Page 69 of Tinsel & Tools
Taking off a glove, I pulled my phone from my pocket, thumbed through to Dad’s number, and pressed Call. He picked up on the second ring.
“Morning, Son.”
“Morning. You busy?”
“Never too busy for you. How’s the inn?”
“Cold.” I looked out at the frozen lake. “But I’m upstairs running wire. I’m currently on track for the deadline, but if we get another storm and I lose days, it’ll push me too close to spring and I could possibly miss the deadline. After the holidays, I want a couple more guys lined up so I don’t fall behind.”
“You want me to make some calls?”
“Yeah. At least two. I’ll keep the work moving, but I don’t want the whole job slipping.”
“You’re running it fine, but I’ll find you the help.”
“Thanks. Keep me posted.”
“I will, and don’t freeze up there.”
The call ended, and I slid the phone back into my pocket. Voices carried from below where Dale’s crew had started in on the plumbing. I stayed upstairs, the sound of their tools distant while I leaned back against the wall and tried to pull in a steady breath.
I pushed through the afternoon, finishing a run across the hall and capping lines in two rooms before packing up. By the time I locked the back door, the light outside had thinned, and my stomach reminded me I hadn’t eaten all day. The thought of going home to an empty kitchen didn’t sit right, not when I’d gotten used to someone else filling it. So, I drove through town and parked in front of the diner.
After parking in front, I walked inside. A few heads turned, smiled in greeting, and then went back to their plates. I started toward a booth near the window when a voice carried across the room.
“Cole!”
I looked over. Ryan and Allie were in a booth by the wall. Her coat hung on the hook, and his cap was turned backward on his head. Ryan motioned me over.
“Sit with us,” Allie offered.
For a second, I thought about telling them no and keeping to myself, but the way they both watched me made it clear they wouldn’t let me. I slid into the seat next to Ryan and across from Allie.
“You all right?” she asked.
“Working,” I answered. “Trying to.”
Her eyes softened. “That’s not what I asked.”
I looked toward the window, where the lights of the town square glowed against the snow, and the giant Christmas tree shone bright with colorful bulbs. “My house is empty, so I figured I’d stop here for dinner.”
Ryan tipped his cup toward me. “Empty? So Gavin’s back at the inn?”
His words made me freeze, and Allie’s head turned quickly, her eyes cutting to him.
“What?” He looked between us. “What am I missing?”
Allie stayed quiet, her hands folded tight in front of her. She wasn’t going to say it for me.
My throat worked, but nothing came out at first. I gripped the edge of the table, heat crawling up the back of my neck, before taking a deep breath and just going for it. “Gavin and I ...”
Ryan cocked a brow. “You and Gavin what?”
I lowered my voice so no one around could hear. “We were together.”
He blinked, sat back, and whispered, “Together how?”
I met his eyes. “The way it sounds.”
