Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
ADAM
Present Day
The sun is barely up, and I’m at my latest home demo site. I couldn’t concentrate on the second half of the game last night after seeing Chelsea Jo. I have so many questions, so many feelings, and I hate it.
She looked good. Better than good. It’s been two years and my memories didn’t do her justice.
That auburn hair that always seemed to glow golden.
Her hazel eyes that would darken when she was turned on, that seemed to burn like fire when she was angry and sparkle when she’d laugh.
I loved watching her different emotions dance across her face.
But her body. God, even though I was trying not to stare, I couldn’t not see her. Her ass in those jeans. Christ. I’ve always been an ass man, but hers has been my downfall, and seeing her in skinny jeans last night… well, let’s just say she had a starring role in my dreams.
I feel out of control, and I don’t like it. I’m the oldest son so I’ve known my role and responsibility since I was able to understand what it actually meant. My family gifted me that title.
My father worked his ass off to start House o’ Love Construction.
Then he continued working his ass off to make it the most in demand construction company in the County.
My Gramps, my mom’s father, was a builder back in his day.
It was never anything as big as what we have now, but he was a good worker and provided a great life for my grandma while raising my mom.
He was so proud of what my dad built and couldn’t wait to see what I would do when I took over.
Gramps only got to see the start up, but nothing of what I’ve accomplished since he passed. I miss him so much some days. I miss being able to run ideas by him and just plain talking to him. I know his encouragement in the early days is what drives me today.
The town of Christmas owes a lot to my dad.
He settled in a barren area and grew it from the ground up.
He won’t ever take recognition for it, but he was a perfect example for other businesses to follow.
Slowly and surely a coffee shop opened, then a small fashion boutique.
A bakery followed, and a bed and breakfast came next.
Dad gave them encouragement and was always there to assist with a build.
We got on the map for our name, Christmas, and once the Almost Christmas festivals began happening, the tourists flocked to our small town.
It boosted the economy, and more and more people began to settle here.
My dad bought old homes and renovated and flipped them quickly.
The population grew. The schools grew. It was an exciting change of times to be a part of.
Dad taught me from the time I could walk how to bang nails.
Through middle and high school, in the off season from football, Jackson and I, and my brothers when they got old enough, worked nights and weekends with him.
I knew I’d eventually take over the business, but dad still let me try a different path.
I went to college for business, but I had dreams of playing in the NFL since I was a kid.
Jackson and I had a pipe dream. He made it, and I came home.
I still got to semi-live out the NFL dream because I had Jackson bringing me along for the ride every chance he could.
I never really mourned that football dream because I had found Chelsea.
So, I came home and began prepping a future for my family and myself. That was my lot in life.
My dad has since semi-retired, yet I kept him on as an advisor.
He loves it, and I love that he believes in me.
Working with Bobby as a realtor has only cemented our place in town, and his place in our family.
Once he married Britt, it was like getting another brother.
So, I continued to build the houses, and he sold them. We make a good team.
There was never a dull moment. And except for the quiet of night, where the silence of Chelsea was louder than ever, there was never a time for me to sulk about losing the love of my life. I was too busy with work and my family. I made sure of it.
It’s also quite possibly why I lost said love, as well.
I hear a couple of car doors slam and prepare myself. Everyone watched me sit shell shocked for the remainder of the game last night so it’s no surprise that they’re here early in the morning to check on me, as well.
“Big brother!” Billy bellows into the open seams of the house. Damn, he’s always so loud.
I walk to the front of the shell of a house to meet them. And thank fuck, they brought coffee. Reaching out I take the cup Jackson is handing over and lean against the stud boards that were put up yesterday.
“Gentlemen. Great win, Gage.” I fist bump him with my free hand.
“Yeah, it was pretty exciting. The boys came ready, and it showed.”
“Any update for the semifinals yet?”
“No, I should hear Monday on a time and place, but you know they always give a weeks’ notice so I’ve no doubt we’ll be ready to go.”
I nod, taking a sip of the hot coffee, and Billy jumps right in. “So, what’s with Chelsea Jo?”
Jackson punches his arm and Billy looks at him all wide eyed. “What? That’s why we’re here!” He throws an arm towards me. “He knows that’s why we’re here! Everyone knew you were going to win last night so that’s clearly not what we’re here to talk about at the ass crack of dawn.”
Jackson is shaking his head, and I have to grin. “I was expecting you both. It’s fine.” Just then a cruiser pulls up and out steps my brother Tom. He’s a police officer here in town with CPD, and it suits him perfectly. Stoic, protector.
He smiles as he saunters over, still in uniform, hands on his belt, playing up the cop role. “Gentleman.”
“You just get off shift?” I ask. Tom checks in before and after every shift, usually just a text to let me know he’s safe.
It’s the one thing I asked of him when he joined the force a few years back.
I’m his big brother. I’m supposed to watch out for him, and it scared me to death when he said he wanted to become a cop.
