Page 60 of Story of My Life
I stopped my examination of the exposed plywood and looked at him. “Why are you always in such a good mood?”
“Probably the same reason you’re always in a shitty one. Born that way.”
“I’m not always in a shitty mood,” I argued. I just woke up aware that bad shit happened to people you loved every day.
Gage scoffed. “Man, your frown lines have frown lines.”
“Just because I don’t stroll around town with some big stupid smile on my face twenty-four seven doesn’t mean I’m in a shitty mood.”
“Laura thinks it’s because you felt like you had to move back here. Levi thinks it’s because of that time he hit you in the head when he was swinging for the piñata at Wes’s birthday party. Personally, I think it’s because you realize you’re never going to be as good-looking and charming as I am.”
“You all talk shit about me behind my back?”
“Most of it is to your face, but some of it ends up in the Everyone but Cam message group.”
I gave the plywood a testing knock with the pry bar. “You don’t think there’s an Everyone but Gage group?”
His smirk was punchable. “I know for a fact that’s the only group that doesn’t exist because I, unlike you, get along with everyone.”
I made a mental note to start an Everyone but Gage group as soon as I got off this damn roof.
Gage hurled two more ruined shingles into the trailer below. “I’m just sayin’ it’s obvious coming home didn’t make you a happier, friendlier person.”
“I came home to a sister in the hospital and a failing family business. So you and your ‘Cam doesn’t smile like an idiot enough’ complaints can fuck right off.”
No, giving up the life I’d built, the reputation I’d carved out on my own, hadn’t made me want to go skipping through a field of daisies while yodeling or whatever it was happy people did. But it wasn’t like building that life had sparked any joy either.
Once, on my way to a jobsite, my phone had gotten stuck under the seat and I’d unintentionally ended up listening to a podcast interview with some organizer person who spent an hour talking about building a life that sparked joy.
I’d thought about just shutting off the stereo but had embarrassingly listened to the entire thing, wondering why I hadn’t done anything as an adult that made me feel anything close to joy.
“It’s okay to be jealous, Cam. One look at me swinging a hammer or doing something equally manly in her house, and Hazel is going to get down on one knee and propose to me.”
“If we were on a higher roof, I’d push you off.”
Gage’s grin was lightning quick. “Have to catch me first. And you’re older and slower.”
“I’m not that much older than you, you smiley little shit,” I reminded him.
“Better-looking, more charming,andyounger. Plus, I saw her first and you know that gives me dibs.”
“Who?” I asked, pretending I’d forgotten who we were talking about.
“Hazel Hart. Resident romance novelist, source of all recent town gossip and entertainment, and soon-to-be new client of Bishop Brothers.”
“Go ahead and call dibs. I don’t care. Hell, I’ll give the toast at your wedding.”
“Uh-huh. That’s why you’ve got that pry bar in a death grip.”
I glanced down and immediately loosened my hold until color returned to my knuckles.
I was just getting ready to figure out how best to lure Gage closer so I could shove him off the roof into one of Erleen’s holly bushes when a familiar whistle rang out.
Gage and I moved to the lip of the roof and spotted Dad with two trays of to-go coffees in hand. Levi was next to him already drinking one.
“You boys want a caffeine break?” he called up.
I was immediately suspicious. Francisco Bishop said the only two good times for a break were lunchtime and quitting time, and we were smack-dab in the middle of them. “Why does he have six coffees?”
