CHAPTER FIVE
2015:Nine Years Later
Devin
Trent held the wooden studsteady against the jolt of the nail gun. With each air-compressed pop, thepiece of wood was more secure, and by the fifth nail, I told him to let go. Ifinished the job and stood back to assess the job.
“Giveme that level over there?” I held out my hand and Trent grabbed the tool,passing it over to me. I pressed the level’s body against the length of woodand I nodded to myself. “Okay, we’re good here.”
“Great,”Trent said with a thumbs-up. “One down and uh, four-hundred more to go.”
Ilaughed. It was an exaggeration, but it sure as hell felt that way. I wasn’t afan of doing the framework on new construction. It was tedious labor. Give mesome cabinetry, or give me a nice, old building to restore. That’s the type ofshit I liked—design coupled with carpentry. Like Kylie’s coffee shop.
Or,better yet, swap the hammer for my guitar. The shit I could build with somelyrics and a melody was way more impressive than anything I could do with ajigsaw.
Oneof the other crew members turned on a radio and cranked up the volume. VanHalen’s “Why Can’t This Be Love” floated through the stagnant summer air, alongwith the sawdust, and my shoulders immediately moved in time with the electricguitar.
Everytask should be done to the tune of a killer power ballad. This is a fact.
Thoughtsof Kylie momentarily drifted along with the lyrics. The coffee she brought mefrom the shop while I was working late. How she hung around for a little while,helping me to hang some sheetrock in one of the other rooms of the house.
Trentheld up another beam, pulling me from my reverie as he put it to the framework.I pulled my mallet from my toolbelt as I sang along to a song that helped meclean my bedroom, more times than I can count.
“So,when you jerk off while listening to music, does your fist move to the tune, ordo you just save that for this shit?” Trent quipped, teasing me as the hammersmacked the beam into place to the beat of the base drum.
“Suckmy dick,” I laughed, slipping the mallet back into its loop and grabbing thenail gun, holding it out to him. “You want to do the honors, or do I have to doeverything today?”
Heyawned, stretching an arm out. “You got this. I’m exhausted. Brooke had me uplatelast night.”
Igrumbled my acknowledgment. “Yeah. I heard.”
“Hey,I had to show her what arealman can do after she went on a date theother night with some prick from New Canaan.”
They’dbeen dating almost exclusively since 2006, but every now and then, one of themwent on a random date to prove they were still too cool for ironcladcommitment. The whole thing was ridiculous in my opinion, but I kept my mouthshut.
Whatcould I say when I’d been secretly pining over the same woman for years?
Witha sigh, I stepped forward and Trent held the beam steady. I crouched to thefloor, got the gun ready and positioned it at the base of the wood, when Trentnudged the sole of my boot with his toe. I looked up to him curiously and sawhim tip his chin toward the door. As I turned my head, my heart sped up to agallop in the way it did whenever she was around.
Afew of the other guys whistled as they walked by, carrying lumber and powertools, and Kylie rolled her eyes in response. They were only teasing her, andshe knew it.
Theyknew better than to trespass on what they saw as my territory.
“Classy,”she berated, shaking her head at them as she walked my way. She smiled at usand said, “Hey guys.”
“HeyKy,” Trent said with a nod of his head.
“What’reyou doing here?” I asked, lifting a brow.
“Well,I got off work early, so I thought I’d be nice and bring you lunch,” she said,lifting her arm.
Icaught sight of the bag in her hand. “What’d you bring me?” I asked, pulling mysafety glasses off as I stood up.
“Agrinder from the deli,” she said. “And a soda.”
Takingit from her, I groaned my approval. “You’re too good to me.”
“Areyou guys meeting up with us at Black & Brewed tonight?” Trent asked for thefifth time that day, and I flashed Kylie a look I hoped said how much he wasgetting on my nerves.