What scared me more, was right out of high school, Tom enlisted in the Marine Corps.
I was away at college when he decided to enlist and there was nothing I could do about it.
I had to accept that I couldn’t control his time or phone calls while in bootcamp and accept I would go months on end without knowing where he was or what he was doing.
It killed me. I always assumed he would follow in mine and dad’s footsteps, like Billy was highly encouraged to do, but Tom is different.
He’s got a different mindset and instead of being taken care of, he wants to take care of others. He and I are most alike in that way.
He's the most selfless man I know. He got that from our Gramps.
Doesn’t mean I like it though. However, I’ve been able to rest the last few years knowing he’s sticking close to home. He’s had to do a few tours here and there as a reserve, but it’s been quiet lately and I’m hoping his last one was it.
He nods. “Yeah, and I figured these two clowns would be here,” he says towards Jackson and Billy. “So, I wanted to come see the circus too.”
“It’s that twin telepathy, I can’t get away from this guy,” Billy guffaws.
“No, I think you just attract the law everywhere you go,” Tom laughs, giving our baby brother a quick jibe.
Billy rolls his eyes, flips over a paint tub, and takes a seat.
“Ok, talk. I want to know everything.”
“You’re worse than Chessy,” I bite out, switching hands holding my coffee.
Jackson grins. “Who do you think sent me over here? There are plenty of things I’d rather be doing right now other than standing here with you.” He waggles his brows, and I have to resist reaching out and wrapping my hands around his throat.
“TMI, bro.”
“Anyway, come on, why’s she back in town? What’d you talk about?”
I rub my free hand over my face. “I think I said four words to her. I also think I agreed to meet her. But where and when? I haven’t a clue.”
Fuck. Does she have the same number? Can I call her? Will she answer this time?
Tom is studying me, and it looks like he has something to say but he just stays quiet. That’s him though. The silent observer, giving us time to figure our own shit out. Or try to anyway.
“I heard she’s staying at the Holly Bells Bed and Breakfast. You could go over there and see her,” Jackson suggests.
Just hearing that’s where she is makes my heart race. “I don’t know. I mean, it looked like she came looking for me last night, but what the fuck? She just shows up out of nowhere after two years? Christ, where has she been all this time?”
This woman was my entire world and then she just disappeared. She broke me and left me here alone to try to figure out how to put the pieces back together. I’m still learning, and she just changed the course description again.
“I think you need to ask her that,” Tom says.
Billy whistles, “She looked good though. And she brought her sister with her.” He nudges me. “Make sure you put in a good word for me.”
“No fucking way,” I snap, and he just laughs.
“Don’t worry big bro, I won’t step on your toes.” He stands and throws his arm around Tom’s shoulder. “Come on, tell me some good lock up stories. Arrest any hotties that need bailing out?” Tom just shakes his head and I do the same as they head back to Tom’s cruiser.
“He’ll never grow up,” Jackson says.
“He’s going to break my mom’s heart if he doesn’t settle down soon,” I say as I watch them pull away from the curb and back out of the cul de sac.
Jackson eyes me for a moment. “You good?”
I take the last gulp of my coffee and toss the cup in the trash a few feet away, taking the time to search my mind for an answer.
“I’m not sure. Seeing her was… it was something.
I was shocked, honestly. I mean, it’s been so long.
No text, no calls, and then she’s standing in front of me.
” I sigh, taking my hat off, running my hand through my hair and sliding the hat back on.
“And friggin’ Grace, trying to claim me in front of her.
I don’t know what she was trying to pull. ”
“Want me to be honest?”
I lock eyes with him. “Of course, and before you say it, I know I’m a dick.”
“As long as you know it,” he chuckles but continues. “Grace has been hanging around for a long time. To anyone else, but you, it looks like you guys are together. If that’s not where you want to be, you need to end it. Don’t settle because you’re lonely. It’s not fair to you or her.”
Making a noise in the back of my throat, I say, “Jesus, my sister got you reading those love books again?” We begin walking towards his truck. I need this conversation to end.
“They come in handy,” he says, his eyes taking on a weird shine.
“Don’t fucking go there, Gage,” I growl out.
He throws his head back and barks a laugh. “When are you going to get over this, Adam? I love her, she loves me. We’re going to get married; I’m going to be your brother-in-law, and soon we’re going to have kids!”
“By immaculate conception!” I cut in.
He doubles over again. “Whatever gets you through the night, bro.” He sobers and continues, “Listen, go talk to her. There’s obviously something going on if she came back, if she came looking for you, because let’s be real, last night?
She found you. And I think you wanted to be found.
” He claps me on the back “Now get back to work, you look like you’re falling behind here,” he laughs and I push him into his truck.
“Stop coming by my job sites and fucking up my timelines,” I say with no malice at all. “I’ll talk to you later, Gage.”
He nods, pulling out of the drive and heading back home as his words ring in my head.
I’ve been hiding for too long. It’s time I was found.