22. Kendra #2
I met Luke and Declan at a small coffee shop near the Field Museum.
Even though the weather was terrible, there was still a line to get inside.
I loved this building, with the marble steps leading up onto the splendid terrace and the neoclassical architectural style of the museum itself.
The coffee shop was five minutes away from the museum, and Declan and Luke were already sitting down at a table when I arrived.
"Hello, gentlemen." I waved at them.
Sitting up straighter, Declan blinked. "Gentlemen?"
Luke smiled. "Who tricked you into believing that?”
“Maybe you meant gentleman , as in singular? It could apply to me but certainly not to this one," Declan said.
"I'd give you shit, but you're right," Luke said.
"You're taking time out of your busy day to help. That makes you gentlemen in my book. Emphasis on the plural."
Luke grinned. "You haven't been around us for too long, then.”
Declan cocked a brow. "I stand by what I said. I am a gentleman."
Luke grasped his shoulder. “Declan, real gentlemen don't say that."
"Okay, while you're debating the pros and cons on this, why don't I get us drinks? It's my treat," I said before either of them could offer.
"She thinks she can boss us into this," Luke said.
Declan placed both hands on the table. "One thing you should learn about us Maxwell guys is that, gentlemen or not, we’re for sure not going to let you pay."
"Why don't we order the drinks, and we'll revisit this later?" I suggested.
Luke nodded. "You're good. I'll give you that."
"I know."
We all ordered coffee, and as soon as the waitress left, Declan rolled his shoulders.
“Okay, so I got the report from the inspection. They’d installed a faulty sump pump with no backup system, so there’s no argument. They have to pay for the damage. Here’s what I suggest as the next steps.”
He laid out a detailed roadmap for getting the money back from the previous owners for the water damage.
Luke took over next, taking out his laptop and showing me the timeline for payments if I decided to work with the contractor he suggested after all.
“Wow. I honestly didn’t think contractors accepted being paid in installments,” I told him.
“They usually don’t, but I used my charm to convince them,” he said.
“Thanks,” I exclaimed.
“Besides, they’re only doing one portion at a time, and you’re paying that, so they’re not at risk. If everyone keeps to the timeline, you’ll be ready to move in January. And I will make sure they deliver on time.”
They worked together as a team, and their energy even energized me.
"You think I'll have a chance of getting the money back?" I asked Declan.
"Definitely. I'm very good at what I do," he said.
"And he's humble too," Luke put in, "but I have to be fair. He's one of the best lawyers in Chicago. And I can vouch for all these handymen. They’re working at Declan's place too."
"You're moving?" I asked.
He nodded. "Yeah, as soon as my place is done."
Luke lifted the corners of his mouth.
"Don't start again," Declan warned.
"Don't start what?" I asked. "I want to have insider knowledge."
"He bought a property that has a guest house on it, which is rented out, and he can't get rid of the renter for some time."
Declan tapped his fingers on the table, leaning lower in the chair. "So what? I still don't get the problem. You amuse yourself every time.”
“Brother, I don't know if anyone's told you this before, but you're not compatible with anyone."
"We're sharing a yard. That's it."
"Yeah, I'm giving you one week before you go crazy. You're just not good at sharing. You like things a certain way."
"Doesn't everyone?" I chimed in.
"Thank you, Kendra," Declan said.
"But Declan is in a league of his own," Luke countered.
"Don't start again."
"Fine. I'm not starting, but don't say I didn't warn you when you’re going batshit crazy about your neighbor doing stuff you don’t like."
"We'll have rules about cohabiting," Declan said calmly.
I was slowly starting to understand Luke's point of view. Rules were good, but they didn't always work out.
"If I were you, I’d just wait until the renter moves out," Luke said.
"I want my space. I’ll move, and we’ll have rules.”
I grinned at their banter. They were hilarious.
Declan focused on me. “But back to our conversation. Do you have any questions?”
“Yes. How long do you think it will take until I’m reimbursed?”
“Hard to say. Probably a couple of months.”
I grimaced. “Okay, that means I have to see Jared,” I murmured, more to myself.
“Jared?” Declan asked.
“My ex-boss. He owes me a few paychecks and is being a jackass about giving them to me. Says I have to go pick them up myself, but the neighborhood is sketchy. Last time I went there, two men followed me and asked for my wallet, and I had to duck into a store.”
Luke frowned. "How can we help?"
"I'm surprised Tyler didn't tell us," Declan added.
"I didn't tell him yet that I have to go there to get my paychecks."
Luke and Declan raised their eyebrows high on their forehead. Their expressions looked comically similar.
"Why?" Luke asked, sounding cautious.
"Well, now that he's back on the team, he's got lots on his mind." And I don't want to be trouble , a small voice said.
"He'll want to know," Declan said. Luke just nodded, drinking a swig of coffee.
I suspected he was trying to weigh his words, and that was troublesome, because Luke didn't strike me as the type to do that.
He usually just spoke his mind. "He doesn't like secrets.
Remember when I didn't tell him about when Sam went missing because he had a big game coming up?
That was a dark time in the Maxwell brotherhood. "
“Your brother went missing?” I asked, stricken.
“It was a false alarm. Sometimes he’s located in dangerous areas. Once he was sent to a place that was under attack, and the entire unit lost signal. We all decided not to tell Tyler. He didn’t take it lightly.”
“This isn’t the same, though. I’ll tell him once things calm down. I just don’t want to distract him before his first game.”
"And by the way, if he gets mad that you didn't tell him before, we're on your side."
"Wait, what? Why are you picking sides?"
Declan smiled. "It's all about picking teams and making secret plans. Welcome to the Maxwell family."
“Thanks. Gentlemen, I’m going to the restroom. Be right back.”
“There she goes with ‘gentlemen’ again,” Luke said. “I’m kind of getting used to it.”
Laughing, I rose from the table, heading to the back of the coffee shop.
When I returned a few minutes later, Luke was looking particularly smug. Declan also seemed very pleased with himself.
“We paid the bill,” Declan announced.
“Wow. Damn it. When?”
“You’re good, but we’re better,” Luke said.