up?”
“Got a disturbance call.” Burke climbed out of the cruiser and approached the lawn.
“Oh, yeah? Who’s causing a disturbance?” Nick asked.
“Apparently, you and Derek are.” Burke shrugged.
“We’re just sitting on my roof enjoying the view. No disturbance here.” Nick grinned.
“Nick’s right, Mrs. Meddler,” Burke said, turning to the woman. “Drinking on the roof isn’t an offense. It might be stupid, but it’s not illegal.”
Ophelia threw her hands up and stalked back across the street.
“Careful, Burke. She might turn the hose on you again,” Derek called down.
Ophelia stopped walking and turned. Her glare could have set him aflame. “Oh, she’s calling my mother.”
“Yep.” Nick nodded his head in agreement.
“Did you see that video of her hosing down Burke when he refused to charge Shamus for a noise complaint?” Derek chuckled.
“Guess she doesn’t like bagpipe music,” Nick commented.
“Come back once your shift is over. We’ll fire up the barbecue,” Nick yelled down to Burke.
“Sounds good,” Burke said, heading back to his cruiser. “Maybe take the drinking to the back deck.”
“Yeah, okay.” Nick saluted.
“Are we too old to put a flaming bag of poop on her front porch?” Derek asked.
“Yep. Hand me another beer.”
Derek pulled out another cold can and handed it to Nick. “Hey, speak of the devil, there’s Shamus now.” He waved. “Shamus, how about some bagpipe music?”
The redheaded man gave two thumbs up and dashed back into his house.
Ophelia remained on her porch, possibly contemplating her next move. Maybe wondering just how far her garden hose would reach?
Derek raised his beer in a silent toast. “Oh, she’s definitely calling my mother now.”
“Yep,” Nick agreed, cracking open his beer. “And I’m definitely going to have to move.”
“Yep,” Derek echoed.
Shamus returned, bagpipes blaring ‘Scotland the Brave.’
“Are we torturing the Meddler or ourselves?” Nick asked.
“Not sure,” Derek grimaced as Shamus drew closer.
“Got any ideas for this grand gesture?”
“Not a one.”
“You’re no help,” Nick muttered.
“Oh, I’m plenty of help,” Derek protested.
“You help me get into trouble, not out of it,” Nick countered.
“Very true.” Derek wished he could help his friend with his love life, but this was beyond him. “Just spill your guts. Women love it when you open up about your feelings and crap like that.”
Nick turned, his eyes narrowing. “Was that in the movie? No way, that’s from personal experience.”
“Hey, it’s the best I’ve got.”
“Have you opened up to Tommy yet?”
“We’re talking about you, not me.” Derek squirmed. He had come toNick’sto escape Tommy, not talk about him.
“I’ve got stuff to do before Burke returns for the BBQ. And if you’ve got nothing better to do, the grass needs cutting.”
Derek groaned. “Really? Manual labor? How about another beer first?”
“Nope. One more beer leads to two.” Nick stood, inching toward the ladder.
“Come on, just one!”