Page 28 of Crash
“So, you’ll be right come tomorrow?” he asked.
That’s right, he and Ren were leaving for Thailand. When he’d stayed over on the weekend, he’d been going on and on about it, subjecting me to hours upon hours of travel plans. He was like an overexcited child on Christmas Eve. It was about time he had a break. The Underground Championship and everything he’d had to deal with to get Pulse up and running right after had taken its toll. He was a touchy asshole, but even he needed a break once in a while.
“I’ll be okay,” I replied. “I’ve got everything under control.”
“Good. Remember what we discussed?”
I rolled my eyes. “Are you my dad?”
He laughed. “Get out into the gym a bit more, squirt. Talk to the guys a little more. That was the whole point of getting a job, wasn’t it?”
Damn, he had me there. “Yeah.”
“Then I expect a progress report when I get back.”
“Sure.”
“Don’t forget I’ve got the builder coming in next week to get started on the apartment. He knows the score, so just make sure you’re around to let the guy in.”
I nodded. “Already on the calendar.”
“I’m glad one of us is organized to the point of obnoxiousness,” he said, placing a hand on my shoulder.
“Don’t be a dickhead,” I retorted, trying to hide a smile.
He watched me for a moment before saying, “I trust you, Vee.”
Standing, I slipped my arms around his neck and hugged him tight. “I’m going to miss you, you big ape.”
“Me too.”
**
It felt strange seeing Ash and Ren off at the house and not going to the airport with them. Didn’t people usually give others a lift and wait with them until they had to go through Passport Control? They waved them off by those frosted doors at Melbourne Airport, and then they went home.
I stood on the front doorstep as they got into a taxi and drove away withRenhanging out the window, waving at me like a maniac.Maybe next time.
When Monday rolled around, I went into the gym early to let the builder into the apartment. It was a middle-aged man and histradietroop of a young apprentice and two other guys. By the time I sat at my desk, it felt oddly quiet. I mean,the place was alive with noise like usual, but Ash wasn’t there. I didn’t have a lot of time to contemplate it because he’d left me a mountain of work to do in his absence.
I was totally engrossed in the computer, so when the door opened, I didn’t notice at first. Not until someone clearedtheirthroat to get my attention. Jumping a mile, I clutched my hand to my heart and glanced up wildly, the chair wheeling back and my knee bashing against the edge of the desk.
“Oh, shit, sorry.” Lincoln stood in the doorway, watching me as I rubbed my aching knee.
“S’okay,” I mumbled. Oh fuck, I thought about him while touching myself. I was pretty sure I was flushing scarlet.
“You okay?”
I waved him off awkwardly, my heart beginning to slow. “You just startled me. I’m okay.” My words ran into each other as I tried to subdue the images my fantasy had conjured.
“I just wanted to see if you needed anything,” he went on. “With Ash away and all…”
He wanted to see if I needed help with work. I felt disappointment flare, but I kind of expected it to be nothing more than that.
“I’m okay,” I muttered again.
Lincoln grimaced, raising a hand to rub at the back of his neck. He’d done that before. Maybe it was a nervous tick he had.
“What?” I asked, my eyes widening slightly.
