Love Under Construction

18. Change is Good

Spencer's POV

"Bro, I know you have a little attitude or whatever, but do you mind telling me what the fuck you're doing back here when you're supposed to be living out your acting dreams downtown?" Shawn asks as he hands me the nail gun.

"Didn't I tell you not to ask," I question and he shrugs.

"Yeah, but you know I don't care about that! So tell me what's up?"

"Yesterday, I'm on a date. I'm having the time of my life with a girl I think the world of—- and then I get a call from my Pops."

"Damn, when y'all get cool again?" Shawn asks, knowing my father and I have a strained relationship.

"Exactly," I mumble. "But I wasn't getting much of a response from my mom and sister these days. So I reached out to him to see if I should be worried. And he actually hit me back."

"Wait, so what's going on with them? Are they alright?"

"No man, everything is bad." I admit as tears start to fall. "My mom and dad's divorce recently became official. I mean, they've been split for a while, but a part of me knows my mom hasn't been whole without him."

"Is that why she's not answering you?" He asks.

"Apparently, she hasn't been managing her diabetes because of the divorce, which caused her to pass out at work!"

"Shit!" Shawn says sadly.

"She damaged some ligaments in her leg and suffered a concussion that the doctor is still monitoring." I explain. "They thought it was best if I didn't know. Especially since my mom wants me to focus on my career."

"That's tough!" He mumbles. "But that still doesn't explain why you're here at the construction site."

"I need the quick money to go hom—," I begin to say and he cuts me off.

"—home? Do you not realize you have a movie that starts filming in two days? I heard the man say it himself!"

"Do you not realize my mom needs me? Her health is failing. I'm supposed to be there for her!"

"I get that," he tells me sincerely. "But what does this mean for the movie?"

"I really don't know," I sadly admit. "I reached out to Billy this morning. But he hasn't called me back."

"You think he's going to wait for you?"

I sigh. "I don't know. Everything I know about him is that he's about his business. That's how he lost his own damn family."

"Ding—ding—ding! You ain't got no worries, my brother!"

"Why not?" I ask curiously.

"You're fucking his daughter!" He says quietly before looking over at Colson's mansion. "And you're bold as hell for being back at her ex's house, by the way."

"No, I'm just desperate as hell!" I answer as I only think about half of what he said.

Truthfully, I didn't tell Olivia what my father said last night because I wanted everything to be perfect for our first date. And crying over my family problems would've been the opposite of that.

"Okay, well, at least ask Olivia to put a good word in with her dad for you." Shawn suggest.

I considered asking her this morning before I left a message with her father, but I don't want to get her involved. Maybe, if I didn't already know the strained relationship she has with him, I would ask her to talk to him for me. But knowing it, means I understand she should only be focused on rebuilding their relationship.