"Don't get too attracted to those ladies. They're far out of our league."
"Matt, it never hurts to look. Hell, it makes me forget this sun."
"Yeah, dipping in that pool would be pretty good right about now," replied Matthew as he pounded some more nails.
John Cook and Matthew Sharp had been best friends since they were kids. They grew up in the same apartment building, where each family had seen their share of hard times.
Roofing was a seasonal job, so Matthew didn't see a steady cash flow. He did some snow removal work in the winter, but not every snowfall in Michigan was deep enough to give him regular work. I'm never going to get ahead in life. I've become my father.
"Only a couple more hours up on this roof, then we can go grab a beer. I think the crew is going down to Cars. You up for it, Matt?" John could tell that his friend was falling into one of his slumps.
"A cold brew sounds good," he answered loudly over the banging of the hammers. "I won't be there until I get my dad settled for the night."
Matthew looked back over at the pool in the next yard. The girls had gotten up and were walking toward the water. He couldn't stop staring at the long-haired blonde in the red bikini. There's one hell of a lucky bastard running around.
Matthew hadn't dated in over a year. He swore off women when his relationship with Josie ended. She was sweet, but she couldn't be happy with a man who couldn't give her all the material things she wanted in life. When she stood there and explained the way she honestly felt to Matthew, the guy who'd given her everything he possibly could, he walked away and hasn't spoken to her since.
By the time the workday ended, Matthew was both physically and mentally exhausted. Trying to maintain any kind of balance between work and taking care of his father was one big blur. He didn't have enough money to help his dad get the medical care he needed, and it was breaking Matthew. He'd slowly watched that strong man decompensate, and it ate at him every day.
John ordered another round of beers for the crew and then turned to Matthew. "You need a woman."
"Yeah, like I need another hole in my head."
"Not all women are like Josie."
"I think I'll pass."
"Some woman will come along and sweep you off your feet, and then I can say I told you so."
Matthew chuckled as he stood. "It's a little after one, and I still have to go home and shower. We have to be to work at sunrise." He reached inside the pocket of his dirty jeans and pulled out money. He tossed it on the table in front of John and said he'd see him bright and early.
"Yeah, I'll head out soon. This job will suck. We'll be up there for most of the week, and it's only going to get hotter."
Matthew nodded in agreement and then headed out to the parking lot. His old pickup truck was on its last leg, even the bumper was holding on by a bungee cord or two. At least, on most days that is, it got him back and forth to work. But this evening, it had no intentions of cooperating. Sighing heavily, Matthew got back out of the spewing pickup and lifted the hood. He got the container out of the back and walked to the side of the building to fill it with water. He'd love a new vehicle but the last thing he needed was another bill. For only being twenty-six, he owed more than most. He didn't have student loans, a mortgage, or car payments. It was his father's medical bills that were sinking him.
As he was pouring water into the radiator, a bright red Jeep caught his eye. A very beautiful blonde sat behind the wheel looking up at the sign of the bar. Sweet cheeks, you're on the wrong side of midnight, Matthew laughed to himself. She got out and walked inside the dim, dusty bar. Those guys in there will eat her alive. She should come running out any second now. Matthew couldn't resist. He replaced the radiator cap, closed the hood and walked back towards the bar entrance, and sure enough, the cute blonde came barreling out the door in utter panic and ran right smack into Matthew's arms. She must have met my work crew …
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Chloe drove absentmindedly while trying not to start crying again. She didn't care where she ended up. All Chloe knew was there wasn't any way she could bring herself to drive back to that house. There was nothing there for her besides her best friend, and she knew Becky was just a phone call away. Slowly she headed past the rest of the estates and wealthy suburbs. Kids were running and laughing across front yards, and the adults were out there with them. Small children drew chalk pictures on sidewalks, a father was teaching a young child how to ride a bike, birthday and graduation parties … Chloe stepped on the accelerator.
