Chapter 6

Declan spent the rest of the week scrubbing and peeling wallpaper. It was tedious, but once he had all of it down in the living room, it was like he couldn't stop. The satisfaction of a bare wall made him continue. He continued right into the dining room.

He tried to be quiet, using earbuds instead of blasting a radio since Renee tended to work at the dining room table. He paused. Was his bedroom her office? It wasn't set up like one, but he couldn't help but think he'd taken her workspace.

Tugging out an earbud, he asked, "Is my room your office?"

She looked at him and blinked a couple of times as if processing his question. "No. It was Tyler's room when he was here."

"But it would be your office if you didn't have mooches like us."

She lifted a shoulder. "I hadn't thought about it. And I wouldn't call you a mooch. You've done more work in the past few days than I have in months."

"If you want to move in there, I can take the bed up to the attic or the basement."

"Don't be ridiculous. Those aren't living spaces."

He chuckled. "It won't be any different than Ronan's attic. Really not a big deal."

"I'm fine working at the table. Besides, I'm hoping it'll only be for a while longer. If I get a full-time job, I won't be doing this." She waved a hand over the papers and laptop she had in front of her.

"What about Sadie?" he asked. The look she shot him made him want to pull the words back.

"What about her?"

"She's only in school a couple of hours a day."

"And she'll be in daycare. Like millions of other kids. It doesn't make me a bad mom."

Ah, fuck. Now he stepped in it. "I didn't mean it like that. It's just..." He wasn't even sure what he was trying to say. "I see you guys together all the time. It seems like it would be hard."

"She's in school all day next year, so it's just this one that will be hard. Assuming I can even find anything full-time that will make it worth paying for daycare."

"I get it. My mom had a bunch of us. She always did hair in the basement. People came to her and she didn't have to pay a babysitter. I doubt she could've afforded one."

"But you have older brothers who could've watched you."

"They were too busy getting in trouble. So me and Nessa hung out a lot." He turned back to the wall, sprayed the solution, and scrubbed. "What time does Sadie go to her dad's today?"

"Whenever he comes to pick her up. It's supposed to be before dinner, but if he's on a job or has something better to do, he's late. Why?"

"I figured I'd prep her room tonight so tomorrow, I can hit it hard and have it done before she comes back on Sunday. It's warm enough out that we can probably leave the windows open to air it out."

"Sounds good. Let me know what you need me to do and I'll get it done."

Renee returned to her numbers and Declan turned his music back up while he peeled away more ugly paper. Sadie came home and followed him around asking questions and wanting to help. Since he didn't think a five-year-old should touch the chemicals, he let her scrub ineffectively at a section of paper without solution on it.

"You have any fun plans with your dad this weekend?"

"I dunno. I wanna stay and help paint my room."

"I appreciate the offer, but painting a wall isn't nearly as much fun as painting a picture. Speaking of pictures. Do you have one of Super Sadie I can borrow?" He ripped at a piece of wallpaper and it came off in a huge chunk.

"Are you gonna hang it in your room?"

"I just want to show it to someone." He'd already asked Gavin to come over to paint one wall for Sadie. He thought it would be a good surprise.

Sadie ran off and came back with three pages. Drawing herself as a superhero had become a favorite pastime for the kid.

"Which one is your favorite?" he asked as he snapped photos of all three to send to Gavin. That turned out to be the right question because she launched into telling him stories about each picture. He was able to listen to her while pulling at wallpaper.

"Sadie, honey, Dad's going to be here soon. Do you have your bag packed?" Renee came into the dining room, looked at the destruction, and cringed.

"I was talking to Declan, telling him about Super Sadie."

"Go get your bag. Don't forget to pack your toothbrush."

"What about Matilda?"

"You can bring the book if you want, but maybe Daddy has something else he wants to read."

"Nuh-uh. He only has baby books at his house."

"Picture books are not baby books. They still have great stories."

Sadie sighed and Declan stifled a laugh because even with her back turned to him, he knew she was rolling her eyes. She trudged out of the room toward her bedroom.

"You got your hands full with her. Attitude at five. Good luck at fifteen."

"Tell me about it." She tugged at a corner of ripped wallpaper. "After Sadie leaves, I'm going out with a couple friends. I assume you can fend for yourself with leftovers in the fridge. I already packed up a bunch of Sadie's room and moved the smaller things to my room so it's out of your way."

"I told you I'd get to it tonight."

"I know. But you're busy in here, so I got started."

He turned to look at her. She was fidgety. Almost nervous. "Something going on?"

She inhaled deeply and then huffed it out. "My friend Linda wants to go to a bar or club or something."

"Already gave up on the apps?"

"I barely started there."

"Shoot me a text if you decide to bring some dude back here. I'll make myself scarce."

She snickered. "Not likely to happen."

