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Looking around the deck, I slide my phone out of my pocket and snap some pictures of the progress. Most of them would go into the update I send Thomas on Friday, but I send a couple to Carter with a quick note about where we are in the demo process. Since that first day, I’d taken to sending Carter a couple of messages throughout each day, just updating him, and keeping him in the loop. Every time I send something, he seems grateful, so I keep going.

“Okay, how do you get them to listen to you like that?” I turn to see Josie walking toward me, looking impressed. “I worked in a corporate office for years and could never get any of the guys in sales to meet deadlines or take me seriously. You must have a superpower.”

“A lot of practice and patience,” I admit, sliding my phone back into my pocket. “Definitely not a superpower. I just make my expectations clear. I’ve worked with a couple of these guys before; they know I won’t put up with bullshit.”

“It’s still impressive, and a skill I never managed to learn.” She comes to a stop in front of me.

I shrug, not sure what the big deal is. It’s not confidence or even a skill. It’s me simply knowing I have a job to do and that I’ll only be able to do it well if people take me seriously. “Just doing my job.”

“Yes, that’s all you’re doing.” She rolls her eyes in what looks like annoyance, but her tone is teasing. “Anyway, I came over to see what you are up to tonight.”

The question catches me off guard, but the answer is an easy one. “Going back to my rental and binge watching some shitty reality show. Why, what are you up to?”

Her nose crinkles in displeasure. “Well, I was hoping we could hang out. That new rom-com that just came out is playing tonight at eight-thirty. Want to go with me?”

Instinct tells me she’d rather go with Bryce, but then I think back to our first conversation nearly two weeks ago. Despite how much she cares about him, she’s excited to have another woman around. To be honest, I was trying to come up with an excuse to go out tonight, so this feels perfect. Plus, I know exactly what movie she’s talking about, and I’ve been dying to see it.

“That sounds great.” Her smile is infectious. “Did you want to grab dinner first? I have nothing to cook at the house.”

She nods enthusiastically. “That sounds perfect! Does six o’clock work for you? I can pick you up.”

“Sounds great. I’ll text you the address.”

“Perfect! Now I get to go tell my boyfriend he’s on his own tonight.”

She looks a little too giddy at the prospect before turning to do just that. I bite back a laugh as she practically skips away from me, but I can’t help wondering what that’s like. They’re so secure in their relationship, they can admit to one another when they need space, and it doesn’t feel like a big deal. It’s not something I’ve ever had with Will. Usually, it feels like I have to beg him to spend time with me at all.

My phone vibrates in my back pocket. Pulling it out, I see a text from Carter. Before I focus on that, I send Josie the address, knowing if I don’t do it now, I will forget. Then I switch back to the thread with Carter, fighting yet another smile.

Looking good! Can't wait to see the finished product. Don't work too hard, Dalton.

Not a chance! I’m hanging out with Josie tonight, so I’ll need to leave early to ensure I don’t smell like whatever this place smells like.

God dammit! Bryce told me that smell is gone.

I’m glad you’re hanging with Josie. She’s good people.

Me too! I’m excited to spend time with her. The smell has mostly gone, but there’s still some lingering.

It’s going to plague us forever, isn’t it?

Maybe you’ll just be known as the pool with the weird smell forever

Do not even joke about that. Please.

lol

Sorry, you’re right. I shouldn’t joke about it. I’ll be sure to get some air freshener or something.

I don’t think that would help. I just got to the gym, so I’ll talk to you later. Thanks for the update.

His last message has a picture of a rack of weights with it. I can see his shadow, but nothing else. I wish he would have tilted the camera ever so slightly so I could see a sliver of his reflection in the mirror. It feels weird to be talking to someone when you don’t know what they look like. I’d considered googling him or looking up social media, but it feels like an invasion of privacy.

At the end of the day, he’s my client, and this weird friendship is already crossing lines I never thought I’d cross. Looking him up would be too much for me.

Yet, I can’t help but wonder what he actually—

“Katrina!” I snap out of my mind, stuffing my phone in my pocket like I’d been caught looking at something I shouldn’t be. Carl is standing several paces down the deck, pushing against one of the bleachers, barely paying attention to me despite being the one who called my name. “We need you down here.”