24
NICHOLAS
Igot home early, ready to start painting another wall of the house. The sun sparkled in the azure sky, not a cloud miles around. I enjoyed the mountain breeze on my face. Country music—I kinda had come to really like it, thanks to a certain redhead I couldn’t chase from my thoughts—played from a portable speaker on the ground below. I hummed, focused on my task when Chaz joined me, Buddy in his trail.
“Hey guys,” I greeted from the top step of the ladder. “Bud, I thought you weren’t coming today,” I added with a smile. The bloodhound made a noise that sounded like despair and coiled on himself in a corner under his favorite tree. Both Chaz and I exchanged a laugh and a shrug.
I leaned back to admire my work. The top of the wall looked fierce with a fresh coat of white paint.
“From down here, it looks pretty great. Need a hand?” the teen asked, nearing the bottom of the ladder I was still perched on.
“Are you skilled with a paintbrush?”
“Huh, not sure, but I’m afraid of heights. Please don’t ask me to come up there with you.”
I breathed out a warm laugh. “Not a chance. You can paint the windowsills if you wanna give it a try. It’s pretty straightforward. Already sanded them the other day. Grab a pot of paint and a brush from the back of my truck and you’ll be set.”
Chaz got to work.
After an hour of painting in silence, he asked, “Do you miss Chicago?” he asked.
“Everybody in this town has been asking me that question?” I smiled with a shake of my head. “The truth is, I don’t. Which surprised me at first. I love how simple life is around here. The no traffic thing is a huge plus. People here are happy. And friendly. I’m still not used to the rumor mills, but other than that, I get why people would want to move to Green Mountain and raise a family.” I climbed down the ladder, shifted it to the right, and climbed back up. “Have you been to Columbus yet?”
“No,” the teen said. “My parents and I are going soon, so I can get to know the city and everything before the big day. We’ll go to—”
My phone rang. I tapped my back pocket to realize I left it on the banister.
“Chaz, can you get that?”
“Sure.” A pause. “Hi this is Nick’s phone.” Pause. “No, I’m his neighbor.” Pause. “Yes.” A longer pause. “No.”
I snickered. By the sound of the interrogation going on, I’d bet Tucker was on the other end of the line.
“Nick,” Chaz said, “this guy named Tucker says it’s an emergency.” He held my phone over his head. I huffed, stepped down, and grabbed it.
“Hey Tuck, what’s up?”
“Man,” he said, “where have you been? I’ve been texting and calling you nonstop like a clingy girlfriend, and you never reply or call back.”
“Sorry,” I said, wiping my stained hands on my jeans. “Been busy. Overtime work and stuff.”
“Yeah, yeah. We almost never talk since you moved. I’m beginning to think you prefer the company of a dog to mine.” He sighed, and I bet he would’ve also rolled his eyes. Tucker always aiming for the drama.
“Seriously, you should leave the finance world and go straight to Hollywood. You’d be a much better actor. And knowing you’re the best at your job, it’s saying something. What’s the emergency?”
“None. Just a marketing strategy to make sure you wouldn’t avoid my call this time.”
“Huh, okay. But I’m in the middle of something, and you’re being paranoid.”
“No, there is actually something. How is it going with that girl you told me about? Still in the friend-zone or did you score a goal like pussy-whipped Jace would say?”
Why did I open my mouth about Dahlia? “Yep, we’re friends. For now.”
From the cooler on the ground, I fetched a bottle of water, uncapped it, and took a big gulp.
“What does that even mean? You get sucked on the side, or you tap that pussy only on the weekends? Unless you jerk yourself to oblivion every night. Do you fix roof leaks in Green Mountain too? I bet your services are in high demand. Uncle Mike could start a new division.”
Water spilled from my mouth as I burst into a laugh.
“Fuck, Tuck. No roof leaks. And don’t mix Mike into your kink. No need to brand these images in my head. C’mon, man.” I shook my head and wiped my dripping chin with the back of my hand. “For what it’s worth, and I can’t believe I’m actually straightening the facts with you, our relationship, it’s not like that. Why do I even try to explain myself?”
Beside me, Chaz faked being fascinated by his phone screen, but no doubt he was listening to our conversation, as evidenced by the grin on his face.
Tuck continued as if I had said nothing, “Nick, you’re confusing me. No sex? This is fucked-up. Are you sure you’re good?”
“Tuck. I’m great.”
Chaz mouthed the words ‘I gotta get going,’ when my eyes landed on him.
I moved the phone away from my face. “Thanks for your help. See ya around.”
The teen waved and disappeared behind the line of trees. Buddy raised his head to watch him leave, not making the slightest move to follow him home. I exhaled a laugh. This dog.
“Neighbor?” my friend asked once I brought my attention back to him.
“Yep. Was helping me paint the house.” I sat on one of the front porch steps, my elbows propped on my bent knees. “To answer your question, that woman and I are friends. But I’d like us to be more. Eventually. When we’re both ready to give it a real shot. I don’t want us to be a fling. She’s long-time commitment material, man, not a woman you fuck and forget all about. She’s special.”
“Shit. So, she’s out of my league then.”
I spit a laugh. “Forget it. She’s too good for you. They all are. I have to go, not done with the wall yet.”
“Call me later.”
“Sure thing. Please stay out of trouble.”