Rock Hard Neighbor
“How the hell have you been? I haven’t heard from you in almost a month.”
“You know you have a phone, too,” I said.
“Yeah, that rings every damn second since you put me in charge of this business four years ago.”
“Everything going that wonderfully?” I asked.
“We finally got the expansion approved if that’s what you’re asking about.”
“Only took you four fucking years.”
“Your board of investors are bullshit, You know that right?”
“Nope, they’re your bullshit board of investors now.”
“Ha. Ha. Ha. Anyway, how are you doing? How’s Lanie?” he asked.
“Lanie’s okay. Still sleeping, believe it or not. We went on an all-day hike yesterday, and she was whipped.”
“Well, I’m sure she loved it. How are things going with being a dad? Still keeping steady?”
“There’s been some upheaval with her biological father, but I’m handling it,” I said.
“Uh-oh. What the hell does that fucker want now?”
“Money,” I said.
There was silence on the end of the line before I heard a door shut.
“Okay. You have my full attention. Start from the beginning.”
“Nothing to really start. He appeared on my fucking doorstep a few days ago telling me he was going to take Lanie away from me. He fucking figured out where I lived, Jack. So, I’ve lawyered up and I have a meeting with a PI in town tomorrow afternoon. My lawyer thinks it best I fight him in court for custody or he’ll just keep coming back for more money if I try and pay him off.”
“How the hell did he find you?” Jack asked.
“I don’t fucking know, but that’s why I’m not cutting any corners now. If he can find me, it means he’s got someone doing it for him. He showed up here high as hell and reeking of alcohol.”
“Your PI looking into that?” he asked.
“Hell yeah. He’s digging as deep as my money will help him dig,” I said.
“It’s a good thing you kept your controlling shares of the company then,” he said.
“How’s the security business going, by the way?”
“It’s good. The contract work is picking up, and we’re seeing more conversions from contract work to full-time packages.”
“Ah, you got them to agree to the packages, too? See, you should’ve run this damn company from the start. I don’t know why the hell you wanted me to be the face of it.”
“Because yours is prettier than mine. Anyway, yes. Got the packages up and running at the beginning of last year, so the statistics are pretty solid.”
“Last year? Shit. We don’t talk business at all, do we?” I asked.
“You were in a rough spot. Lanie had just been dropped in your lap, and you were struggling. I kept my mouth shut on it until you got your feet underneath you. You sound good, Brian.”
“I feel good, Jack.”
“Even with all this shit Lanie’s father’s pulling?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Hmmm. Something’s different. Do I dare ask if it’s a woman?”
My silence made Jack burst into laughter as I shook my head.
“Holy shit. I never thought I’d see the day after what that bitch did to you,” Jack said. “How many dates?”
“Depends on what you call a date. She’s come over for breakfast, and she went hiking with us yesterday. Then, I woke up to her this morning.”
“No, you fucking didn’t. Way to go, dude! Is she hot? Is she young? Please tell me she’s hot and young. That’s exactly your type.”
“I don’t have a type,” I said.
“You do have a type. A hot, young, curvy little thing that needs your protection. You’re a sucker for that shit. I mean, look at the fucking business we started. Come on.”
“Just because we started a protection and security business doesn’t mean I’m attracted to women who need protection,” I said. “She’s a smart, passionate young woman who seems to hold her own just fine.”
“But she is young. Why the hell is she with your crabby ass?”
“You’re a dick.”
“Hey, just asking the obvious question. So, what are you scared of?”
“What the fuck? I’m not scared,” I said. “I fucking slept with her last night.”
“And I’m sure you did your men everywhere proud. But I can hear it in your voice. Don’t let your ex ruin this for you. It’s the first time you’ve branched out since her.”
I drew in a deep breath and allowed that reality to sink in.
“I like her, Jack. She’s refreshing.”
“That’s good. You should like who you screw,” he said.
“No, you fucker. I mean, I like her. As in, I want to talk with her. Get to know her. That type of shit.”
“Oh, you got it bad for her. Damn. Well, no wonder you’re scared. The last woman you were with was a shithead that tried to take you for everything you had.”
“Thanks for the reminder.”
“What I’m saying is, you have trust issues. And that’s okay. But if you feel this pull to talk with her, don’t fight it. Sometimes your gut knows better than your brain. Remember when we were first starting out?”