Page 69 of Game Changer

William’s gaze darts to my face before he looks at Draven. “How are you doing?”

The shift in his tone is subtle, but it’s noticeable enough that Draven turns to look at him, too. “I’m good. Working hard. Hanging out with my girl every chance I get.”

“Draven has a daughter,” William clarifies for me before he pats Draven’s shoulder. “She’s the one you should challenge to a board game. She’s smart as a whip.”

“That she is.” Draven glances at the floor before he levels his gaze back on me. “My crew will be here right away, but I’m going to get started on getting this all dried out. If these were hardwood, you’d be looking at weeks of work.”

I glide my shoe over the concrete beneath my feet. I briefly debated having it tiled over, but with a few decorative throw rugs, it fits the aesthetic I was going for, so I left the floors as is.

“I’ll take the rugs to my shop to dry them,” he says. “I’ll have them back well before you officially open.”

“Thank you,” I say. “You saved the day.”

He smiles. “I’m glad to help. Besides, I couldn’t say no to William after everything…”

“After everything we’ve been through,” William interrupts. “On the basketball court.”

I scratch behind my ear. “You played basketball together?”

“Play,” Draven clarifies. “We meet up sometimes on a court near where we live. William’s place is only a few blocks from mine.”

“You live in Brooklyn, too?” I ask.

Draven opens his mouth to say something, but William pats him on the chest as he starts talking, “Opal was at my apartment last night. The damn elevator was broken again, so we had to hike up all three flights. Remember when you told me you could find someone to get it fixed for good in no time flat, but the super of the building told me to tell you to go to hell?”

I try to follow that. Judging by the confused expression on Draven’s face, he’s finding it just as hard to understand, but then I see the moment recognition hits him. “Right. That fucking thing is still not working?”

“Never has. Never will.” William laughs.

Draven stares at him a beat more before he lightly shakes his head. “It’s time to roll up my sleeves and get these floors dried.”

He literally pushes up the sleeves of the dark blue sweater he’s wearing to his elbows.

William shrugs out of his suit jacket. “Count me in for cleanup duty.”

“There’s no need.” Draven shakes his head. “I’ve got a couple of guys on their way in. We’ll work through the night to get this place back in tip top shape.”

I know what that means for me. It means I need a large cup of coffee because I have to hunker down here for the night.

William pockets one of his gold cufflinks before rolling up the left sleeve of his button-down shirt. “I’m helping, Draven.”

Draven glances at him with a nod. “You’re not dressed for the job, but something tells me that doesn’t matter to you.”

I stand in front of both of them, unsure if I should offer to help, too. I have no idea what that will entail since Draven already lugged in an industrial vacuum and a pile of what looks like oversized towels.

William’s gaze catches mine. “Why don’t you head home, Opal? We’ve got this covered.”

It’s a suggestion I want to jump on, but it feels wrong to leave a man I just met tonight and the man I’m trying to avoid at all costs alone in my bar to take care of this mess.

“I know you have reservations about contractors, but Draven is the best in the city, and I’ll be here until he’s ready to call it a night.” He steps closer to me as he finishes rolling both sleeves of his shirt. “Go home and get some rest. I know it’s been a long day for you.”

I almost break inside because there’s nothing but compassion in his voice and his eyes. I shouldn’t trust him, but I do.

“If you give me the keys, I’ll lock up,” William offers. “I’ll meet you out front at nine a.m. to hand them back to you. I’ll bring a tea for you. Organic orange but not too hot.”

All of my emotions get stuck in my throat, so I just nod.

He truly is too good to be true.

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