Page 34 of Against All Odds

But he’s always been this way. Silly, quick to joke, always willing to do something to help a friend or someone he loves.

Even with the mess that this entire project has been, he’s never put me down.

First, I got the wrong kind of paint. I asked for a flat paint, but Ray said I absolutely didn’t want a flat paint, that I needed something with a little shine so it didn’t look like chalk, to which Lou agreed and said everyone with flat paint regrets it.

I had to go back to the store while Everett stayed at the house, taping everything except the ceiling. He was confused when he saw me start there. I explained about the advice, and he quickly stopped me.

“Wait, we’re out?” I ask. They were absolutely certain I would only need one can to do the bedroom.

“Well, three walls are better than none,” Everett says as he crosses his arms over his chest.

“Four walls would be preferable.”

He chuckles. “I told you, they just want you to go back another time. It’s their MO.”

I huff. “I don’t even have a choice. This is my only place to sleep. I figured since I was at the store at nine this morning, I’d be done before bed.”

Everett shakes his head. “How about we take a break, go grab some lunch, and we’ll head to Sanders, where I will put my foot in their ass?”

The offer is tempting, but I don’t want to hold him up all day.

“What about Brutus?” I ask as he lies on the floor by the empty paint can. We tried to get him to go back to Everett’s, but he wasn’t having it. Instead, when I went to open my back door to show Everett the paint, he ran in and made himself comfortable.

“Brutus will be fine. He likes you better anyway.”

“That is true. Still, don’t you have plans or something to do?”

“Helping you is always more important,” he says with a smile. “Besides, you owe me another dinner or lunch or something.”

I laugh. “So feeding you is the payment for help?”

“Hey, you started it.”

“Fine, we’ll plan another dinner.”

He grins. “Perfect, let’s go get you more paint and put the room back together.”

Maybe they’ll have something at the store to deal with crushes too.

eight

Violet

“Violet Stewart, is that you?”

I place the box of cereal back on the shelf and turn. I smile, instantly recognizing the woman before me. “Mrs. Anderson.”

“Hello, dear, it is you. Miles said you were back in town, but I hadn’t run into you.”

“I’m sorry, it’s been a hectic few weeks.”

She steps closer, shaking her head. “Don’t you apologize. How are you settling in?”

“Good, it’s been a ... culture shock,” I say with a laugh.

I’ve absolutely loved being back in town. My students, the other teachers, my friends, and everyone have been wonderful, but I forgot just how different it is being in the mountains.

In Ember Falls there are limited food and entertainment options. The closest movie theater is thirty minutes away. We don’t have a major grocery store, and while the corner mart does have some stuff, it doesn’t have my favorite things.

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