Chapter 41
JINX
True to his word, Jesse asks me to stay after our Monday team meeting to revisit our partnership discussion. Of course, he first tried to get me to spill the beans about what happened with Rachel when I broke up her date, but I reminded him that I don’t kiss and tell. It’s a lesson he taught me years ago and one we’ve both abided by since. Mostly, anyway. I did confess that she’d only be dating me from here on out, and that seemed to curb his curiosity.
With that out of the way, I’m more than ready to get this ball rolling and get down to business.
“If I do come on board as a partner, how much will it cut into your income?” That’s the question that’s been weighing on my mind since I showed him my business plan. I want this for myself and my future, but the thought of taking away from Jesse and his family doesn’t sit well.
He lifts a shoulder. “Honestly? Not at all. It will cut into the company’s overall profit, but with the plan you’ve put together, that number should return to normal in no time. And in a couple of years, it’ll grow even more.”
I was hoping he’d say that, but I didn’t want to make assumptions. Jesse doesn’t live a glamorous life, aside from that monstrosity of a house he built, so I didn’t get the impression he was pocketing all the profit.
“Hayden took a closer look at your projections and updated them based on the actual numbers from the past few years.” He slides a folder across the desk. “Take a look and tell me what you think.”
I crane my neck and clear my throat, then, with a shaky hand, I open the file. This kind of shit always makes me nervous. Makes me feel greedy, despite how hard I’ve worked to make this happen.
I scan the first few pages. They’re updated versions of my own. Hayden even highlighted her changes and explained her rationale in a few places. There’s nothing surprising or significantly different.
Until I turn to the fourth page.
“What’s this?” I frown when the number in bold at the bottom of the page jumps out at me. Specifically, all the zeros.
“That’s what EE owes you in overtime for the past few years. It’s an estimate, of course, but Hayden’s confident that it’s close to what you’re due.”
Hard pressure builds in my chest, making it difficult to breathe.
My heart hurts, too.
And I think my arms are tingling.
“You all right?” Jesse leans forward, his brow pulled low with concern. “Or were you thinking it should be more?”
I cough. And then cough again. Then I toss the folder onto the desk and hang my head between my knees. That’s what you’re supposed to do when you hyperventilate, right?
“Jesus Christ.” Jesse hurries to his feet and strides to the water cooler in the corner. He fills a paper cup and passes it to me.
Grateful, I sit up and take a drink, but when he claps me on the back, I choke and sputter.
“Shit. Sorry.” He holds his hands up and backs away.
I laugh and cough at the same time, wiping tears and spit from my face. “Sit down,” I croak when I can finally talk.
He does, but his expression is still pensive.
“I didn’t ask for that.” I stab a finger at the folder. “And I don’t need it.”
His shoulders relax as he pulls in a breath. “I know you didn’t ask for it, but you earned it. And paying you is the right thing to do. Hayden’s already cut the check.” He angles forward and turns to the next page. There in front of me is an electronic copy of said check with today’s date. “It’s probably already in your bank account.”
Holy shit. He’s serious about this.
“Jesse…” I shake my head. “That’s not why I want to be your partner. It isn’t about the money.”
He nods and clasps his hands on top of the desk. “I know that. If it were, you would’ve taken me up on the offer years ago.”
I sit back in the chair and study him, absorbing all the information.
Not only is he offering me a partnership, but he’s back paying me. Check that—he’s already done it. There’s a quarter million dollars in my bank account right now.
Mind. Blown.
He flips to the next page in the folder. “This is what we’re thinking for an annual salary, but it’s negotiable.” He taps another unimaginable figure before he turns to yet another page. “And here are the profit projections for the next five years. This is the perfect time for us to do this, Jinx.” He looks up and regards me with a hopeful smile. “We could really take EE to the next level if we bust our asses.”
My dad said something similar when Jesse took over. That EE was ready to grow, and sure as shit, we did it. Now, we can do it again.
“This is really happening.” I say it more for myself than for him.
He nods. “Yeah, man. I’ve already made an appointment with the lawyer. I hope you’re free on Friday.”
Friday. Just four more days.
“I’ll have to ask for time off work,” I tease, the shock finally wearing off, “and since I took this past Friday off, too, I’m not sure it’s possible. My boss can be a pain in the ass.”
He snorts. “Shut the hell up. The appointment is at ten. I was thinking we should invite Dad to come along, too.”
Now that thought has my chest hurting in another way altogether.
“Did you mention this to him?” I ask.
Jesse shakes his head. “Didn’t want to do it without you.”
With a nod, I swallow past the lump in my throat, working to keep my shit together. “Can we do it soon?”
“Is right now soon enough?”
My palms haven’t sweatedthis much since that night Dad caught Gracie Janikowski and me with our pants down and then made me sit next to her old man in church the next day.
I’m not worried about whether Dad will like the agreement Jesse and I have come to. If all four of us worked at EE, he’d be in heaven. The company is his pride and joy, just like it was my grandfather’s.
But I should have done this sooner. I shouldn’t have left him to worry that I might never get to this point. I have a lot of making up to do. And a lot left to prove.
“Hey, boys.” Ma waves. She’s standing at the stove, where—shocker—she’s stirring something in a big pot. Smells tomato-based, and there’s a huge head of cabbage on the counter behind her. If I had to guess, they’re having go??bki for dinner tonight. Tomorrow and Wednesday, too.
“Hey, Ma.” I dip close and peck her cheek. “Smells good in here.”
“Thank you. If you come back later, you can have supper with us.” She flashes a cheeky grin, because it wouldn’t be a visit to our childhood home if she didn’t try to feed us or guilt us into coming by more often.
