Off Beat (Forgotten Flounders Series Book 1)

by J. C. Hannigan

  I nodded my acquiescence, and the lines of worry around his eyes eased. He smiled and kissed my cold nose.

  Calum

  It was just after one when Christy finally called me, letting me know that she had my house keys and could meet me at the house. I quickly vetoed that, telling the eager real estate agent I’d stop by the office to pick them up.

  After killing time shopping for paint and supplies at the hardware store, Dare, Evan and I met Harper for lunch at the diner. Raina had served us, giving me another opportunity to tip generously. Christy’s call had come just as I said my goodbyes to Harper against the back door of her shop, shrouded in the privacy of the alley.

  Now I was standing on the front porch, jiggling the keys in my hand. I drew in a deep breath before shoving the proper one—the front door key—into the lock and twisting my wrist. The mechanism released with an audible click, and I pushed the door open, stepping through the threshold into the foyer.

  To the left was the living room, light spilling in through the bright bay windows that overlooked the front porch. The open concept main floor had the living room, dining room, and kitchen all opening up and flowing into one another harmoniously, laminate flooring throughout. At the rear of the house, past the powder room was the additional room—the family room. Its large windows and French doors overlooked the backyard and the water from the south shore. I knew Harper was going to love having her coffee on that wrap-around porch.

  A sense of peace washed through me, and I drew in a deep breath, just taking it in.

  Dare and Evan piled in behind me, each of them loaded down with the cans of paint and supplies. Dare set the two large cans of paint he’d carried in on the floor, and let out a low, impressed whistle while he surveyed the rooms. “Lots of space and light.”

  I only really had today and tomorrow morning to paint over the burnt-orange colour the previous owners had throughout the entire main level. When it was the rusty orange colour, it was unflattering brown hues—like in the bathroom. I’d picked a neutral gray for the living room, dining room, kitchen, and halls to cover the nauseating colours.

  “Sounds good,” Dare nodded, grabbing a drop sheet and heading into the living room with it. Evan picked the painters tape and started edging while Dare got the paint ready. I carried two cans of paint upstairs, setting them in the second-largest bedroom—the one that was to be Asher’s.

  For his bedroom, I’d selected the same colour he had at home. The rest of the bedrooms—including the master—were already an off white colour, and they could wait until I got Harper in here for good to personalize it with me.

  “Well, doesn’t this bring back memories?” Evan remarked when I rejoined them downstairs. He had the step ladder underneath the living room window and was edging the trim with painters tape.

  “I don’t think we’ve done manual work in a while. Kind of sad when you think about it.” Dare shook his head, popping the lid off the can between his knees with a knife.

  “Yeah,” I admitted. We’d put our condo’s private gym to good use, but the last time we exerted ourselves like this? Must have been close to a decade now.

  “I think this restart was needed on all fronts.” Evan continued, filling the silence—it’s what he did. He hated quiet moments; he had to fill them all with some kind of noise, a joke, a story. But for once, I welcomed the talk.

  I’d had my hands covering my eyes for the last several years and aside from creating and playing music, I hadn’t been present. I’d kind of checked out on them, too. I pushed them away, determined to hide the truth, locked behind a façade of my own making.

  “I agree,” Dare said, stirring the grey with the wooden stick. “Being back home has given me more inspiration to write.”

  I nodded in agreement—not that I’d had time to sit down lately and write. I had been too occupied with Harper and Asher, but I was feeling inspired. The itch was back in the tips of my fingers, the drive back in my soul. “Anything good?”

  “A couple of promising ones.” He shrugged, averting his eyes. He wiped the excess paint off the wooden stick and set it on the lid.

  “You just missed your Mommy.” Evan teased him. Dare huffed and shook his head, rolling his eyes as he poured paint into the three waiting trays.

  “That’s not it. I didn’t realize how stifling it was in the city.” He replied, still not looking up from his task. Once the paint had been poured, he stood and wiped his hands on his Amiri jeans, grey paint coming off the tips of his fingers.

