Invisible

Chapter 6 Tripping Up

"Al, would you knock it off?" I laugh and sputter as he tosses another shovel full of dirt over his shoulder. The wind picks it up and the dry grit keeps blowing in my face.

"Sorry, I didn't realize." He stops and shifts so he pitches it in another direction.

"The dirt becomes you!" Sam calls from the truck.

"Shut up and get over here." Al retorts. Sam walks over, he's only been married for a month but Tiffany's already got him looking more trim. "Think Tori's enjoying her free reign up by the house?" Al jokes.

"Let's just say I'll take down trees any day rather than be under her thumb." I whack at a branch with my own shovel. We've been taking out all of the dead trees up and down the driveway, and it looks like we might finish today.

A car turns onto the road and a person waves at us from the driver's seat. I've seen the car come and go over the last week that we've been working on this job. I know it's Hunter and it's been easy enough to stay away from him.

Bill has 3 teams working in shifts on this job and he decided to let Tori run one of the teams. I am so grateful he left my team alone, we work just fine as is. She seems to like sticking close to the house, which is why I am so glad to be working on the driveway, as far away as I can get.

"Timber!" I call as the last tree falls. Then I get to work hacking at the roots.

"We need to check in, why don't you finish up here and Al and I will go talk to Tori." Sam offers.

I nod and conserve my energy for my work. I barely look up as they drive out of the ditch and head for the house. I lean back for a second to catch my breath. I take off my baseball cap and wipe the sweat off of my brow with my arm.

The dirt ans sweat have made me rather muddy and I take out a towel to clean off my face. I reach for a water bottle. I hear an engine and look up, it's too soon for Al and Sam to be coming back.

Nope, it's Hunter. I wave, thinking he'll drive right by but he slows down. I start to panic, he turns off the car and gets out.

"Hi Leah!"

"Hello."

"My mom thought you guys might like some of these." He holds out a bag full of cookies.

I look down at my hands and back up at him. "Thanks, uh... you can leave them on the ground I guess."

He places them near Sam's shovel. "So how have you been?"

"Fine... and yourself?" I continue to work, it keeps me from looking at him.

"Pretty good. You guys do nice work."

I chuckle a little. "How can you tell? We've just about torn everything up. We haven't gotten to the 'nice' part yet."

"Well I'm sure when you finish it'll look fantastic!"

"Thanks." I have nothing else to say. An awkward silence hangs in the air.

Now I hear the hum of the approaching work truck. I am thankful, the heat has hidden my blush, and keeping my hands moving covers up how badly they are shaking.

"Well, I'd better get going, but um... it was nice seeing you again." He turns to go.

"Hey Hunter!" I suddenly don't want him to leave, I can tell he feels uncomfortable.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks." I manage to find a smile for him.

He smiles back as he gets into his car. I watch as he drives away and the truck pulls up. Sam gives me a goofy smile, his gaze moves between me and the car that travels out of sight.