Page 65 of Call It Home

I was the only one in the group that didn’t laugh. Because I knew, sooner or later, that punch was likely to come. And I’d let him do it because it wouldn’t hurt as much as letting her go.

Chapter24

Mac

Impatience coursedthrough me as I drummed my fingers along the cold metal while I waited for Trey to come through the door to the visitation room. Other than when he was first incarcerated, it was the longest I’d gone without seeing him.

Finally, the heavy door creaked open, and my eyes met Trey’s tall figure.

I sprang to my feet and greeted him with a quick, hard hug—all we were allowed. With a final slap on the shoulders, we sat across the table from each other.

“The TV star returns,” he teased with a grin. “I see you survived.”

“That’s what we Caldwell boys do best,” I replied with a smirk, masking my true emotions.

Trey leaned closer, his eyes scrutinizing me. “Colorado seems to have done you some good. You look different.”

My lips curled into a small smile.Yeah, because Cam was there, and we basically became a couple and lived together.I forced myself to refocus on Trey. “Different mountain air, I guess. Plus, a lot of hard work. I think my calluses have calluses.”

“Was it worth it?”

“I got the promotion Cam promised me. The rest is a waiting game. But overall, I’d say yes. It was great to be something other than just a workhorse. She actually valued my opinion. And I got some good compliments on some of the furniture I built.”

For the first time in a long time, I saw a glimmer of hope in Trey’s eyes. “That’s great, man. You’re on your way. You should definitely capitalize on that.”

“We’ll see. It’s too early for that. But it feels promising.”

He nodded and linked his hands together on the table as he leaned back in his chair. He watched me for several seconds, but before I could ask what was on his mind, he sat up and leaned in. “I’ve got some news myself.”

I arched an eyebrow, my interest piqued. “What’s up?”

“I know a guy here—”

No worthwhile conversation ever started out that way, at least not in this scenario. “Trey—”

He held up a hand. “Hear me out,” he pleaded. “He’s a decent guy. Shit happened, same as with me.”

I blew out a long breath. I seemed to do a lot of that lately. “Go on.”

“This guy has a sister who’s in real estate. I’d told him some of the plans we were considering once I get out. He mentioned he has a sister who’s a real estate agent, and he could ask her to keep an eye out if something comes open. Turns out, there’s a place not listed yet, but she knows the family and thinks they’re going to list it soon. It used to be their grandparents’ farm or something like that. Anyway, it’s got a house that needs a lot of work, but that’s what you’re good at. There’s a couple of acres of property with some buildings that could maybe function as workspace.”

My ears perked up, and my heart raced at the thought of the opportunity that possibly lay before us. “It’s legit?”

He scowled. “Of course.”

“Where?”

“Not too far from here. A little further into the foothills, she said. This could be the opportunity we’ve been waiting for. We just have to be ready for it. You can take some of the fame that’s going to be coming your way and start your own business. Once I get out, I can work for you and eventually buy into a partnership.”

I shook my head. “We’d be full partners from the start.”

“No way,” Trey countered. “Not with you fronting the money.”

“It’s either partners or I’m out,” I replied stubbornly. “I owe you, not the other way around.”

“Fine, whatever,” he acquiesced, waving his hand like the issue was an annoying fly. “We can work it out. I’ll email you her name and number, and maybe you can take a look at it.”

“I will,” I promised.

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