  He stared at the stain on his jeans for a minute, not seeming to really see it. Jarring back into motion, he grabbed a roller.

  “Yeah…” Evan’s usually joyful light-heartedness seemed to ebb for a moment, his brows drawing in just a little. “I do miss partying with you fellas and hanging out every day.”

  I glanced at Dare, arching a brow. I’d assumed they had spent any time I wasn’t with them together, since for the last nine years we’d done just that. Spent every waking moment hanging out, writing music, or touring or sitting on the same bus.

  It was hard to detect beneath his blond scruffier than usual beard, but Dare was blushing.

  “Does this have anything to do with your lady guest you had the other night?” I joked. Dare’s expression shuttered, and he frowned.

  “No.” he looked away, his jaw clicking with tension at the lie.

  “Speaking of mommies, Daddy…when will we get to meet this kid of yours?” Evan chirped, this time teasing me.

  “I was going to invite you guys to his birthday party, but I’m reconsidering.”

  “Aww! Come on. I love parties!” Evan exclaimed, his voice bordering on a whine.

  “It’s not that kind of party,” I replied as he moved the step ladder over to the other side of the window. He paused before climbing it, tossing me a scowling look over his shoulder.

  “It’s a kid’s party. I’ll be on my best behaviour.”

  “I doubt it.” I snorted, and Dare laughed in agreement. Pushing my roller through the paint tray, I arched a brow at the crestfallen expression on Evan’s face. “Obviously, you’re still coming. I told my kid he would get to meet his weird uncles.”

  “Aww, we’re uncles, Dare!” Evan chortled, his eyes animated as he moved over to the living room window and set it up. He climbed the ladder, a roll of tape in hand to edge the molding around the window.

  “Honorary—subject to revocation depending on how much you embarrass me.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Best behaviour. Message received.” Evan said, taping around the edge of the window. “Where’s the party?”

  “At the bookstore, next Saturday night. It starts at six-thirty.”

  Evan shivered, as if I’d listed a cemetery as the venue. He hadn’t picked up a book since high school, and he struggled the most in school, especially academically. Evan had ADHD, and on top of that—he was dyslexic. In the third grade, his mom put him in drum lessons, hoping it would boost his confidence and hold his attention—and it did. Evan discovered he was naturally talented at something, and that gave him the drive to want to be even better at it. His ceaseless energy finally had a place of focus.

  “Are your parents going?” Dare asked.

  I nodded, my jaw tightening. “Haven’t spoken to the old man since that fight yet, but I bet Mom won’t let him miss it—even if he’d prefer to…even if I’d prefer him to.”

  “Do you really not want him there?” Dare, the more serious of my two friends, sent a prying look my way, his arms still working the roller and applying paint in the centre of the wall.

  I looked away and shook my head, processing my thoughts. I wanted him to treat me like he treated Connor, but there were eons of this…pattern. My father was a stubborn old man that had never yielded to anything, because he’d never had to.

  “I want to give him a chance to be there,” I said, and we left it at that.

  We got to it, rollers working quickly to cover the burnt orange terra cotta walls. Wi
th the three of us working diligently, we were able to finish the first coat in the living room, dining room, and kitchen before the sun started to sink. Although it still needed a second coat, I could breathe a little easier with the affronted colour covered.

  My stomach rumbled—I was starving. A quick peek at my watch had revealed that it was nearly five o’clock. Before I could open my mouth to suggest ordering pizza for dinner, the front door opened.

  My brows furrowed together as I turned, heart hoping like hell it was a certain brunette that kept creeping into my thoughts with our little boy in tow, even though I knew she was running the signing event at the shop. Asher had gone to see Jack and Caroline—something that had been prearranged before I’d walked back into the picture. His piano was housed at Harper’s parent’s place, and he needed to practice before his lesson tomorrow.

