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Chapter 6

After wrapping up rabbed the food I’d ordered for Ian andout with the n and the music up loud And when Uptown Funk ca at the top of s because, let’s face it You can’t help but dance and sing to that song Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars knohat they’re doing, for sure

I pulled into the driveway and parked beside Ian’s truck, not bothering to pull into the garage I gathered all , "Honey, I’ no response, I laid his food on the counter and dropped everything else beside it,for him He was nowhere to be found inside the house, so I checked out on the back porch I saw hi off into the distance

"Hey," I said softly as I walked out to hi at his side

He was leaned back, the neck of a bottle of beer dangling fro, not looking at me

I sat in the chair beside hi okay?"

He nodded once, and then quickly shook his head "Just a rough day today, I guess I had to fire aso careless that one of my other workers ended up in the hospital today"

"Ohhis free hand in mine "What happened?"

"Carl happened Fucker went to Griff’s for lunch, which is no big deal, but he decided to have a few beers and a shot while he was at it That is a real big deal Caot into the bobcat, and then didn’t pay attention when he swung it around the corner Ran it right into the side of an S-10 truck that was just pulling in The guy driving, when the bucket hit the truck, thank God, earing his seatbelt, but he hit his head against theKnocked him out"

I sank back inup to cover my mouth "Is he okay?"

Ian nodded "Yeah, he’ll be fine He’s off for a couple weeks with a concussion, unless there’re co the truck, but he was fired on the spot Ijob! Goddamn, that pisses me off! He could have killed so hoarse with e his hand in ainst the back of his Finally, he took a deep breath and then finished off the rest of his beer

"You know, it could have been a lot worse But what gets ood worker But he’s a fucking alcoholic How did I not know that? How did I not catch that when he’s been with me for over a year now?"

His face was tortured, his breathing ragged

Ihtly to me He dropped his bottle and his arms came up and squeezed me

"Baby, it’s not your fault He’s your eht hi on the job before?"

He shook his head "No, but I’m at different sites all the time, so I’m not always there"

"What about the fore, since he’s there all the tiain and I continued, "Then hoould you have known he was an alcoholic? So it, until they get to that point that they just can’t anymore It sucks that that’s where he’s at, apparently, and it really sucks that it caused soainstover my skin "I know I just can’t help but feel like it’smore attention"

I kissed his forehead and his cheek, re silent for thefor his hand again "Co out for a while, okay?"