Read Online The Super: A Bad Boy Romance by Anne Connor - Free Book Online Page A

inward. He was distant. And the house was the first thing he started to let go of. He had bigger things to give a shit about than Mom. And the house has deteriorated even further in the years since Eric and I left.
    “Oh, what’s the point?” she asks, taking a sip of her tea. “I’m selling the place, anyway.”
    “You could get more for the house if you fixed it up. Let me do it.”
    “You don’t have to do that. I don’t care about the money. I have more than enough in the bank to put a down payment on a new place and cover my mortgage and other expenses for years. Plus, I intend on continuing to work. Maybe do some part-time math tutoring.”
    “Everyone could use more money.”
    “I guess you learned that from your father,” she responds, rolling her eyes.
    “Come on, Mom. You know it’s true.”
    “Fine. If you want to fix some basic things, you can. You’re right. No one is going to want to buy a cottage with a busted door.”
    “Thank you.”
    “But just basics, okay? People up here don’t buy property to get a new jacuzzi tub or a sub-zero freezer. They want to live here so they can have a sense of community and send their kids to schools with small classes.”
    “Running for city Council? Or are you exploring a new career as a real estate broker? Trying to sell the house to me ?”
    “I’m just saying.”
    I hear a light rap on the screen door behind me and my mom waves and starts toward the door. I turn around to see an older gentleman outside, holding a paint can and wearing a kind smile and an old work shirt.
    “Hey, Richard! Come on in!”
    Mom scurries past me and pushes the door open for her visitor.
    “Hey, Liz. How are ya? I just came by to see how you were doing. If you needed anything.”
    “I’m lovely. Here, this is my Drew.”
    “Drew, it’s nice to finally meet you.”
    He puts his hand out and shakes mine firmly but kindly, not like some shot caller in the city who’s trying to put on a front like he’s been your best friend for years when he just met you. For once, it seems like someone is actually happy to meet me. It doesn’t seem like he wants something, which is the case with nearly everyone I meet.
    The money doesn’t always attract the right kind of people.
    “It’s nice to meet you, too.”
    I slip a hand through my hair. It’s a little odd to be greeted by someone who clearly knows my mom well, who thinks it’s okay to just pop by.
    Then I remember where I am. In the country, front doors are always open to allow in the calm breeze or an unexpected visitor.
    “We were just having a cup of tea. Would you like to join us?”
    “I would like that very much! So, Drew,” he says, placing the paint can down at the door and making his way into the kitchen with Mom and me, “I hear that you live in the big city. You have a real estate firm with your brother?”
    “That’s right. Yes. We mainly deal with commercial and multi-use properties. We actually just acquired something new, but there’s a little bit of an issue with it.”
    “Oh? You didn’t mention anything to me,” Mom says.
    “Nothing too serious, I hope?” Richard chimes in.
    “No, no. Just a little contract dispute. It’s nothing. But I won’t bore you with all the stupid details. Eric is more worried about it than I am.”
    “That’s Eric. He was always the slightly more neurotic of my sons. Drew here was always a cool customer.”
    She punches my shoulder playfully. It’s like I’m back in high school and my mom is trying to embarrass me in front of a girl.
    “Anyway, I just stopped by to help mom with the attic a little bit. Get some of my old crap out of her way.”
    I start to get up from the table, but it seems like Richard wants me to stay. For him, chatting isn’t just a formality. Small talk isn’t just a means to an end, something to fill up a quota of time before business is discussed.
    He’s laid back, his tone ambling and conversational.
    “How’s the fiancee treating