Chapter 24 #3
“No, I’m sure he will,” I said quickly. “He doesn’t know there’s a timeline to it. I should call and explain, but there never seems to be a good time. I’m always busy with Ruby or…”
Or Hollywood would overhear.
I didn’t have to say it. Ghost understood.
“Go on and call, then.” He stood up. “Ruby, how about we go inside and I show you my fish?”
Ghost had fish? That was news to me. He hadn’t moved in any with him. But I supposed fish seemed more fitting for him than something cuddly. Ghost needed a pet that would force him to accept love, though.
Sometimes, we needed a kick in the ass to get out of our own way.
“Call your dad,” Ghost said. “I’ll keep Ruby busy for a few minutes.”
Well, shit. I guess I was getting the kick in the ass now.
I pulled up the contact list and hit Call. Dad answered on the first ring.
“Hey, Tex. I was just thinking about you.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah. Been busy over here. I could have used you. Todd does okay, but he doesn’t use his damn brain half the time.”
Of course that’s what he meant. Whenever Dad thought about me, it always seemed to be in the context of labor I could provide him. I worked my jaw, trying to tamp down the flare of irritation.
“Well, hey, I was calling because you haven’t texted me back about when you can pay me. You said when the job was finished, you’d have the cash, so…”
“Well, shoot, son. I wish you’d called sooner.”
I grinned, my chest loosening. He’d been waiting for me to ask. That was all.
“Oh, my bad. I thought you’d call when you had the money. But if you could just get it to me now—”
“I can’t,” he said. “That’s why I said I wish you’d called sooner. I invested it into my next job. It’s a big one. In fact, I’m a little short, so maybe I could make another trip out there, huh? You could help me out again.”
“Wait. Hold up. You don’t have the money you owe me?”
“Well, as soon as this next job is done, I can take care of you, son. Don’t you worry. I’m always good for paying my debts.”
He really wasn’t. He never had been. But I hadn’t wanted to believe he’d treat me the way he treated random bill collectors.
“Dad, I’ve got bills to pay. I can’t just wait indefinitely.”
“Well, I don’t know what to tell you, Jed. I don’t have it on me right now.”
“So when will you have it?”
“After my next job. You’ll have to wait until they pay the bill. Maybe three weeks or so?”
“That’s too late. My rent is coming due.”
“Well, you can always move back home. Your sister would welcome you. I never understood why you ran off and bailed on your family.”
“I didn’t bail. Hollywood—”
“Shit, I gotta go,” he interrupted. “Todd is fucking up the raised flowerbeds. Damn it. Just come home, and we’ll work everything out.”
“No, I—”
“Gotta go.”
The call ended before I could say anything else. But what was the point? Dad wasn’t really listening. He was too caught up in the idea I’d come back and work for him.
Shit.
What now?
I wasn’t sure how long I sat there, my brain doomscrolling through scenarios.
Me, having to tell Hollywood I couldn’t pay and him kicking me out.
Telling me he was wrong to ever believe in me.
Or maybe, even worse, his face crumpling into worry, panic overtaking him because he couldn’t take care of his daughter and it was my fault.
“Didn’t go well, I take it?” Ghost said, jarring me from my internal spiral.
I looked up at him. My expression must have said it all.
“I’ll toss you some of my Nina work,” he said gruffly. “Talk to Knight. Maybe he can find you something, too.”
I shook my head. “No, I— You were right. I have to watch Ruby all day and work all night. When would I even do it?”
“Sundays and Mondays?” he suggested.
“That wouldn’t be enough work to make a dent in it. Not before the rent is due.”
He frowned, forehead creased. “Wish I knew what to tell you.”
I nodded. “Ignore me. I’ll figure something out.”
“Talk to Knight,” he repeated. “He’s better at this stuff. I don’t…uh, know…”
I quirked a smile. “The guys would be impressed by how hard you’re trying, though.”
He scowled. “Don’t tell them that.”
I laughed. “Maybe I can just blackmail you to get the money. How badly do you want everyone to think you’re a grumpy, stoic old coot?”
“Very funny,” he said dryly.
“Where’s Ruby?” I asked suddenly.
“She’s inside, playing with a puzzle I found at a yard sale the other day.”
My eyes widened. “Alone?”
We rushed toward the trailer to find her dumping a bag of coffee grounds all over Ghost’s floor.
“Crap,” he said.
“Yep,” I agreed as I took the bag from Ruby, picked her up, and dusted off her hands. “They call it Terrible Twos for a reason.”
He groaned, staring at his floor. “Well, I better get this cleaned up before the meeting. See you there?”
I nodded, hefting Ruby on my hip. “I’ll get the tools put away.”
“Leave them. I’ll take care of it. Just take care of that little family you’ve got,” he said. “Don’t give up on them.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. I wasn’t worried about me giving up on them. Kind of the reverse.
Hollywood had already forgiven me once. Was it really fair to expect him to forgive me again? How many times could I let him down before it was too many times?