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“Do you like him?”

“Uh, gonna need more context, Em. Do I like who?”

She sniffled again. “Nash Ledger. You like him, don’t you? Because he certainly likes you. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have asked about you last night.”

“So what if he asked about me? He knows we’re friends. Do you know how many times I get that same question when I’m out and run into someone we both know?”

“No, it wasn’t the question he asked. It was the way he asked it. Disappointment. I could hear it in his tone. He was thoroughly disappointed that you weren’t there.”

“So, you’re an expert on intonation analysis now? Emily, you’re reading too much into a simple question.”

“You didn’t answer me,” she said. “Do you like him?”

“He’s a really nice guy, and he has this great dog and?—”

“No, I’m not asking about the dog. I want to know if you like Nash Ledger, and you know what I mean by the word ‘like’ so don’t twist it.”

“Emily, I don’t know what you’re going on about. I walk his dog, and we live on the same road, and he’s only a temporary resident. That’s all there is to it.”

“So, you’re not interested in Nash and you’re not seeing him—you know—secretly, behind my back?”

“I’m seeing his dog, so if that’s a problem for you, then too bad, because I like Rocky.”

“I’m sorry. I’m being a crazy person. I was sure I noticed something, something in his expression when he asked about you.” Her tone was far less strident. “Do you promise not to start seeing him?”

She’d calmed down and then turned right back to crazy town. “Fine, whatever, I promise. This is all stupid because he’s just a temporary neighbor. Gosh, I just realized that Rocky will be leaving, too. Now you’ve ruined my mood. Thanks a lot, pal.”

She giggled. “A little payback for the tossing and turning I suffered through last night as visions of my best friend kissing and holding hands with my future husband dashed through my dreams.”

I shook my head. Sometimes Emily could be too much, even for me. “I’ve got to get back to work, Emi. Try to find some gravity and come back to earth. Sometimes your dreams detach you from reality, and that’s when they’re no longer dreams but problems. He’ll only be in town for a few months?—”

Emily gasped excitedly. “A few months? I thought he’d just be here a few weeks. How come you didn’t tell me?” There was a touch of accusation in her tone. I was done with the call.

“Seriously, Emi, just listen to yourself. I’ll talk to you later. And I promise that there is nothing going on between Nash and me. Goodbye.” I hung up, and my last few words still hung in the air. Something about them made my limbs feel heavy. I shook off the feeling and left the office.

Isla looked up from her work and spotted something in my face that made her stop what she was doing. “Everything all right?”

I blew out an exasperated puff of air. “Just Emily being Emily. I love her, but sometimes she can be a lot.”

Isla smiled. “Trust me, we all know that. Are you walking the dog again today?”

That question brought a smile back to my face. “Sure am. I better get to work on these pans because my new best friend will be anxious for our date.”

ChapterSixteen

Nash

Sid and I had been framing walls on the second story all morning. The sun was beating down so hard, Sid’s face was red and beaded with sweat. I turned back and noticed that he looked unsteady on his feet. “Whoa, Sid, you all right?” I raced over and took hold of his arm.

“Feeling a little dizzy.”

I whistled down to the foreman who was standing on the first floor. “Brian, need a little help up here. I think the heat has gotten to Sid.” I led him over to a stack of lumber that was shaded by a tarp, and he sat down with a plop.

“Guess you and Tony were right. I need to swap my colas for water occasionally.”

“I think that’d be a good start.”

Brian and his assistant, Jeremy, climbed the ladder to our work area. Brian was holding an emergency bag and a bottle of water. “Jeez, Sid, you look terrible. Why didn’t you say something earlier?” Brian looked up at me. “Good call. Jeremy and I will take it from here. Why don’t you take your lunch break early, and don’t forget to hydrate.”