Breaker's Bargain: A Small-Town Bad Boy Standalone by Adriana Peck

Author:Adriana Peck [Peck, Adriana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-04-09T16:00:00+00:00

Fifteen

Ryan

I swing the hammer down on the cinderblock, shattering it into a hundred tiny pieces as concrete flies every which way. Rocks bounce off my protective goggles, denting them slightly. Were I not wearing them, I’d probably be blinded by now. At least some of us—looking at you, Terry—are able to keep our eyes on the prize and keep our heads down. Not to judge the guy, but you don’t turn your head away from a powered-on jackhammer. It’s just a simple truth.

I pull the shattered remains of the cinderblock out of the ground and re-position myself to start smashing another. We’re breaking apart the foundation of the old gas station, starting out with manual hammers before moving onto jackhammers and controlled explosives. Less debris flying all over town that way after we blow this place to bits. I’ve been focusing hard on my work, keeping my head down, saving every penny I can. If I can eventually afford the first down payment on a house for my mom, it’ll all be worth it in the end.

It’s been a month since Sophie left for college. And every day’s been a struggle to survive since she left. Turns out she’d been the centerpiece of my summer, the connection I looked forward to most at the end of the day.

And after our last night together, I can’t stop thinking about her. I wouldn’t dare tell the guys on the job site about our little adventure in the clearing just over town, but I think they know something’s up. I’ve been quieter. And they’re starting to notice.

“Jaeger! You awake over there?” a voice cries out.

I wheel around, lowering my hammer as I realize I haven’t moved in a few minutes. Terry looks at me with concerned eyes, a cast wrapped around his foot. He’s still on the job site, for some ungodly reason. I guess the foreman’s letting him pick up his hours after the accident and the hospital bills came to collect.

I nod. “Fine, Terry. How’s the foot?”

“How’s Sophie?” he retorts.

I turn back to my work. If I’m going to get attitude and the cold shoulder, then I’m not going to play the game at all.

I ready my hammer, lift it over my head once I’ve positioned myself over the next targeted cinderblock.

My phone buzzes in my pocket.

I lower the hammer, set it down on the ground as I pull out my phone. I flick it on and I see a message from Sophie.

“Hey. Some guy I used to see just asked me out. I’m not dating him again. But I just thought you should know.”

That’s it. That’s all she’s sent me today.

Normally she sends me something sweet to brighten my day. There was a “I hope you’re having a good day!” right after she left, which made me smile. And a simple smiley face from her the other day actually made my entire week brighter. I don’t bother responding, Sophie can probably figure out I’m not much of a texter by now.

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