“I might just do that.” Rachel’s spending the evening with the kids, going through their things for school next week. And after spending the last few days with her, going home to an empty house doesn’t appeal.
“Don’t tease me, Justin Andrew,” she warns with a stern finger.
I hold up my hands. “Not teasing. I’ll be here.”
With a chuckle, Jesse stuffs his hands into his pockets and glances out the patio door. “Dad outside somewhere?”
“Probably. He was grumbling about needing to cut the grass. Haven’t heard the mower going, so he’s probably messing with that. It was giving him grief the other day.”
Humming, I scan what I can see of the yard. “Sounds like we came at the right time, then.”
Ma makes a throaty sound. “He’s never going to let you take over our lawn care, Jinx. At least not while he’s still got two arms and two legs.”
Maybe not, but it won’t stop me from reminding him that I’m more than happy to do it.
“Ah, I see him.” Jesse lifts his chin. “No mower, but he does have a shovel and his pellet gun.”
“Na mi?o?? bosk?.” Ma looks up at the ceiling and makes the sign of the cross. “Please go save him from himself.”
“On it.” Jesse slides the patio door open, and I follow him out back. “Squirrels or rabbits?” he calls out to our dad.
“Skunks,” the old man snarls back. “Damn things keep getting into the trash in the garage.”
“You try closing the door?” Jesse asks with a grin.
Dad just flips him off. “Aren’t you two supposed to be at work?”
“We’re on the clock.” I shrug.
He leans the shovel and the gun against the patio skirting and wipes the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. “Then why are you here?”
“Was hoping we could talk to you about something.” Jesse tips his head toward the cluster of chairs on the patio.
“Something wrong?”
“No,” my brother answers before I can.
I kind of want to be the one to tell Dad about our plan, and thankfully, I catch Jesse’s eye as we follow Dad. He takes one look at me, gives a small smile, and nods.
Funny how in tune we can be when we want to be. Then again, we’re rarely on the same page, but that’s because it’s fun to try and piss each other off.
“Any day now.” Dad rolls his hand impatiently as he sits. “At this rate, I might keel over before either of you spit it out.”
Chuckling, I fold my hands between my knees. “Jesse and I have been talking.”
“To be fair, he brought it up,” Jesse interjects.
I shoot him a glare, and he holds up a hand.
“He’s right. I did bring it up. Now, we want to run it by you.”
“I’m not interested in un-retiring, so if you’re about to ask me to come back to work…”
“We’re not.” Jesse groans. “Jesus, Jinx, just tell him already.”
Here goes. My stomach’s twisted in knots, but the words come out easier than I expected. “I want to become a partner at Enders Excavating.”
Dad’s head snaps up in surprise. “What now?”
I nod. “You heard me. It’s been a long time coming. I know you and Jesse thought it might never happen. But the truth is, I’ve always wanted in. It’s our family business, so of course I do. I just wasn’t ready when I was nineteen. But I’m ready now.”
Dad regards me for a beat, like my confession is too good to be true and he’s afraid to get excited. “You’re serious.”
“I am.” I dip my chin. “We’ve already talked about what that means for the company and for each of us individually. I put together a plan to expand the landscaping portion of the business, and Hayden’s taken a look at things from an objective standpoint. We’re all in agreement that we can do this and do it well.”
Dad eyes Jesse, one brow lifted. “That all true?”
“Yep. The only thing he didn’t tell you is how hard he’s worked behind the scenes these past few years.”
“It wasn’t really behind the scenes,” our father mumbles. “But you’re right. He did work damn hard.”
I clear my throat. “I’m right here.”
“Good thing we’re not talking shit, then, huh?” Dad jokes. “Anyway, you know I’m happy to hear this. It’s how I’ve always wanted things to be. Hell, I’d be thrilled if all of you kids were there, but two out of four is just fine.”
“So, you approve?” I need to hear him say it, even if it’s just for my pride.
“Hell yes, I approve. Your grandpa would, too. And someday, when you’re my age, hopefully your kids will be having this same conversation with the two of you.”
“Jinx would have to settle down for that to happen.” Jesse shoots me a knowing smirk. “But maybe someday.”
Maybe someday sooner than either of them realizes.
Behind us, the patio door slides open, and Ma pokes her head out. “Jesse, can you come and help me core this damn cabbage? It’s stubborn as hell.”
Sighing, he pushes to his feet. “You should be good at dealing with stubborn things, Ma. You’re married to Dad, after all.”
She snickers, and Dad rolls his eyes.
When the door closes behind them, Dad gives me a sidelong glance. “I figured this was coming.”
“Yeah? Why’s that?”
He sits back in the chair and studies me. “You’ve been carrying yourself differently lately. Like you’re more confident, which, as far as I’m concerned, you never should have had an issue with. You’re a good kid, Jinx. No, scratch that.” He lifts a hand. “You’re a good man.”
That chest pain that hit me in Jesse’s office flares back to life. I rub at the spot as emotion thickens in my throat. He’s never made me feel like I didn’t measure up next to my brothers, but his words are reassuring in a way I didn’t realize I needed.
“Thanks, Dad.”
We get to our feet and exchange a hug that drives home the point—he really is proud of me.
I hope he’s just as proud when he finds out that I’ve met the woman I plan to spend the rest of my life with. And I’ve done my best to live by his words from all those years ago.
The true measure of a man can be seen in how he treats a woman.
Maybe it’s time I told the rest of my family just how much those words have impacted me.
Scratch that.
Maybe it’s time I show them.