Page 43 of Night By Night
Chapter Ten
Over the next week, Dox came over every evening to have dinner with them, although it was now Hank buying the groceries.
Most nights. Sometimes, Dox put his foot down and insisted on buying them, and sometimes he just showed up with them without even asking first.
Dox was also helping JJ with the robotics kit. It was a little advanced for her age, but he was so patient explaining things to her and letting her do them that sometimes Hank found himself standing there and watching them together instead of doing whatever it was he’d planned to get done while Dox kept her busy and supervised.
The next Saturday evening, however, Dox once again went to that club, attended another rope class. Hank had even gone so far as to look up the place online. Sure enough, it stated in several places on the website that sex was absolutely not allowed, and that…reassured him somewhat.
Why, he wasn’t exactly sure.
He also wasn’t sure hewantedto figure it out.
Or to figure out his vague irritation and anxiety over it all, which lasted until Dox had sent him a good-night text a little before ten, telling him he’d made it home and was going to bed early.
While also confirming they were coming over to his place to go swimming and have dinner on Sunday.
Leaving Hank filled with a vaguely smug satisfaction that Dox obviously hadn’t hooked up with anyone, or had brought anyone home.
Monday night, Dox came over for dinner, bringing a Publix chicken dinner with him. But since Hank wasn’t feeling very good, and JJ didn’t seem to be, either, they called it an early night. After Dox left for the evening, Hank got JJ put to bed.
Then he could finally just…chill. There was a chance he might not have much to do with work tomorrow, because rain was predicted, which would put a halt to the job he was currently working on with the crew. They were supposed to remove a large roof on a house tomorrow in preparation for repairing any rotted decking and then re-roofing it. He was simultaneously hoping they didn’t get rained out, meaning he’d only earn three hours’ pay, and hoping they did so he could come home and take a nap before picking up JJ.
I’m so exhausted.
Exhaustion was a state he was used to perpetually living in. Except now without the additional crushing loneliness of living in Pennsylvania.Thisexhaustion, at least, was the satisfying kind. Earned after having worked an honest day’s labor, of knowing you don’t owe any apologies for how hard you labored.
Absolutely, moving back to Florida had been the right choice. He’d reconnected with Dox, he’d gotten hooked up with Eliza and June, and secured affordable, reliable care for JJ.
He liked his boss and most of his coworkers. The work wasn’t his dream job but it wasn’t like he was qualified to do something that would pay a lot more. Listley already had him shadowing some of the crew foremen to learn from them. Since Hank had a clean driver’s license, he was further ahead than many others on their crews who didn’t have a clean license—or any license.
At least Hank was able to keep the rent paid, food on their table, and could see where in a few months he’d have their finances caught up and able to get them some sort of health insurance. They were getting ahead, finally.
Finally.
The peace of mind from having half a country between him and Cameron’s family was also worth it.
Soooo worth it.
Part of him wanted to pour himself a drink and take time to unwind for a little while on Facebook, and part of him said no, go to freaking bed already.
Adulting suuuuucks.
But he decided adulting was the smart thing, so he checked all the doors and windows. He was in the kitchen when he thought he heard a noise in the garage, but when he stuck his head through the door from the kitchen, he didn’t see or hear anything. He’d done a load of laundry earlier and already had it dried and put away. His truck was parked inside tonight, because he wasn’t sure if it’d be raining in the morning or not, and he didn’t want JJ to get soaked getting her into the truck.
He crawled into bed and closed his eyes. Dox had been around so much over the past couple of weeks that it was difficult to remember how lonely he’d felt up in Pennsylvania.
It once again reaffirmed his decision to move back to Florida.
Tohome.
To raise JJ here and wipe all memories of Pennsylvania from her mind, except for the good ones of Lois that he wanted her to remember.
He was building his village for her, and a damn fine one it was, too, if he did say so himself.
At some point he finally drifted to sleep. It was anything but a restful slumber, though. He had nightmares of working on the roof of a house and it caving in under him, complete with creaks and groans and crashing noises—
“DADDY!” JJ screamed, waking him up in a blind panic.
