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“My brothers haven’t mentioned a new hire,” I explain. “Much less such a handsome guy.”
His smile widens. “I’m sure there’s a lot those guys don’t tell you.”
I narrow my eyes at him.
“They told me you were shy,” he challenges.
My own smile falters. I’m an outgoing person. I don’t struggle at being personable. I only hesitate when it comes to Cash because I never wanted to feel the sting of rejection I imagined would come my way when he shot me down.
The reminder of him makes me drop Carter’s hand.
“I’ll get out of your way,” I tell him, holding my hand up to let my brothers know I’ll stop bothering them.
“Ads,” Donnie calls, his face a mask of concern as he walks down the front porch steps in my direction. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head. “Just wanted to check in on you guys.”
The lie falls from my lips easier than it should, and I keep walking to my car, waving once again when I climb inside and back out of the driveway.
I don’t know how often Carter comes out here, but the grass on either side of the driveway is dry enough to back out on, something he could’ve done rather than complaining I was blocking him in.
I leave all three men standing together, staring after me as I drive away.
I knew the second I saw the car in the driveway my presence wouldn’t be as welcomed as it would be if they were here alone, but having a guy over for work shouldn’t make them so damned defensive, college student or not.
The guys work for Mac Hammer at Hammertime Construction here in town. They have for years and years and have always turned Mac’s offer down when he offers them a share of the company. They never wanted the responsibility. Never wanted to put in more hours than they had to in order to get by. The guys have always wanted a simple life. Well, as simple as they could get while finding a woman who was willing to put up with the both of them.
I don’t bother looking in my rearview mirror as I turn back onto the main road.
My phone doesn’t chime with a text. It doesn’t ring either. Just like it didn’t when I left the police station.
As caring as I am, as quick as I am to give my time to all those around me, it seems I don’t even register to any of them once I’m out of sight.
I refuse to think about Cash and Eastyn. I refuse to think about my brothers and how they can’t trust me with the information of what woman they’re dating. Even Walker has been sworn to secrecy. I hate dedicating so much of my own time to others to not even be a consideration to them unless they need something from me.
I pause at theSTOPsign in town and wait for another car to turn in front of me before continuing on to my house.
Tears sting my eyes, but I’m able to hold them off long enough to get inside. Falling apart with witnesses isn’t something I would ever be able to forgive myself for. It’s bad enough that I put myself in this situation in the first place.
Chapter 25
Cash
Hiring Eastyn might have been a mistake. I wanted her in the office to ease some of the burden, but this last week it’s like she’s taken over. I’ve worked late each night, not because she expected me to, but because she has, in order to get a little organization to the office. It felt weird leaving her to clean up a mess she didn’t create.
Her work ethic is amazing, and watching her fly through tasks with efficiency has helped both Chandler and me do better.
It has also left me missing three dinners with Adalynn and her family. She hasn’t even been meeting me at the bar lately.
Everything has changed. She was distant when she came and delivered cupcakes last week, and when I went to the bakery to visit her, the door was locked despite her car being outside. I texted her because I was afraid something was wrong, but she simply texted backtoo busy to be interrupted.
I never considered that I was bothering her with my visits, but maybe I’ve been reading her smile wrong for years. Maybe she has a fake smile for me, and I never read it correctly.
I’ve somehow gotten a better grip on my own neediness and haven’t shown up at her door in the middle of the night again. The distress it caused her last time was powerful enough to break my heart, and I never want to see that look in her eyes again.
Tonight will be different. With Chandler’s and Eastyn’s help, we managed to get the office in order and, for the time being, all paperwork has either been completed or it’s been scheduled. There’s less chaos around the office and it’s a more harmonious place to be.
It’s giving me the opportunity to join Adalynn’s family for dinner at her father and stepmother’s house.
