I feel like the big bad wolf setting a trap.
I almost feel bad for her.
Almost.Chapter 7Taylor“You didn’t say anything about bunkhouses when you told me about this job!”
Jeremy deflects the punch I aim at his shoulder and manages to continue driving just fine. “That’s because I didn’t know about them, but I actually think it sounds fun.”
“Fun?!”
Another punch dodged.
Now he’s holding me at arm’s length to keep me away. My puny arms can’t reach him. Stupid wing span.
“Yeah. I mean, it makes sense. The jobsite is an hour and a half away from Oak Dale, even more since your trailer is on the other side of town. Driving back and forth every day would waste too much gas and too much time. Besides, they’re giving people the option. You can either stay in the bunkhouses or commute every day.”
“Well, you’re my ride and you’re staying there.”
He smiles wide. “So then problem solved. What’s there to worry about?”
Oh, I don’t know…everything?!
This is how Jeremy explained it to me: Lockwood Construction is building a luxury resort on the old grounds of Pine Wood Camp. They have the resort laid out so that the new hotel complex will be built over the existing stables, obstacle course, and meeting hall because those areas all have lakefront views. The bunkhouses we’re supposed to be staying in will eventually be turned into luxury cabins, but that phase of construction won’t happen until much later. Thus, until then, they’ve given the crew the option to live in them while we work.
“You of all people shouldn’t want to do it. When will you see Khloe?”
I think I have a very convincing argument until he shrugs nonchalantly.
“On the weekends. As it is, I’m too busy working the late shift at the mill to see her much during the week anyway. Nothing will change except for my paycheck—or have you forgotten that part?”
I cross my arms and glare out the window. Of course I haven’t. I might not think it’s a good idea to go camp in the middle of the woods with dozens of gruff construction workers, but the money is too good to walk away from, not to mention I’ll have Jeremy there as a buffer between me and the guys.
“Well I don’t know if I can leave McKenna during the week like that. Who’s going to make sure she gets her homework done?”
“She’s a good kid. You worry about her more than you need to.”
“Who will cook dinner?”
“I think she’ll manage to make her own peanut butter and jelly sandwiches just fine.”
Wow. Okay. Harsh, but true.
“Still…I don’t think it’s a good idea. For other reasons…”
He shrugs. “Then don’t do it.”
Wait—he was supposed to convince me otherwise. I thought that was what we were doing here, a little routine where he goads me into this so I can blame him when it all goes up in flames.
I turn to face him, brows furrowed. “You don’t think I should?”
He shakes his head. “Eh, I’ve thought about it. The work will be hard, and it’ll be hot out there in a few weeks when summer hits. Better just keep working at the hotel. At least that’s air-conditioned.”
I know exactly what he’s trying to pull and yet my pride still rears its ugly head.
“So you don’t think I can do the work? That’s what you’re saying?”
He gives me a teasing smirk. “Wouldn’t want to get splinters in those dainty hands of yours.”
Of all the insufferable, misogynistic…
Right. Well, it should come as no surprise that when Jeremy drops me off a few minutes later, before I close the door and stomp into the trailer, I lean back into the truck and tell him very matter-of-factly to pick me up on his way to the jobsite on Sunday evening.
I guess I’m going camping.My mom and sister cried a lot as I packed a duffle bag full of necessities. There I was in our tiny bathroom, trying to decide how many rolls of toilet paper I wanted to bring with me (just in case) when McKenna came up behind me, wrapped her skinny arms around my middle, and squeezed me so tight my dinner threatened a second showing.
“I’m going to miss you so much.”
I patted her hand, trying hard not to chuckle. “You know I’m not really moving away, right?”
Her little sniffles did the answering for her.
Meanwhile, my mom leaned against the doorframe doing a poor job of wiping at her cheeks to hide her tears. Between the two of them, I wouldn’t have been surprised to find a puddle at my feet.
“Jeremy will be coming back on the weekends to visit Khloe, so I’ll get a ride with him,” I assured them. “With school and work, weekdays go by so fast anyway. You won’t even notice I’m gone.”
McKenna shook her head back and forth against my shoulder blade. “Not true. I’ll notice.”