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That was fine with André.
He hadn’t done a roof in a while, but he knew how to get it done. He focused on the task and he and Bob had their side cleared in less than an hour. He then went over to Nikki’s side and helped her finish over there.
“Show-off,” she muttered on her way past him.
André grabbed her elbow and stopped her.
He was sweating profusely and breathing heavily.
“Nik,” he said, making sure her dad was already down the ladder.
“I know you’re worried, okay?” she said. “But you don’t have to be.”
“Make some time for us to talk, yeah?” he pressed. “About all of it.”
She sighed but nodded once before moving away from him.
He wasn’t leaving until he’d said what needed to be said. Maybe he wouldn’t be able to convince her to go back. Maybe the kiss had been a one-time thing. Maybe a lot of things.
But he knew nothing would be settled until they both were able to say what they wanted.
André came down the ladder and began cleaning up the debris. He scooped old shingles and nails into his gloved hands and then deposited them in the bin nearby.
Bob brought him a bottle of water.
“You’re staying for dinner, right?” Bob asked.
He hadn’t made plans outside of getting to Nikki. He could probably sleep in his car if it came to that. He knew he’d passed a gas station not too far back; they might have sandwiches or something.
André glanced at Nikki.
“Mary will be disappointed if she doesn’t get to meet you,” the older man added.
Nikki rolled her eyes and used the motion to indicate André should join them.
André grinned. “Well, I definitely don’t want to disappoint Mary.”
* * *
NIKKI
She was still reeling from dinner.
Not because it had gone badly, but because it had gone sowell.
Who knew her parents would adore André?
Well, she did.
But who knew André would adore them right back?
Since they’d all been covered with tar, Mom had set the table on the deck. They’d had spareribs and beers.
André had made her mom laugh and her dad blush.
And they’d treated him like he’d been part of the family for years.
When it had started to get late, André helped her dad cover the bare roof of the bunkhouse with tarp in case it rained.
