Page 35 of Reckless Chances
Chapter 12 – Charlie
From Emma’s bright, almost finished store, Charlie’s brewpub seemed like a wasteland. He wished that he could afford to hire a whole crew that could come in and finish it off as Emma could. At this pace, he wasn’t going to be ready for his scheduled grand opening. Hell, he wasn’t even on pace to be ready for the end of the summer.
Wrapped up in a whirlwind romance, the brewpub had been put on the backburner. He spent a morning screwing in bed when he should have been screwing in drywall. This morning, he should’ve been mudding and taping instead of banging Emma in a storage room. The plastic vapor barrier had become loose by the front door and it flapped in the wind as he surveyed his life’s work. Why had he agreed to go on a hike? Why had he spent that night building walls for her?
She was an amazing woman, but the reality of the skeletal brewpub renovation brought him down from cloud nine. What good was having a relationship if he was going to lose everything else he had worked so hard for.
He could hear the hammering next door, and as much as he hated to admit it, he felt resentment.
‘Stop it,’ he told himself. ‘Just roll up your shirtsleeves and get this done.’ He shook the dust off his toolbelt and buckled it around his waist. When he pulled out his tape measure and bent to take a measurement a strand of hair that didn’t reach his elastic fell to his cheeks. He glanced around for his wool hat.
“Dammit.” He muttered and tried to pull all the hair into his man bun and reached for his hand saw.
Thirty minutes later all of his doubts had been pushed aside as he surveyed his progress. It was a messy job, but hanging drywall was kind of fun.
He heard a bang on the front door and then looked up to see Freddie walking in.
“Hi, Fred.” He kept sawing.
“Hey, buddy.” Freddie walked around the castoff pieces of drywall and leaned against one of the sawhorses. “How are things going?”
Charlie stood up and swept his hair out of his face. “Good. I mean, I’m a little behind.”
“A little?” Freddie surveyed the room. “What have you been doing?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Pulling my damn brother out of the drunk tank, working until three in the morning, that kind of stuff.” He didn’t want to add, kissing a pretty blond girl – Freddie knew.
“I’ve got a few hours before my next job. Let me give you a hand with the big pieces.” Freddie brushed off his hands and stood up.
“Thanks, man,” Charlie said. “The full sheets are a little hard to do on my own.”
The two of them set to work, and with the help, they were able to get the dining and bar area all ready for mudding and taping. As they held up the last piece and Charlie screwed in the nails, the light from outside poured into the room as the door opened. Neither man could let go of the piece that they were holding.
“Who’s there?” Charlie shouted.
“It’s me. Jay,” Jason shouted.
Charlie heard footsteps as Jason jogged to where they were working and grabbed his end.
“Thanks,” Charlie said. He installed the last screws in the board. “Jason, do you remember Freddie?”
“I don’t know if we’ve met.” Jason shook Freddie’s hand. “I’m the good-looking Jones.”
Charlie rolled his eyes. “You’re going to need a new line there, chubs.” He poked Jason in the side. “My big brother finished the lumberjack breakfast at the G-Spot this morning.”
“Don’t fat shame me,” Jason grinned and pretended to grasp his side like he’d been stabbed by Charlie’s finger. “Hey Freddie, I’m throwing a bachelor party here in town. You want to come?”
Freddie looked at Charlie. “Do I know the groom?”
“No, but if you’re a friend of ours, you’re a friend of his. It’s more of a big party anyway. I just found out from the wedding planner that the strip club I booked has been closed down for health code violations. We’re moving it to the Last Chance Tavern.”
“You know that it’s only a strip club on Tuesday’s, right?” Freddie grinned. He seemed entertained by Charlie’s brother.
“Yeah, but not if you bring your own entertainment.” Jason laughed. “I saw that pole in there the other day and knew it wasn’t just for decoration.”
Freddie checked his watch. “Charlie, I’ve got to get going. I’ll come back later and help you with this though.”
“Are you going to come?” Jason said. “It’s going to be the party of the year.”
