10. Bongo slept here
Chapter 10
Bongo slept here
Skye
There was a work crew out there, as well as my brothers. The cold air quickly removed any lingering arousal as I huffed my way over to the driveway.
“How’s it going, sis?” Riley asked.
I shrugged. “Phin taught me how to play poker.”
Oscar hooted. “You’re terrible at cards. The only thing you can win is Jacks.”
I was glad the cold kept my cheeks from flushing.
“This is awesome. Thank you all so much,” Phin said, trudging up behind me. The guys on the power truck, older men I’d seen around town, nodded but were focused on their job. They had to be tired.
Standing around watching and waiting might not be the smartest thing to do in this weather, but the thought of getting power again was compelling. I wanted to cheer when they clipped off the lines and rolled up what had fallen down so the path to freedom was clear.
“Whose place is this?”
Phin stepped forward. “It belongs to my family.”
“We’ll have to replace the pole to get you power.”
He hesitated for a moment. “I can go somewhere else. No need to infringe any longer on your holiday. If you want…” He looked away, shoes shifting in the snow. “I could get some tickets to a Blaze game to thank you for getting us out. If you wanted.”
The two utility workers looked more closely at Phin. “You’re Collins. Bongo, right?”
He nodded.
“Won’t say no to some tickets. You sure you’re okay without power?”
“I just came for a short break. Need to get back to the city before long anyway.” He stepped forward and asked for their contact information. They were grinning, fatigue temporarily forgotten. “I’ll talk to the admin people and you should hear from them about dates.”
“We appreciate it. You all good to get out now?”
There was still the issue of our tow truck and Phin’s car.
“That’s what we’re here for,” Oscar said from his place leaning against our big tow truck.
Holiday greetings were exchanged all around and then the work crew left. That left me, my brothers, and Phin.
“So, we’re going to have to tow you home, eh?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes. And Phin’s car.”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“I hit a pole when I slid into the ditch,” he said.
Riley tromped over to look at the Honda. “Yeah. That’s not going anywhere. When do you need it done?”
“It’s Christmas Eve. No one is gonna fix it tonight. I’ll rent something or call a ride.”
The daylight had been rapidly disappearing as the power team worked on the downed power lines, and now it was almost dark. No rental places would be open, and who was he going to call for a ride? “He’ll have to come with us.”
All three men turned to stare at me.
“We can’t leave him here, with no vehicle, no power, no water—and on Christmas Eve. Nothing is open. Maybe in Toronto but not up here.”
Oscar and Riley exchanged looks.
“I don’t need to put anyone out,” Phin said. “I’ll take care of myself.”
Oscar sighed. “Skye and I live over the garage. Riley and I shared a room until he moved in with Christine, and there’s still a second bed.”
“He could come to my place,” Riley argued.
“You going to put him on that foldout couch that cripples anyone who sleeps on it? So the team is down another forward? Or were you and Christine going to use it? It’s right by the Christmas tree and Rowan will be up early, running and yelling about Santa.”
“He’s right, Riley. Oscar and I can put him up.”
“But that place isn’t fancy.”
For pity’s sake. It wasn’t a hovel.
Phin interrupted. “I’m happy to be anywhere with heat and lights. And if I could sleep in that stupid cave we found on Snake Point, I can handle whatever kind of bed you have.”
Oscar laughed. “I’d forgotten about that.”
I hadn’t, because they hadn’t let me join them, so I’d snuck out to follow them after Dad went to bed. Quin and I had scared the shit out of the three older boys who’d fallen asleep and thought we were returning bears.
Good times. Before Quin became an asshole.
“Are we settled, then?” I asked, also wanting heat and light and warm water to clean up in. I’d normally like a long soak in the tub, but we had one bathroom and Phin would need to shower too.
Remembering his chest and the feel of those muscles up against me made me shiver, but not from cold.
Phin spent the drive back apologizing for the role he’d played in us losing the cottage, and for shutting everyone out.
“Your stepmother is something else. Remember when you had to go out there, Skye?”
I nodded. I had no desire to revisit that but Oscar didn’t let it go.
“She wouldn’t let Skye use the bathroom.” The one by the door that I’d been using since yesterday. “And your brother? Wouldn’t look at her, wouldn’t let on he knew her.”
Phin grimaced. “There’s a reason I have as little to do with them as I can.”
I shrugged. “Their loss. Since I’m awesome.”
My brothers hooted but Phin just gave me a warm smile. And when he did, there were more chills. We’d better get rid of him ASAP.
We pulled into the garage lot then, so I hopped out to help my brothers.
“You can take off, Riley. Christine’s family is waiting.”
“Thanks. I don’t want to miss Rowan.”
I blinked at him. “Miss him? Do you think he’s going to fall asleep before midnight?”
Riley just laughed and waved as he left.
Phin did his best to help as we unhooked the crippled tow truck and his car. Seeing the damage made my stomach drop, and not in the good way.
“That’s going to be out of commission for a while,” Oscar said, running a hand over the side of our truck.
“I’m sorry.” I couldn’t believe I’d done that.
“No, I’m sorry,” Phin repeated. “I distracted you so I’m taking the blame.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Oscar interjected. “It’s still not going to do us any good. Let’s get you two warm and fed. Then we can get ready for tomorrow.”
“I appreciate you putting me up,” Phin said.
Oscar slapped him on the back. “Oh, we’ll make use of it. I’m gonna put up a sign—Bongo slept here—like they do about all those old generals. People will come from miles around.”
“You think that would work?”
“Dude, you play for the Toronto Blaze. We’re all big fans up here.”
“All?” Phin shot a glance my way.
Oscar ignored him. “Let us repair your Honda and we’ll have people stopping by just to see it. Hell, I’ll charge them to take a picture with it.”
Phin laughed. “If it was Cooper’s Ferrari, maybe.” But he looked back at his car as if he was wondering.
Oscar was right. Especially since Phin had come here so rarely. I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of people wanted an oil change while we had the hockey star’s car in our garage.
I offered Phin the first shower but he insisted I go ahead. As I soaped up my hair, almost moaning at the feel of warm water, I found it hard to believe what had changed in thirty-six hours.