29. Caleb
Caleb
I walk to my truck and grab a bottle of water from the cooler.
I toss Brady one, then lean against my truck to rest a moment.
The construction on Derek’s house is moving slowly.
We would normally be finished with this type of job in just a couple of weeks, but every time we show up, Derek has more changes he wants made.
“I’m not one to complain,” Brady says, “But this prick is getting on my last nerve. Did you see that he wants to add an outdoor kitchen to the deck he suddenly decided he wants?”
“Yep.”
“And he wants the master bath remodeled now?”
“I saw that. It’s his house. He wants what he wants.”
And I get the feeling he’s fucking with us to show he’s the one in control. He’s the one with the money to burn, and we’re working for him.
“Well, he won’t be filling it with babies from Case any time soon, so what’s the fucking point?” Brady grumbles.
I take another sip of my water, trying to hide my curiosity. “What do you mean?”
“I heard she dumped his hoity-toity ass, and it’s about damn time.”
I don’t question Brady on how he heard this news. Girls talk. I’m certain if Casey dumped Derek, then she told Jade and Lilly. I only wonder why she suddenly figured out that they weren’t meant for each other. Did it have anything to do with our kiss? Well, kisses.
“Don’t get any ideas,” Brady warns. “I see that look on your face.”
“I don’t have a look on my face, and I’m not getting any ideas.”
Brady tosses his empty water bottle onto the back of my truck.
“You think I don’t see that old Caleb every once in a while?
I mean, sure you changed a lot while you were away in California, and I like this new you.
You don’t fly off the handle about things, and you’re more laid back.
I certainly haven’t found you passed out on the back of my truck.
But that doesn’t mean you have to repeat old mistakes. ”
“Casey was never a mistake.”
“I didn’t mean Casey,” he replies. “I meant fucking up.”
“I don’t have any intention of doing that again.”
“But you do want her back, don’t you?”
“Always did.”
“Jesus,” he mutters. “It used to be entertaining to watch the two of you bicker back and forth. Now, not so much.”
“I love her, man. I tried moving on. Didn’t happen.”
“Well, apparently, she couldn’t move on either.”
We finish up for the day a few hours later, none of my crew feeling like they got anything done and pissed that they have to work tomorrow.
We like our Saturdays off, but with the way this job is going, we have to work overtime to be on schedule for our next job.
Brady tells us to shut up and stop complaining, and I back him up.
We’re getting paid for the job, so let’s just fucking do it.
“I guess I’ll see you at ten?” Brady asks when I reach his house to drop him off.
“Ten?”
“It’s Jade and Madden’s party tonight. Why do you think the guys are pissed about working tomorrow?
” he explains. “There won’t be any strippers, but my mom cooked for it, so we’ll have some kickass good food.
You may have quit drinking, but I’ll definitely be getting my drink on tonight. Hangover be damned.”
I had forgotten all about the bachelor/bachelorette party Jade and Madden are having. I thought the bride and groom were supposed to have separate parties, but apparently, these two decided against that. I have no clue whose idea that was. Probably the city boy.
“You know I love your mama’s cooking,” I say. “I’ll come just for that.”