Theirs to Keep

Because quite honestly, fuck the way things were.

I’m a big girl. I’m fine with it.

Karissa’s voice reverberated through the hollows of my mind. Would she really be fine with it, what we actually wanted? It was a hell of a lot to ask.

Still, she wanted us to talk. To somehow work it out between us and get back to her.

And I couldn’t wait to get back to her.

Twenty-Five

KARISSA

“So all principle framing is done, and the stucco guys should finish by Tuesday,” I said. “They’ll come back here to patch up anything we punch holes in of course, but that’ll be at the very end.”

Roderick nodded, pushing a forkful of eggs onto a piece of burnt toast. He was always burning his toast. Either our toaster sucked, or he just liked it that way.

“And what about the electrician?”

“Rough electric is finished,” I declared proudly. “As of this morning.”

“And the panels?”

“Done. Both wings.”

Bryce glanced at Camden, who seemed to make an ‘I told you so’ face.

“Sweet.”

It could’ve been an awkward breakfast, if we weren’t discussing business. But it was Saturday, and we couldn’t talk business forever. Only a handful of crews would be here today, and most of them would be working the outer grounds.

Last night I’d made myself extra scarce, to give the guys time. I’d left shortly after they all arrived home, and stayed out well past midnight. There was a bar near Easton’s Beach I’d been meaning to try, and it seemed as good a time as any.

“We’re going out then tonight,” said Roderick abruptly, “to celebrate. All of us.”

I paused, halfway to bringing my coffee to my lips. Hiding my surprise would’ve been impossible, so I didn’t even try.

“All four of us?”

“Yes.”

“To celebrate the electric being done?”

Roderick chuckled through his beard and rolled his eyes at me. “Sure, that.” He chewed through another bite of eggs before mumbling: “And also, so we can talk.”

I’d avoided them last night by nursing a few drinks, and then walking along the beach in the moonlight. As with most things in my life, I’d done it alone. Going solo, I’d found, was the best way to clear my head.

That’s not entirely why you’re alone, Karissa.

No, I supposed it wasn’t. I hadn’t always been alone, just as I hadn’t always been here. Once upon a time, I’d had a life. A career. The family I’d grown up with.

A brother.

The sharp stab of sorrow returned, somewhere deep in my chest. It was a little duller now, a little less sharp around the edges.

But of course, it was still there.

Concord. The department.