What he meant was that Logan loved attention. And the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and Times Square on New Year’s Eve. Being in New York City, the city the big networks called home, gave him the opportunity to swim in the ocean of publicity they provided.
“He’s on board. And I’m not kidding about houses selling for at least 25 percent above market value after the show.” Garry gave her a pointed look, his hands stuffed into his pockets.
After the remodel, Aly could probably profit a hundred thousand dollars. But if she could get an additional 25 percent, she could buy a two-bedroom condo outright. And she could afford the pay cut a job in Jersey would require. She could be with Andy every day.
She met her boss’s eye, and in them, she saw the understanding. Garry knew this might give Aly the out she needed. She didn’t know whether it spoke to how little he valued her or to the care he had for her as a person. But either way, she couldn’t pass up on the chance.
“Thank you.” She’d figure out what it meant and deal with how Andy would feel, but no matter what, she couldn’t say no.
CHAPTER8
A thrumming cadencefloated in the air as he moved through the hallway, waiting for Aly to pick up his FaceTime request. Elementary schools weirded him out. Everything was so low to the ground. The drinking fountain came up to Will’s thigh. Even Andy wasn’t that short. But being in the oldest in the school probably made the kid taller than most.
Although the screen stayed dark, Aly’s quiet voice came through after the third set of beats.
“Will, something wrong?”
It had been over a month, but Aly still answered every call like she was bracing for bad news. Although juggling the gym and an eleven-year-old wasn’t for the faint of heart, Will hadn’t called her to give her bad news a single time. He’d simply handled the issues as they’d come up. And Andy hadn’t beenthatmuch trouble.
He’d done stupid things, sure. On day two, he had switched out the orange juice for a mixture of water and the cheese dust from the Kraft Mac and Cheese box. The prank made for disgusting smoothies before swim practice, but Will forced Andy to finish while he chugged his down as well. After that, Andy didn’t mess with foodhemight have to eat. On day five, Will came home from a long day at the gym to find every surface in the kitchen covered in foil. That was the moment he decided Andy needed chores to keep him busy. But after an argument about the list Andy had to work through after school each day, the kid had added salt to Will’s coffee grounds. Morning six had not started off well.
That was when Will decided to give the kid a taste of his own medicine. He went into Andy’s phone and turned on autocorrect for words likeokandnopeso they’d say things likeWill is my hero in all things in life. OrI love my sister to the moon. OrCan’t. I have to poop. After twenty-four hours, he got tired of sending ridiculous messages to his friends, and Andy called a truce.
Things had been easier in the last few weeks. Will hadn’t had company in the morning before swim since before his mother died. When he was Andy’s age, his mother would get up at four thirty and make smoothies for the two of them. Now Will was the one getting up and getting the blender going each morning. Over smoothies—and a cup of coffee for Will—they’d talk about the NFL football season or they’d go over spelling words, math facts, or state capitals before they headed to the pool for morning swim.
They made dinner together at night. Andy was exceptionally great in the kitchen for an eleven-year-old. He’d learned to cook when his mom was unwell, and that had carried over to when he’d been home alone. They ate, they swam, they watched a little TV. They took turns controlling the remote. Andy was Will’s second set of hands when he winterized the boat for the year.
All in all, it was going well.
“Nothing’s wrong. I’m calling for the conference.” Will shook his head. He had this under control, but she still had a hard time trusting that Andy was okay.
“I thought that was at six thirty. What time is it?” There were mumbles and muffled movements.
“It’s six twenty. Need me to do it without you?” Will asked. Why hadn’t she turned her camera on? Normally, she was filming at this time of day, but they were down to the final interviews, so he figured most of that would be over.
“Shoot, no, no. I was just an hour off. Stupid time zones. Why can’t we stick with one time? Fall back on the East Coast—blah,” Aly rambled.
Will smirked. He liked the hint of crankiness she usually carried. Probably because it was from a distance. Or maybe because the delivery was always funny. Not many people made him laugh the way she did. “Give me a second.”
Will stopped in front of Andy’s classroom. The door was closed, and from the window, he could just make out a set of parents inside.
“Okay, I’m ready.”
He turned his attention back to the phone, and his heart stopped.
“Damn, girl,” he stuttered. Aly was a beautiful woman. He’d observed that during every one of their FaceTime calls. But right now? A deep V highlighted her cleavage, and her dress wrapped around her like a second skin and tied with what looked like a simple bow around her waist. Her hair was thick and gorgeous, and her makeup was done for a night out. The woman was beautiful, funny, and smart. And from what Will could tell from watching season one of her show, she was talented too. There was no reason she shouldn’t be out on a date, but the thought of her dressing up for another man curdled like bad milk in his stomach.
“Sorry. Its exit interview day, and Lily went all out. I told her it was too much.” As if the rest wasn’t enough, at that moment, her cheeks highlighted a blush that ripped through his body like a current. When he realized he was staring like an idiot, he shook his head.
“You look amazing.” Especially now that he knew it was for work and not some random fucker.
“Thanks.” Her smile hit him hard in his chest.
He needed to stop this. She was Andy’s sister. Nothing more. Especially because it was becoming more and more clear to him that she was the type of woman that could get under his skin.
“You’re dressed up.” Unlike him, she didn’t seem impressed.
He glanced down at his slacks and white button down. “I figured a wet bathing suit or ripped jeans wouldn’t scream, ‘Hey, I’m a responsible adult.’”