“Listen, I’m sorry I yelled at you. I should have checked with Hilary before I started reaming your ass.”
“Hey, it wasn’t your fault. I should have made it clear the first day I started.”
“What the fuck were you supposed to do? Walk up to me, stick out your hand, and say I’m a felon? You’d sound like a dumbass.”
Nash chuckled and then sobered. Fuck. He didn’t want to laugh. “Well, thanks for the job anyway. I appreciated it while it lasted.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Nash looked out of his living room window and frowned. “Did I forget something?”
“Yeah, you left early.”
“You told me to go.”
“Well, I was stupid. What can I say? Maybe I need to revamp my rule. You’re a hard worker, and you do a great job. I would like it if you stayed on.”
“Really?”
He watched the d
og across the street chasing a squirrel. The squirrel zipped up a tree. There was a metaphor for his life – always chasing something that he couldn’t have.
“Yes. I’m serious.”
Nash paused.
“My sister really put herself out there for you. I know you’re pissed right now, but just know she’s a champion for the underdog and has a heart of gold.”
Nash’s stomach churned. “I’ll come back on one condition.”
“Name it.”
“We don’t talk about your sister.”
“Fine. Done deal.”
“Thanks, Jeff.” Nash ran a hand through his hair after he hung up with Jeff. It was time to be serious about his future and stop fucking it up.
Chapter Six
One month later, Nash put his truck in park and glared at his sister, Suzanne, as she finished putting on her make-up. “You look fine.”
Suzanne tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “Give me a second.”
“Fucking women,” Nash muttered as he scanned the crowd at the open house. He’d thought about not coming because he was afraid that he’d run into Hilary at her brother’s open house. However, he’d also dreaded the thought of never seeing her again.
Jeff had kept his word and had not mentioned Hilary one time over the last thirty days. And it had been driving him crazy. He wanted to know how Hilary was doing. If she missed him. If she was seeing someone else.
Nash knew he deserved it if she’d found someone else. He’d acted like an ass the last time he’d seen her and had been too big of a coward to do anything but leave her a pathetic voicemail after hours on her work phone.
What if she hated him? It was easier to pretend he still had a chance with her rather than face the reality of it being over.
Suzanne looked at him. “So, where’s this girl and her amazing brother?”
“What girl?”
“Don’t be a dumbass. You wouldn’t invite me out to a construction site to look at some nails you hammered in if you didn’t need me for backup.”