He stood there a second, blinked a while, then went back out to his truck and called Rog. He had no idea what to do, or whether he needed to go or what.
Rog picked up immediately. “Just get out of your truck and go inside, man. You’ve got this.”
How did hedothat? “What am I supposed to do? He just left. Is there a manual?”
“He’s a rich widower. What do you need to know? He’s sad and lonely and probably hungry. Bring him tea, put his feet up, see if there’s a banister that needs fixing, and make him some comfort food for dinner. Your mac and cheese or something. You know, beyou.”
“Okay. I just…it was like he wasn’t expecting me. Am I supposed to try to talk to him or no?” He’d just expected questions or a manual or something.
“Ryder. He doesn’t know you, and you don’t know him. You’re not going to walk in there and be all best buddies. It’s been five minutes. Just play it by ear. And don’t forget, man, this is a job. You’re getting paid. You don’t have to be friends; you just have to make him happy enough that he wants to keep paying you.”
“Okay.” He didn’t want to be friends. He just wanted to know whether or not to speak. He’d just not.
And Rog could fuck right off too.
He hung up without another word, grabbed his good shirts and his duffel bag, and shoved his phone in his pocket.
He went back inside, shut the door, and went to try to find a room “down there on the first floor” that looked as if it was for whatever he was.
Three meals and two snacks a day. Fix whatever he found that needed fixing. Stay in his room and read a lot. No talking.
He could do this.
He just needed to charge his earbuds.
His room was fancy. It had a king bed and its own bathroom with a big tub and a separate shower. There was a giant TV over the dresser with a nice sound bar and a comfy-looking chair and end table. The windows didn’t look directly out over the lake, but he could see it and the woods were all green and lush.
He heard Charles clear his throat down the hall. “Sorry to bother you as you’re just settling in, but do you plan to—is making dinner part of your job description, or do I need to arrange that for us?”
“Assuming you don’t want anything involving live seafood or bugs, I’m happy to make you supper.” He knew how to cook. “When would you like to eat, sir?”
He thought he heard a low chuckle and then Charles called back, “Seven, I guess?”
“I’ll get on it.” Mac and cheese with ham, if there was any.
He put his bag on the floor of the closet and put his good shirts on the rod.
Ryder
This isn’t good. Also, blocking Rog on my phone.
Roper
So leave. Is it creepy
He nodded, even though Roper couldn’t see him.
Ryder
Just real quiet. No instructions. I guess I’ll feed him and see what all needs fixin
Roper
I miss u 2
Ryder
Yeah