Not likely, but possible. For some reason, that didn't sit well with him. Renee had had a tough time. He remembered when she and Graham first got serious. He and Tyler both knew Graham wasn't good enough for Renee, but they never said anything. He wondered if it would've made a difference.

"If you change your mind, seriously call. I don't want to hear any of that."

The doorbell rang.

"Daddy!" Sadie screeched as she tore through the house, backpack bouncing.

"Do not open that door," Renee called.

Sadie froze with her hand on the doorknob. "Who is it?"

"It's me."

Sadie shot a look over her shoulder as if to say See? She opened the door and Graham came in.

He scooped Sadie up and kissed her cheek. "Whoa. What's going on here?"

"Declan is working on the house so it's not so ugly," Sadie answered.

"Sadie," Renee warned.

"It's what you said. The house is good but ugly." She curled a lip as she looked at the walls. Then she turned to Declan. "It's still ugly."

"Sadie." Renee's voice was sharp.

"That's okay. It's supposed to be ugly now. It'll look better once I paint it."

"He's gonna paint my room when I'm with you," Sadie said to Graham.

Declan nodded to him. "Graham."

"Hey. It's been a while."

Like they'd ever been friends? Rather than comment, Declan just nodded again.

"Ready to go?" Graham asked.

"Wait!" Sadie yelled. "I need Larry."

Graham set her down so she could get her lion from her room. Declan still couldn't get over a kid naming her lion Larry.

Graham put his hands on his hips. "I can't believe you bought this shithole, Renee. What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking that I want my daughter to have a house with her own yard. A home."

"This looks stable to you? The place is torn apart, you have some stranger working here?—"

Renee flicked up a hand to stop him. "First, Declan is not a stranger. I've known him most of my life—way longer than I've known you—and he's been in Sadie's life since birth."

"The house is not a shithole," Declan said quietly. "It's well built. It just needs some love."

"This has nothing to do with you. Stay out of it."

Declan put down the scraper and took a step toward Graham. Renee stepped between them. Although she was tall, Declan could still glare at Graham over her head.

"I don't need your opinion, Graham. It has no bearing on anything in my life. Why don't you go wait in the car and I'll send Sadie out?"

"Sadie deserves better than this." He waved a hand over the ripped walls. But then he turned and left.

"What the fuck, Renee? Why do you let him talk to you like that?" Declan asked.

Her shoulders sagged and she turned around. "There's nothing I can say to change who he is or what he says. I'm trying really hard to not let it affect me anymore."

"I got Larry. You made my room all messy, Mom. Where's Dad?"

"He's waiting in the car. You want me to walk you out?"

"Nope." She came closer and Renee squatted for a hug.

"Have fun with Dad. I'll see you on Sunday."

Sadie let go of Renee and then wrapped her arms around Declan's legs. "Want me to fly you to the car like Super Sadie?"

"Yeah." She jumped up and down and Declan scooped her up and put her on his shoulder.

Renee raced ahead of them and held the door open for them to fit through. He set Sadie down near the car. She climbed in on her own and buckled herself into her car seat. Declan said nothing, but he couldn't help but send another glare Graham's way.

Later that night, Renee stumbled up her front steps. She was buzzed, maybe a little drunk. But what else did she have? The bar was a total bust. As she slid her key into the lock, she realized there was loud music coming from inside her house. What the hell? Was Declan having a party?

She pushed through the door and the living room was dark. So was the kitchen. The light in Sadie's room was on, so she headed there.

The smell of paint assaulted her as she entered the room. Declan's back was to her and he sang along with the radio, totally off-key, and unaware she was there. She started to laugh.

"Don't give up construction. You'll never make it as a singer."

He spun quickly at the sound of her voice, splattering paint with the movement. Luckily, he'd covered Sadie's bed with a plastic tarp.

He reached over and lowered the radio. "You shouldn't sneak up on me like that."

"If the music wasn't so loud, you would've heard me come in." She looked at the walls. He must've been working the whole time she was gone. "It's really white," she said narrowing her eyes.

"It's primer. The color will go on tomorrow." He squinted at her. "Are you drunk?"

She held up her index and thumb close. "A little."

"Had a good night, then?"

"Hell, no. Your bar idea. Bad."

"What are you talking about?"

"One guy wanted to dance. His hands immediately landed on my ass uninvited. Another guy bought me a drink, and then wanted to meet in the bathroom so I could repay the favor."

"What kind of dive did you go to?"

"My friend picked it out. I should've stayed here. Could've helped you."

"I didn't need help. There's pizza in the kitchen if you're hungry."

"You ordered food? I told you there were leftovers in the fridge."

"Yeah, but I'd have to reheat something or eat it cold. Pizza is handed to me hot."

"Can I help with something?"

"Uh, no. Why don't you go have some water?"

She waved him off. "I'm fine."

Declan rolled the wall around the window. Renee watched, mesmerized by the rhythmic movement and sound.

"So is this what you want to do like for a career?

"Paint?"

"Construction. Paint. Whatever."

