Overtime(40)

Turning the truck off, he leaned back in his seat, looking at the roof of the car.

“Not helping, Lacey,” he moaned.

“Well, it’s true, and honestly, they aren’t made for each other.”

“I know this, you know this, but she wants it to work. I saw them together.”

“And? They aren’t cute together. At first I thought so, but the more I watch them together, it doesn’t feel right.”

“But it might feel right to her,” he said sadly, twisting his beard around his finger. “Maybe I should just let her go? She’s obviously let me go.”

It wasn’t as if he had even really done anything to let his feelings be known. For all she knew, he just wanted friendship. Or sex probably, since that’s how they started. Yeah, he had messed with her, said he was sorry. But that didn’t say I love you. It was just the way he was. He was always apologizing for something, and Lord knew he loved messing with her. But he hadn’t been honest with her and he was unsure when he could be. Should he do it now, knowing about Kelly? Or should he wait it out? One thing was for sure, he knew he couldn’t rush into this. He had to get her to believe in him again—in them—before he admitted to loving her.

Man, why was this so hard?

“No, don’t. She hasn’t let you go. I know she hasn’t.”

“Then what do I do?”

“Pursue her! Woo her!”

Jordie’s face twisted in confusion. “Okay, first, isn’t that wrong when she has a boyfriend?”

“Well, yeah, it’s kinda sleazy.”

“Which is something I’m trying not to be,” he reminded her and she made a little noise. “Been there, done that, trying something new.”

“True, but I’m serious, I give them a week at the most. Especially after Karl and Regina come to town. He’s coming to dinner, and you know Karl hates all guys but you and Karson. She cares so much about what he thinks. She’ll drop him and, boom! You swoop in.”

“Those drugs are working well on you,” he said dryly and she laughed.

“Yeah, I really do see life in a different light. It’s supercool.”

“Very true, almost like being sober, I guess,” he agreed.

“I bet,” she giggled and Jordie grinned.

“But okay, let’s say I wait, and I will ’cause she’s the girl you wait for. But then, please explain to me, what in the ever-loving f*ck do you mean by ‘woo her’?”

“Seriously, Jordie?”

“No, really, I have no clue what that is.”

“Woo her! Buy flowers and chocolates with little hearts taped to them. Like court her?”

“Lacey, come on. We live in the twenty-first century,” he deadpanned. “Do people even woo anymore?”

“The men who want their women do! Karson is great at wooing.” She pointed out. “I love his wooing.”

“Because he’s a pansy-ass,” he mumbled, but before she could say anything, he laughed. “No, but really, what do I do?”

“I don’t know, like, be romantic and shit.”

“What’s the shit?” he asked, confused.

Before she could answer him, Mena Jane started to cry and Lacey fumbled with the phone. “Crap, let me call you back. She just exploded shit all over me.”

“Joys of motherhood. I’ll see you at home,” he said before they both said bye and he hung up. He was two seconds from Googling “wooing” when he glanced at the time, noticing that he needed to get inside. It was hard to get an appointment with Billy Ray, and he didn’t accept lateness. Rushing out of the truck, Jordie made it inside with the bell ringing, just in time.

Billy Ray looked over at him and grinned. “JT, long time, buddy.”

Billy Ray was an older guy in his mid-sixties, but acted as if he was in his early thirties. He was bald with dark black eyebrows and a beard that went to his chest. The guys always teased him for not being able to grow hair on his head but only on his face. He didn’t care though. He rocked that beard and nothing held the guy back. He was also an Assassins’ season-ticket holder, and everyone went to Billy Ray. He was a good dude and cut hair to perfection.

Wrapping him up in a manly hug, he squeezed Jordie tightly before they parted. “Where ya been? No calls? No flowers? Do I mean nothing to ya?”

Jordie grinned. “Busted leg and then a stint in rehab, hence why I look like Jesus on the cross, as my buddy’s wife said,” he admitted. And unlike everyone else, Billy Ray wasn’t the least bit surprised. He didn’t laugh or give him a look of disappointment. He just nodded.

“I always knew you’d end up there. You just had to realize you needed help.”

“Wasn’t me. Elli made me.”

“Or she’d make you,” he said with a grin before tapping the seat in front of him. “Ya look like hell.”

“True, but I feel good,” Jordie said, sitting down. “But yeah, I look like hell ’cause I won’t let anyone touch me but you.”

“So attached,” Billy teased, putting the towel around Jordie’s neck. “So ya glad you went?”

“Very much so.”

“Good boy, I’m proud of you,” he said, running a comb through Jordie’s hair. “So tell me everything; I have a lot of hair to cut and shape up.”