AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What’s on your mind?” I ask as I get to my feet.
“Hm. I was just thinking about the fact that it was light out when you got here, and now it is very dark out.”
“No moon, either. That’s why the stars were so bright.”
I stop petting the pups. Zoey and Mr. Brown amble toward the living room where Gwen set out a bowl of water for them. The slurping, lapping sounds bounce off the unfinished walls. A draft creeps through the windows.
I wonder if Gwen’s cold. Is that why she’s unhappy? Or is it something about how dark it is outside?
Her large, beautiful eyes find mine. “I was thinking about how valuable your time is… how I shouldn’t have kept you so long.”
She weaves her hand through her hair, pulling it back out of her face. “It’s been sort of overwhelming working on this place, but I don’t want you to get the idea that you have to rescue me or something. I mean, Clay hasn’t been able to do as much as we thought he would because of his knee…”
She gets that far-off look again but then shakes her head. “It’s okay, though. We’ll figure it out. Besides, his knee will get better—if it’s really hurt at all. And he’ll try the saw again. That time he messed up with it freaked him out because obviously. I mean, it’s a power saw. But it’s probably like riding a horse. He’ll get back on the horse, or I will, and?—”
“Hold up. You mean you’ll use the saw? Don’t use one unless you know how.”
“I can watch videos online and learn. That’s what you did.”
“Yes, but this is flooring.” The protective urge floods me. “Promise me you will not go rogue and use a power saw after watching some yahoo on the internet give you the quick tips. That will not serve you. Hey, the hardware store on Main gives classes every Saturday morning on the basics of home maintenance. They have a class on saws coming up. You could take it.”
“Yikes,” she says. “My Saturdays are precious because they’re a rare day to do everything I’ve been putting off all week: exercise, laundry, visits with family and friends. And I doubt Clay would put in the effort…”
She sighs. “But, yeah… maybe… one day. When I’m a little less busy. For now, I just really want you to know that I am not a damsel in distress. This is my project, and I can handle it. I hate that this ate up your whole night. Maybe you should bill me.”
“Baby—” The word slips out. “Don’t bill me. Don’t worry about my time. And definitely don’t use a power saw without learning from someone how to use it safely, first. No matter how many videos you watch online. That sounds like a good way to lose a finger, and I like your hands the way they are.”
Baby.
I called her baby.
I don’t know if we’re there yet—at that place in a relationship when names like that are okay.
But right now, I can’t help it.
Talking about her using a dangerous saw makes me feel protective of her in a way I never anticipated. In a way I’m not quite ready for.
I want her to accept my help.
I want her to feel worthy of having someone spend six hours doing something nice for her because she deserves it. But I see by the down-turn of her lip that she’s full of doubt right now.
“Clay says he doesn’t know how to use tools because our dad wasn’t around,” she says. “Mom wasn’t into power tools, you know? She is one strong woman, believe me, but her strengths come out in other ways. Not carpentry. When my grandma passed away and left inheritance money to me and Clay, I thought this would be such a great way to spend it. I thought we could learn about carpentry stuff together. That isn’t the way it’s gone, though. It’s a lot harder than I thought it’d be, getting all the renovations done. But I can hire contractors. I sent a guy a message about this floor…? He said it would cost me about twelve-hundred, to have him and his guys come in and lay it in. So if you want?—”
“Don’t say anything about a bill again.”
“But I could pay you. I’d just use that estimate… but make the check out to you.”
“I did this because I wanted to. It has nothing to do with money.” I step closer to her.
She turns to face me and tilts her chin.
She looks up into my eyes. “But—but you’re paying me for the dogs and extra hourly, and now…”
She sighs and pulls her hands out of her back pockets. She tugs at the edges of her cardigan and pulls the sides so they overlap over her chest.
I wrap my arms around her. “Hey—really. This has nothing to do with money. This is me, helping you out because it was fun to hang out. If you try to pay me, I’m gonna feel offended. I helped Leo with his floors. You can bet he didn’t try to give me money for it.”
“But Leo’s one of your best friends. You and me? We’re not friends.”
