Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 86158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“Not sure how to work for it when she doesn’t even want me around,” I replied.
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” Farrah said kindly. “And hey, if nothing else, be glad that you dodged a bullet with that girl you brought home. From what I’ve heard of her over the last couple of years, she would’ve sucked you dry and then told everyone how bad you tasted.”
I choked on my own spit as she laughed.
“She didn’t—I didn’t—we—”
“She still might,” Farrah said thoughtfully. “That one’s never been good with the truth.”
“Is Charlie okay?” I asked. “Kara said that the rumors are everywhere. I didn’t really have a chance to ask them about any of it.”
“Too busy shielding your soft parts, I’d imagine,” Farrah said, raising her eyebrows. “Yeah, she’ll be fine. She just went with Casper to move the cart. We’re gonna bring it back here and spruce it up before we take it to the new location.”
“She’s moving it?” I asked, leaning against the wall. This was the first I’d heard of it.
“She’s bringing it to that property that Tommy bought,” Farrah said, waving her left hand toward where I guessed the property was located. “The new store is opening up next week and Charlie’s new coffee cart will be all set up and waiting for customers.”
“Nice,” I replied. I tried to ignore the disappointment that Charlie hadn’t told me the news herself. “Bonus, that cop won’t have an excuse to stop by all the time now that she’s halfway across town.”
Farrah looked at me intently, like she was trying to make a decision. Finally, she smiled, but there wasn’t anything happy about it. “Casper took care of that,” she said calmly. “He won’t bother her again.”
I barely kept my mouth from dropping open in surprise at the implications of that. “What—”
“Oh, it looks like Harry and the boys are showing up,” Farrah said, glancing through the window behind her. “I’m gonna go ask him where my carpet is.”
“Carpet guys will be here tomorrow,” I replied, still a little stunned.
“Shh,” she said jokingly. “I want to bug Harry about it. See you around, Beauregard.”
I jerked in surprise at the name.
Farrah smiled. “I just wanted to use it once,” she said with a chuckle. “Bitchin’ name, dude.”
Harry gave me shit about how he wasn’t paying me overtime because I’d shown up early without being asked to, but he slapped me on the back as he did it. I wondered briefly if Farrah had said something about my eventful night but forgot about it as the day moved on like normal. By the time we broke for lunch, Charlie’s coffee cart was sitting pitifully on the edge of the wide driveway like a lost puppy. It looked so different when it wasn’t all set up in its usual spot. I walked toward it, curious.
“Son of a bitch,” Casper said as he crawled out from under it. He looked over at me and scowled as he got to his feet.
“Everything alright?” I asked as I got closer.
He looked at me like he was trying to decide something, then shook his head. “Floor’s damn near rotted out,” he replied, putting his hands on his hips. “The fuckin’ fridge has been leakin’ and it’s gonna need to be replaced, but the floor has to be fixed before we can do anything else.”
“Damn,” I breathed. Charlie was going to lose it.
“I told her it was probably an easy fix,” Casper said with a huff, reading my expression. “That was before I climbed under and got a good look. She’s off with her mother choosing paint colors. Goddamn it.”
“You mind if I take a look?” I asked, dropping down to my knees when he nodded. I scooted under the trailer and put my hand out. “You got a light?”
When Casper handed me the flashlight, I saw exactly what he’d been talking about. I reached out and used my thumb to push at the flooring. The outside was dry but stained from where the water had been leaking, but the entire thing was soft. Shit.
“You’re right,” I said as I crawled back out. “How the hell didn’t they notice?”
“Where they’re standin’ when they work isn’t real big,” Casper said with a sigh. “Hardly noticeable when you’re in there unless you know what you’re lookin’ for.”
“The entire floor will need to be replaced,” I said with a grimace. “You can’t even patch it.”
“Yeah, I know,” he replied, staring at the cart.
“I’ll do it,” I said, reaching up to scratch at the back of my neck. Casper looked at me.
“I know what I’m doin’,” I said wryly.
“I sure as hell hope so,” he replied, glancing at his newly built house I’d just walked out of.
“It’ll take me a day, max,” I said with a chuckle. “But we’ll need to take everything out. You have anywhere to put shit?”