Page 12 of The Misfits of Copper County
I could almost hear the words Gideon didn’t say—the one who doesn’t play hockey—and knew Delaney heard them, too, when his shoulders slumped slightly.
“Yeah,” he whispered. “That’s me.”
“You got someplace to stay, Brew?” Gideon asked, ruffling Teeny’s fur. “With your cousin, maybe?”
I shook my head. “Hayes is allergic, and he doesn’t have the room.” I shrugged. “I’ll figure it out.”
Gideon nodded. “I’d say a hotel, but the Crabapple doesn’t take dogs, and the Scarlet Maple’s pricy. Maybe a friend—?” Another firefighter called Gideon’s name. “Shit, hang on,” he said as he stepped away.
Delaney and I stood together under a spindly tree, inhaling frigid, smoke-tinged air. Though it was still early, the horizon was already turning sunset pink, and the temperature had dropped precipitously.
I tried to think about my options. I had money, but finding a place that would take Teeny on short notice would be challenging. I could probably crash with one of the guys who worked with me for a night or two?—
“I know you can figure this out on your own, and you… you probably don’t want my help right now,” Delaney said suddenly, his voice cautious. “But I feel terrible.”
I kept my eyes on the sky, not trusting myself to respond. The last thing I wanted was anyone’s pity, especially his.
“The hotel Gideon mentioned would probably be a great idea,” he continued. “If only it wasn’t so expensive.”
When I didn’t reply, he swallowed audibly. “Look, I know you and Iaren’tfriends, per se, especially after today, but I want to make sure you have a place to stay until you can figure out something permanent. There’s snow coming, unless you trust Hen Lattimer’s trick leg, and I… I’d like to help you out, if you’ll let me.”
I turned to look at him then, surprised by the genuine concern in his voice.
“Please?” he said, almost eagerly. “Neighbors helping neighbors is how small towns work, right? At least, that’s what Tam says. It wouldn’t have to be a big deal.”
I studied him for a long moment. His glasses were smudged with soot, his expensive coat stained with smoke, his expression openly conflicted. For someone who’d been ready to throttle me an hour ago, he looked startlingly worried about my well-being.
“Delaney,” I said carefully. “I meant what I told Gideon. It was an accident?—”
“I know! I know. But I want to help,” he blurted. “I need to.Pleaselet me do this.”
I inhaled deeply, considering. Staying with Delaney was less than ideal, and our contentious relationship was only one reason. The fact that I found a pissed-off Delaney insanely hot was a far more pressing one.
More than that, I’d just agreed to give him exactly what he wanted on the renovation—to be the boss, to have things his way. It would be hard enough to bite my tongue about choices I knew were wrong for his house and let him learn the hard way; doing it while sleeping under his roof would make it ten times harder.
But I didn’t have a lot of options in the short term. If I told Hayes, he’d be worried. And, allergies or not, he’d guilt me into staying on the sofa in the one-bedroom apartment where he and his former frat bro lived like video-game-loving raccoons, awake all night and subsisting on trash.
It was the least peaceful option I could think of.
I shuddered and nodded once. “Yeah. Okay, then. If you’re sure.”
“Really?” Relief flooded his face. “I’m sure. I’m totally sure. So, why don’t you get, um, T-teeny in your truck, and I’ll help you grab your stuff, then we’ll go get you set up.” He started to turn.
I caught his arm, stopping him. His muscles tensed beneath my hand, and for a second, our eyes locked. “Delaney… thanks.” I meant it sincerely, despite everything.
“No problem.” He managed a small, teasing smile. “Thanks for agreeing, when I know that’s your least favorite thing.”
He was confusing the two of us, I was pretty sure, but I wasn’t going to call him out when he was being so generous. “I’ll keep Teeny out of your hair, okay? And I’ll help out around the house. In fact, I insist on it.”
“Help with…” He shook his head slightly. “You’re already working on the house full-time.”
“I meant doing household stuff. Shopping and laundry and shit. I’m not much of a cook, but I can clean.” I managed a weak smile of my own. “Maybe you could make up a chore chart. You seem like a chore chart guy.”
“I… I am, but…” He blinked several times. “Why would I ask you to?—?”
Gideon approached, and I turned to greet him. “Are we all set here?”
“For now?” He nodded. “I’ll have the report for your insurance company tomorrow. I’ll call you.”