The sun had gone down and she didn't realize how far she'd driven. She snapped out of daze when she crossed a set of very bumpy railroad tracks on a poorly maintained road. Houses became closer together, and windblown garbage clustered around curbs and bushes. The roads seemed to run in circles, bums and prostitutes walked freely. Crap, I'm lost. Her fear didn't last. Chloe smiled at being normal for once. She'd never seen a bum in real life, let alone a prostitute, nor gone far enough to get lost.
The abandoned buildings scattered around felt strangely like they could be siblings to her. Abandoned. All it would take is a crew of workers to fix up that house and make it pretty, and then someone might want it. Chloe frowned at the thought.
She continued on until she spotted an old Chevy parked underneath the lights in a parking lot. The rear bumper was rusted and bent, holding onto its last rubber bungee cord; she was positive this was the same vehicle. The hood was up, but she didn't see anyone working on it. Chloe cautiously pulled into an empty spot and looked up at the sign. "Cars". She wasn't afraid at first. Shutting the door behind her and making sure it was locked, Chloe took a deep breath, ran her hands through her hair and then headed inside the small bar. Oh God, what do I say if he's in here? It took her a minute to adjust to the dim smoky surroundings, and what she saw and heard made her afraid to sit down.
"Hey, sugar! I got a seat right here for ya!" yelled a drunken man while he patted his lap.
She tried to ignore him so she could briefly scan the small bar. Quickly, the cat calls came flying at Chloe. Another drunk tried to wrap his arm around her. Shoving him away, she ran as fast as she could right out the door, only to be stopped by the thick chest of a man. Chloe quickly backed up so she could focus underneath the flickering light of the bar sign.
"You seem to be in a hurry. Is anything wrong?" Matthew asked while trying to keep a straight face.
"I'm so sorry!"
"It's alright. Did you hurt yourself? You plowed right into me, and I'm kind of like a brick wall."
Finally, Chloe saw exactly who he was. The roofer was even taller than she thought. He had to be well over six feet, with dark brown hair, blue eyes, tanned skin, and a perfect five o'clock shadow on his strong jaws. Chloe continued to stare.
"Do I have something on my face?" Matthew was thoroughly entertained.
"What? Oh, I'm fine. Sorry, I was just letting my eyes adjust." Chloe could hear the weakness in her voice.
"You came running out of the bar like you were on fire."
"Well, I … um … "
"My name is Matthew."
"Hi, Matthew." God, now what? Chloe swallowed hard, her palms a sweaty mess.
"Do you have a name?"
"...Yes. I'm Chloe."
Matthew stuck out his hand, which totally engulfed hers. Then he realized something. The rich daddy's girl. "I think I saw you today. You were out by the pool with a friend, while I was roofing the house next door."
"Yeah, that would be me."
Matthew began backing up toward his truck, his voice tone drastically changed. "Aren't you a little out of your way? Rich people don't normally hang out down here. We're beneath them." Matthew chuckled while shaking his head. "I'll be on my way, you have a nice day." He had noticed her cut offs and t-shirt, short but clean nails, and her hair didn't appear to be dyed. She doesn't look like a spoiled rich brat, but who knows. Matthew refused to allow himself to become attracted to someone he could never have. He turned and began to walk off.
"I'm not rich!" Oh God.
"It's pretty sad, I know, when poor folk have to live in mansions and hang out by a pool all day. I hate when that happens to me." He continued across the parking lot.
Without even thinking, Chloe began to ramble. "That was my friend's house. I don't have much money, and as a matter of fact, this is her Jeep. I'm just visiting and don't know my way around. I got lost and stopped here to use the phone."
"Where do you live?" Matthew eyed her suspiciously.
"I'm looking for an apartment around here. It can't be expensive, because I want to start taking some classes. A job too … Yes, I need to find a job." Chloe wanted to smack herself. She'd never worked a day in her life, not even housework. She'd been privately tutored and had always been kept secluded from the outside world. She was never allowed off the estate without endless hassle. Chloe almost vomited over thoughts of her sheltered life. I shouldn't have to lie to blend in.
"What kind of work are you looking for?"
"Anything really." What the hell am I doing?!
"The apartment building I live at is looking for a housekeeper. Probably minimum wage, but I'm pretty sure you get to live there for free or dirt cheap."