  “Knock knock!” Mom called out, as she and Connor stepped into the foyer, both of their arms laden down with various bags. I crossed over, quickly taking some of them from my mother. Before I could grab a few off of Connor, Dare beat me to it. He reached out and took several bags from her hands. Connor smiled tightly and averted her eyes, looking past him to examine things.

  I headed into the kitchen, Dare on my heels, and set the bags down on the counter, before turning to rejoin them. They had moved from the foyer to the living room.

  “Oh, honey. It’s wonderful!” She exclaimed, her green eyes misting over as she looked around the opened concept area again. Glancing back at me, she smiled, her eyes twinkling. “The landscaping is beautiful. That view of the water! And you can really tell the previous owners loved to garden.” Mom had a thing for gardens—she had several at home that she lovingly tended to from May until October.

  I wasn’t a gardener, so I’d have to hire someone to look after them.

  “That’s what caught my attention first. I know the inside needs a lot of updating, but that’s okay. I can do most of it myself, but I’ll hire a contractor for the bigger things, like the studio renovation. I’m turning the guest house into a small recording studio so that I can work from home most of the time.”

  “You know a contractor.” My mother pointed out, arching a brow. Dad. I’d worked on one of his crews in every summer between ages fourteen and seventeen. It’s how I’d saved up for my first Jeep, and my first electric guitar.

  “He won’t take my money.” He’d insist on doing it free, and then I’d feel obligated to try and help because I knew, that with him, nothing was ever really free. That would also mean more time spent in each other’s company. Right now, I didn’t want to see him. I didn’t want to waste a single moment stressing about what he thought or anticipating what was going to piss him off next. I just wanted to let myself be happy, finally.

  I really couldn’t spare any time to help, which is why I’d wanted to hire someone in the first place. I had enough things in my life needing my focus. Tai had been blowing up my phone with text messages all day, badgering me about setting up some kind of interview now that photos had started circulating. I got a headache just thinking about it, but I knew it would all be worth it in the end.

  “Ask him. I’m sure he’d love to help.” Mom insisted.

  “Dad usually keeps his schedule pretty full, Mom, but I’ll think about it. What’s in all the bags?” I asked, distracting her. My attention was mostly on the brown paper bag in her hand, and the enticing smell coming from it that made my stomach rumble.

  “We picked up a few things. Necessities mostly, and some items for the house. I hope that’s okay.” Mom explained, exchanging a look of conspiracy with Connor as she led us back into the kitchen. A quick peek inside one bag revealed a can of coffee, sugar, and cream. The other bag held a new coffee machine, not top of the line, but not cheap either. Cleaning products were in the fourth bag, and the rest were full of groceries.

  “Mom, you didn’t have to do this.”

  “I wanted to. It’s something I planned on doing for all my children,” she assured me. “Are you boys hungry? We brought dinner.” She deflected, holding up the two brown paper bags she’d refused to give up before setting them down on the island countertop.

  My little sister—dressed in a pair of jean overalls with old paint splatters on them from her summers volunteering at habitat for humanity—paused at the counter, placing her hands on the surface as she examined the dated pine kitchen.

  The kitchen hadn’t been renovated since the late nineties, but everything was functional and updating it wasn’t high on my to-do list. I envisioned doing those kinds of renovations with Harper’s input, once she and Asher were living here, too.

  Evan practically skipped up to the counter, grabbing one of the huge pitas, his brown eyes bugging with appreciation. He planted an over-exuberant kiss on my mother’s cheek and attempted to get Connor next, but she swiftly darted away. Unbothered by her reaction, Evan tore open the wrapper and moaned. “You ladies are a godsend.” He said, chomping down.

  Mom held out one of the pitas, and I stepped forward to take it, opening the foil wrapper and biting off the end of it. Chewing, I turned to see what was taking Dare so long.

  He stood on the other side of the island, hands in his pockets, eyes anywhere but me. Jaw clenched, and his brows furrowed. Something was eating him.

  “Can I have a tour first?” Connor interjected, her eyes sliding to Dare briefly before shooting back to me. “Mom and I ate in the car, and I can’t wait to look upstairs.”