He shrugged. "It's what I know. Like they say, it's in my blood. My dad, my brothers. They all did construction at least for a while."

"But do you like it?"

"Most of the time."

"Then why don't you have a job?"

"Jeez, Rennie. Judgey?"

"I'm just asking. You obviously know what you're doing, so you're not an idiot who can't keep a job. Ty always makes it sound like you can't be bothered to work a regular job. I'm just wondering why." At this point, she was also wondering where her filter went.

"I never liked the idea of being tied down. I like my freedom. So I go wherever. Do whatever."

Renee couldn't help but think it sounded lonely. But he was also the same Declan she'd always known. Whenever Declan was around, everyone could count on having a good time. "It's late. Why don't you stop for the night and come watch some TV or something?"

"I am done. Let me clean this up and take a shower."

"You go take a shower and I'll clean up."

"Uh..."

"I'm buzzed, but I can handle cleaning some brushes and a roller." She shooed him. "Go."

She waited for him to leave, picked up the brushes and roller, and carried them to the kitchen sink. Running the water, she waited for it to get hot and then squeezed the brushes under the flow. The cool paint ran thick through her fingers. She knew the minute Declan started the shower because she lost some pressure.

Her mind wandered to Declan shirtless, in his boxers. He was a damn fine-looking guy. For as long as she'd known him, his dark hair was carelessly styled, as if he showered, shook off water like a dog, and then ran his fingers through it. So often, it flopped over his forehead and she wanted to push it back.

But it was the scruffy beard that got to her. It took away his boyishness. The charm was still there in his blue eyes and his grin, but now he was all man.

She shook her head. She could not think about her brother's best friend as anything other than that. She must've had more alcohol than she'd thought because while she could objectively see that Declan was good-looking, she never thought about him like that.

But tonight, as his muscles flexed while painting and he sang terribly, she thought about him standing up for her with Graham. For the first time in a long time, she had someone in her corner.

He might not have been the best choice because he definitely looked like he was about to hit Graham, but she'd been on her own for so long, anything was better than nothing.

She scrubbed at the brushes and roller and then set them to dry. The bar scene wasn't for her. She could accept that. She never liked it all that much when she was younger. Maybe she just needed to get out in the world more. With Sadie in school, she could go work in a coffee shop or something. Be around other people. She couldn't meet someone if she wasn't available to meet them, right?

And Declan assured her she had it going on. She snickered. Weird way to pay a compliment, but she'd take it.

Having Declan around was definitely good for her ego. The water in the bathroom shut off, so she grabbed a couple beers from the fridge and went to the living room. She plopped on the couch, turned on the TV, and waited for Declan.

He came in a few minutes later wearing basketball shorts and a T-shirt. She pointed to the beer on the table. "Grabbed you a drink."

"Thanks." He sat next to her and she handed him the remote. "You can pick."

"I don't care what we watch." She took a pull on her beer.

"You don't have to keep me company, you know. If there's something you'd rather do..."

She sighed. "I'm not keeping you company. You're keeping me company. I hate the weekends when Sadie's not here. The house is so quiet."

"So that's the deal with dating all of a sudden." He started scrolling through streaming services to look for something to watch.

"No. Yeah. Maybe. I mean, I am lonely, and having someone to date might be nice. But it's also time, you know? I've been divorced a long time. At least it feels long because as soon as we split, we were over even though it wasn't official."

"Are you saying you haven't dated at all since Graham?"

She sighed. "There were a couple of really lame dates."

"You haven't gotten laid in like two years?" He sputtered and his voice was obnoxiously loud.

She huffed again. "There were also a couple of less-than-stellar hook-ups. I decided my vibrator was a better use of my time."

Declan choked on his beer and then laughed. "I like this new Renee."

"What's new? This is who I've always been."

"Maybe. But you never let me see it. You always look at me like I'm your annoying little brother. Someone like that would never mention her vibrator."

"Point taken. I guess this is the first time I'm seeing you as a friend instead of Tyler's friend." She took another drink. "Thanks for all the help around here. It means a lot to me."

"We're doing each other a favor. I have a real bed to sleep in. I can hone my skills as a handyman. And I get to play with my favorite girl." He winked.

Renee blushed.

"I knew Sadie was cool, but hanging out with her this much makes me realize how awesome she is."

Yes. His favorite girl. Sadie. Her daughter. Shut the fuck up, you stupid hormones.

"She likes having you around, too. The work you're putting in is going to make this a real home for her. I can't top that by cooking you some meals."

"Hey. This is already a home because you're here. Kids don't remember ugly walls or bad water pressure. Not really. She'll remember having dinner with you and telling you about Super Sadie."

"How the hell do you know so much about kids?"

"Because I am one, right?"

It was her turn to snort. "Start the show already, you weirdo."

They watched some superhero show Declan picked out, and Renee didn't care because for a change, she wasn't lonely.