Page 10 of Playing for Keeps (Checkmate 4)

“Oh! Hey Andi! How are you? I haven’t seen you in forever.”

“I know, I just flew in today. Um, I know this is kinda random, but I was hoping you could help me out with something.”

“Sure…” Her voice wavers, like she’s wondering if I need my groceries carried in, or help stealing a car. She’s willing to help with one, and curious about the other. “What do you need?”

“Your brother-in-law is a builder, right?”

“Jimmy? Yeah. Sorta. He used to be. Why?”

“I was hoping I could get some contractors over, but, like, right now.”

“Right now?”

“Yeah, today. It’s a special situation. I would never normally call anyone and expect them to drop what they’re doing to accommodate me, but this is different. This is for someone else.”

“It’s okay…” Like she’s shuffling papers, perhaps checking her calendar, she hums under her breath. “What exactly do you need? How many guys? Jimmy’s got a private session going on right now, but he’ll be done in twenty or so. Then he has one more later this afternoon, plus a kiddie class. Bobby’s off for the rest of the day; he’s just working out with Jack, but they’re screwing around trying to settle an old bet, so they could maybe help? Jon can probably take the kiddie class, then I can send Jimmy, Jack, and Bobby. Oh! And you know Marcus? I don’t know what he’s doing right now, but I could give you his number. He builds shit for a living, so maybe he’d be a good contact, too.”

Marcus. The man I flirted with forever ago at a backyard barbecue and discussed the very thing I’ve been so adamant against; commitment. “I forgot about Marcus.”

“I’ll text you his number.” She pauses. “What’s going on, Andi? What do you need done so fast?”

“Um…” Stepping back inside the stinky house, my voice cracks as I take Nacho to the living room and set her on the leather couch. “Did you hear about what happened to Riley? Ah, Officer Cruz.”

“Yeah.” I can almost feel the way her good mood spins into grief. “I know he got hurt, but mostly we’re getting news about Jess, since she and Laine are besties with Britt. Britt’s a mess because her friends are hurting, so Jack’s pissed that Britt’s a mess, and when Jack is pissed, we all suffer.” She gives a soft chuckle, like she needs the comedic relief. “I haven’t been up to see Riley. I didn’t really think it was my place since we don’t really know each other that well. I mean, I know he comes into the gym all the time, but he doesn’t do classes or anything. He just does his thing, then leaves again. Do you think we should go up to see him?”

“No. Definitely not.”In fact, I think it would do more harm than good.“No, he’s got Oz and Alex up there around the clock, but I just flew in and realized he’d be home in a few days…” I pause. “Kit, his home isn’t handicap accessible, and I don’t think anyone is thinking clearly enough to consider it. I was thinking I could get some ramps put in. Just the temporary kind, something we can pull down later when he’s up and walking again.”

“Shit.” She blows out a breath. “You’re totally right. And I can’t believe no one thought of it. I’ll send Jimmy as soon as he’s done with his current client. What’s the time now?” I know she’s speaking to herself, so I remain silent. “A little after noon. Alright, how about I say he’ll be there at one?”

“You’re not going to wait and ask him? He might have other plans for today, and I don’t really have money to pay for this.” Dropping down beside Nacho, I run a hand through my hair. “I know how entitled I sound. I call you up out of the blue, I want servicenow, and I won’t even pay for it. But I just think… this is really important.”

“Andi, it’s fine. Relax. He’ll want to do this. Jimmy will want to help. We’ll all help.”

“I’ll pay you guys for your time and materials, I promise. I just can’t pay youtoday, and this can’t wait.”

“It’s fine, it’s already done. We’ll be there at one. What are you doing right now?”

“Ah…” Lifting my leg when something kind of sharp pokes my thigh, I yank a bottle of ibuprofen from between the couch cushions. “I’m sitting in his house looking at piles of cat shit and a rug that needs to go in the trash.”

“You–” She blows out a breath. “What happened to his rug?”

“Riley has a cat, but no one has checked on her in three weeks.”

“Oh my God! I didn’t know that. Jesus, we’re all over here self-absorbed with our shit, and no one is feeding his poor cat.”

“She’s okay. There’s a bag of food on the kitchen floor, so she’s been eating that. And I think she’s been drinking out of the toilet. The litter box is the only issue here, so I’ll clean it up, fix this place up, mop the floors, then get groceries delivered.” I stop, picture the grocery stores back home, and still come up empty. “Umm… what do cats want for regular dinner? Like, she doesn’t want the dry stuff all the time, right?”

“Ah… I think you can get her some cans of tuna or something. I think they even have fancy meat and gravy meals in the pet food aisle.”

“Okay, I’ll get some of those. She deserves a feast tonight. Does the store here deliver groceries? Back home, I order online and they bring it to my door.”

“Nope.” Snickering, she flicks a pen so theclick, click, clickechoes through the phone and draws Nacho’s attention. “We don’t have anything like that here, sorry. Whatever technology we have here is two decades behind the city; no grocery delivery, no fast internet. Most of us still use dial up.”

I groan and flop back against the couch. “Okay. It’s fine. I’ll take care of it. Please text me if Jimmy can’t make it. I won’t get mad, but I need to know as soon as possible so I can make other arrangements.”

“He’ll be there at one, I promise. This is what family is for; Lindsi is our family, and you’re Lindsi’s. That makes you ours, too. See you soon.”

She hangs up and gives me no room to argue, and forty-five minutes later, arrives at Riley’s door with arms overflowing with heaped grocery bags. “Knock knock!” She kicks the wire front door, then uses her hip to turn the handle and let herself in. “Andi?”

---