  I was mid-chew of my second bite—just as large as the first. I nodded as I swallowed, but before I could say go ahead, Dare spoke up. “I can show her around quick.”

  Connor frowned. “I can show myself around, thanks.” Her fire gave us all pause, and she cooled her expression. “I just mean you can eat, Dare. I’ll have a look myself.”

  He nodded slowly, his brows tugging tighter together, detecting her irritation, but not surprised by it. He shrugged. “Suit yourself.” Connor arched her brows and pursed her lips before she took off upstairs. “I need a smoke.” Dare clipped, turning and heading for the door.

  “Oh! I’m coming, too.” Evan called out, carefully setting his nearly fully consumed pita down on the counter. “I’ll be back for you, my love,” he whispered to it, touching it reverently before darting out of the house.

  “What just happened?” I asked, my stare moving from the stairwell to the closing door with confusion.

  “She’s been in a mood today, I’m afraid. Boyfriend trouble, I suspect.”

  “Connor doesn’t have a boyfriend,” I scoffed. I would have known—she would have said something. She’d dated before, and she’d even brought a guy around once, but she was single right now, and had been since her last boyfriend cheated on her. She’d told me she had decided to focus on school.

  All of her posts on social media featured artsy portraits, the occasional selfie, places she’d been to, and her college friends. I suppose it was possible that she was dating one of them, but it wasn’t like Connor to hide it from me.

  Mom just arched an auburn eyebrow, like she knew something I didn’t. “Don’t give me that look. I know my daughter. She’s involved with someone.”

  “Who? And why’s she upset? Whose ass do I have to kick?”

  “I don’t know the answers to those questions, but probably someone at the university. And you’ll be kicking nobody’s ass.” She narrowed her eyes at me in warning as she moved past me to pick up a few of the bags. “Now, where’s the powder room?”

  “Down the hall to your left,” I instructed. “I’m going to go check on Connor.”

  I put my pita down and jogged up the stairs, catching my sister in the hallway.

  “This house is amazing, Cal!” She exclaimed when she saw me, her eyes bright with excitement. “I’m so happy for you and so glad you’re moving back home.” She added, wrapping her arms around me in a hug.

  “Thanks, little sis. Now, do you wanna tell me why you’re so cranky?”

  Con
nor stiffened in my arms and stepped back, a false smile in place. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be. I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night, kept stressing about my placement.”

  “Still haven’t heard back?” I frowned.

  “Yeah, I’m sure I will soon. But, anyway…I don’t want to talk about it right now. It just stresses me out.”

  “Mom thinks its boy trouble,” I commented. Connor’s smile froze, and she laughed uncomfortably.

  “It’s not.” She deadpanned, glancing past me to watch Mom climb the stairs. I didn’t know if I believed her, but I let it go.

  “Okay, later then,” I said, perplexed by her skittishness. But our mother had joined us in the hallway, and Connor’s smile was suddenly bright and unaffected.

  “Mom, you’re going to love the size of these bedrooms—even the smallest one is big! And the closets.”

  I took them on a tour, showing them the bedrooms upstairs. The master bedroom was on the west side of the house, overlooking the water. The two smaller guest rooms were beside it, and the full bathroom across the hall. Finally…we came to what was going to be Asher’s bedroom.

  This bedroom was the second largest on the west side of the house. Its large bay window overlooked the driveway and wooded area one acre from the road. It was in there the three of us stopped.

  “Oh! I’ll be right back! I forgot something in the car.” Connor exclaimed before darting back down the hall and stairs, leaving Mom and me alone. Mom paused to inspect the closet space before walking to the bay window and glancing out over the yard.

  “So? What do you think?”

  “It’s beautiful, Calum. I love the property, too. It’s a great place to raise a family.”

  I nodded; it was the main reason why this house had won me over. The exterior was beautifully done; the wrap around porch was well constructed, and the landscaping surrounding the house was breathtaking. The inside needed a little modernizing, but the bones were good.