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The last one was a spec project—speculative because a lot of these didn’t pay off. I had to propose a cost and timeline. Four contractor proposals would be approved to start with a minuscule contingency payment—five hundred dollars. The winner would be paid the full contract. The others got zip. The key to these was always being one of the first ones completed.
I’d seen these on occasion, but I didn’t like the structure, so I’d never participated in one before. This time, though, I couldn’t wait. No interview and no references meant I wouldn’t be excluded on account of my gender. I needed this gig to build Lord Sauron’s reputation. My experience should give me an edge.
I created a folder, named it HD, and downloaded the attachment. It took me less than a half-hour to fill out the proposal and return it.
Things were coming together.
With a spring in my step, I locked the dogs up and left to go meet Devlin for dinner.
The car was running on fumes, but not wanting to be late, I didn’t stop to gas it up on the way.
CHAPTER19
Boone
I’d spent the rest of the afternoon trying to think of a way to get Angela to quit. Being involved with her once had ruined my life, and I didn’t want to be tempted for another three weeks to make an absolutely terrible decision with her. I couldn’t come up with anything satisfactory and decided maybe Dad would have some advice for this situation. It was late enough now that he’d be home.
“There you are,” Marge called as I descended the stairs. “Do you have a minute?
“I’d love to, but I have to see Dad.”
“That’s all that’s preventing you from spending a few minutes with your boring old aunt?”
Whenever she used that terminology, she had something she needed to say, and it usually couldn’t wait. “How about after I finish with Dad?” I asked.
She grinned. “Good. Then you’ll be happy to learn your parents aren’t home. They went to Richmond today and are staying the night.”
Shit. I’d walked into that one. “I’m all yours.”
She walked to the wingback chair. “Let’s sit.”
I followed her lead and took the couch.
“Since the day she arrived, you’ve been uncharacteristically mean to Angela, and I want to understand why.”
Looking down, I wrung my hands. I hadn’t expected this to be the topic. “We have history.”
“Explain it to me,” she said with a bluntness that wasn’t her style.
“We were in high school. She didn’t want me to leave town for college, and she deliberately cost me my chance for a scholarship to NC State.”
“How?”
This was something I’d only confided to Dad at the time. “She had me arrested so I couldn’t play in the game against Hartford.”
My aunt frowned. “And?”
I stood. “What more do you want? She cost me my chance.”
“You sit your behind down, Boone James, and explain it so this old lady can understand.”
Reluctantly, I sunk into the couch again.
“I’m listening.”
I wasn’t going to get out of this with any less jabbering than she was happy with.
“The NC State football scout was scheduled to be at the game. It was the last of our season and my only chance for them to see me play. Jared Lebow played instead of me, and he got the scholarship, and when he graduated, he was drafted into the NFL.” I cleared my throat. “That should have been me.”
