Page 9 of Into the Mountains
“Then let’s make a new agreement,” I suggest. We finally stop avoiding each other’s eyes and she leans in, eyes gleaming at me with a challenge twinkling just behind the gold flecks. She flattens her hands against the blueprints, her thumb partially covering the space we’re in now.
“Alright,” I say, mirroring her stance until we are only a few inches apart because I never back down from a challenge.
“We do this work, because I need the cash and the experience that will come with the job. And the exposure. Hell, let’s be honest, here, I probably need this job way more than you do.”
“Okay.” It’s all I can say, because I don’t know much about her life now other than she moved here a little over a year ago to help her friend, Avery, start a photography business. She does a ton of website stuff for it and designed Jacob’s website, but where she went after high school and after our time together that summer, I have no idea. Even though I do remember her ambitions being different at some point—a mention or two about interior designing—I have no intention of messing this up for her.
“Let’s just do the job and leave it at that.”
“Okay.”
“Just work. No personal stuff. No bringing up the past. No questions about our lives. Only the job.”
“How personal is too personal though?”
“Really, Eli?”
I cringe. I really fucking hate that name.
“Yes,Charlie. Do we strictly talk about work? We can’t talk about anything outside of it? If I see you lying on the side of the road or limping down the street, or stranded on the highwaywith a flat tire, what do I do? Stop to help or drive on by since we aren’t friends?”
“I think it’s cute you think I can’t change my own tire.”
If I could roll my eyes into the back of my head I would. In fact, I try to and hang my head back, looking at the ceiling and let out a frustrated groan. This woman is not going to make this job easy.
“You know what I mean.”
“Just work.” She reaches out her hand, waiting for me to shake on our new truce.
“Fine. Just work.” I link our hands together and we grasp the other more firmly than is needed for a friendly handshake, but we both know better. This may be a truce, but this is far from a friendly one.
The others choose that moment to come back, startling us both, our hands springing apart like magnets on opposite ends.
“Oh that looked intense. You’re welcome for interrupting,” Sky says, her arms filled with a litter box that is also full of cat-related gear. I don’t even want to know the cost.
“Dad, we got a green collar for Sable, look!” Ethan lifts the kitten up to me and sure enough, there’s a light green collar with a cat shaped pendant hanging from the loop. It suits her black fur. “Jacob said we could eventually get the silver thing personalized with her name. And we found a litter box and some wood pellets for her so the house won’t even smell. James at school has them at his house and you can never really smell the litter box at all. And we got some really amazing cat food that Uncle J said would be good and some wet food too.”
It all comes out in a jumble that I can barely decipher, but all I care about is the excitement I see in his eyes and smile. He gets excited for books or anything relating toThe Hobbit, sure, but this? This is something I haven’t seen in a long time. I scratch the cat’s head and behind her ears before he gently coaxes her inthe cat carrier Jacob placed on the ground. I’m pretty sure that is also full of whatever else a cat might need, but I’m not going to worry about it now.
“Alright, let’s load her in the car and get going, okay?”
“Okay!” He starts toward the car, cat carrier in hand, Sable meowing softly.
Knowing my wallet is metaphorically going to feel emptier in a few minutes, I pull it out and ask Jacob the total for everything. He puts his hand up, stopping me from handing over my card.
“Don’t.”
“You can’t be serious, J? He collected half the shop back there.”
He lets out a chuckle. “Practically. But he and Sable were meant to find each other and I suspect that what they have is going to be pretty special. That’s payment enough for me. Plus, you two will be filling my childhood home with more love. I can’t ask for more than that, really Elias.”
“Will Sable be okay if we go to the rental and then the house? I need to talk to Ethan about it first, but I don’t want to move too much for her either and stress her out with two new environments in such a short time period.”
Jacob considers this for a second before answering. “Well, it is better to acclimate her to where her permanent home is going to be, but I understand your situation is unique. Ask Ethan what he wants to do. If you do stay at your house, wait a few days and see how Sable adjusts to a new environment. If she adjusts quickly, then moving shouldn’t be an issue for her.”
I picture Ethan and Sable in a big, empty room the first night, cuddling beneath a sleeping bag, the only sound is her purring.
“It’s very rare we get to see Elias smile.”
