Page 46 of Good Vibes Only
I stood there, speechless, an anger burning in my core. I couldn’t believe it. I’d spent a shit-ton of money to make this project happen. The least they could do was at leastpretendlike they give a shit …
But they obviously didn’t.
“Asshole,” I murmured on the way out.
11
McKayla
Raven and I waited with bated breath while Brett went next door.
“Do you really think he’ll be able to do something?” I asked.
“Dunno. Kinda doubt it. I mean, he can ask nicely, but what can they really do? You can’t make a power tool any quieter.” Raven crossed two fingers. “But it’s definitely worth a try.”
It didn’t take long for Brett to work his magic. A minute after he went over there, the noise came to an abrupt stop. After having that noise batter my brain all day long, the sound of silence was the sweetest thing ever. Raven and I let out a cheer and embraced in a happy, jumping hug.
“Thank God!” I said, feeling better already.
But our relief was short-lived. A minute or two later, the work resumed, and it was every bit as loud as before.
“Welp … at least he tried,” Raven said.
I nodded. “True.”
Even though he’d failed, it meant alotto me that Brett at least tried. If he’d blown me off again and tried telling me the noise wasn’t that bad, or to just get over it because they’d be done in a month or two or whatever? I think I really would have to cancel lunch. After enduring that noise all morning long, I really wasn’t up for being gaslit by a lunch date.
A moment after the noise restarted, Brett returned to the shop. I could tell by the look of dismay on his face that his experience with those jerks mirrored mine.
“Okay, Mac, you were right. Those guys are assholes,” he said, shaking his head.
I chuckled. “Told you. But really, thanks for trying.”
“Yeah, we had a minute or two of peace,” Raven said, “and that alone was worth it.”
But Brett paced around, his mind elsewhere, desperately trying to find a solution to my problem. “I can’t believe it. There’s gotta besomethingthey can do, right?”
Everything he was going through right now? Yeah, I’d been there before, too. I knew it was pointless to stress about it.
I neared and grabbed his arm. “You can take me out to lunch. How about that?”
That snapped him out of his trance. Brett turned to me with a smile. “Yeah, let’s do it.”
“You’re in charge,” I told Raven as we headed out. “Be back in a while.”
“Have fun!”
* * *
A Mercedes SUV in deep green, metallic paint shimmering under the afternoon sun, was parked right between our two stores. I instantly knew it had to be his.
I whistled. “Nice ride. That’s yours, I’m guessing?”
He played it cool. “Yeah, how’d you know?”
“You athletes always have to drive something flashy, don’t you?” I teased. “To be fair, itisa lovely color.”
“Hey, thanks,” he said. “I like it, too.”
