“Nothing. You care about this project. Someone else might have thrown money at it or quit when things got difficult, but you are relentless. In a good way.” She adds that last sentence with a small laugh.
“Of course I care.” I finish securing the hook and climb down. We’re close. Too close. “This town is—it’s important to me.”
“Because of Leo?”
“Because of a lot of things.” I don't saybecause of you, but it hangs in the air between us, anyway.
She steps back, breaking whatever spell was forming. “We should probably finish before they get back.”
“Right. Yeah.”
We work in silence for the next twenty minutes, finishing the lights and moving on to arranging the folding tables Neve wanted for food. It's when we're both reaching for the same table leg that our hands collide.
“Sorry—”
“I’ve got it?—”
We both pull back, then laugh at the absurdity of the moment.
“We're ridiculous,” she says, shaking her head.
“Completely.” I grab my end of the table, and we carry it to its spot on the lawn. “But at least we're coordinated.”
“Professionally coordinated,” she corrects, but there's a smile playing at her lips.
“The most professional.” I can’t help grinning back.
A car horn has us both snapping our heads toward the front of the house.
“They’re back,” she says, already moving toward the driveway, and I follow.
We round the corner as Leo and Neve are getting out of Neve’s car, both loaded down with bags.
“You’re both here,” Neve calls out cheerfully. “And you’ve already started setting up. You two are the best.” She dumps her bags on Leo and hurries over to the backyard to inspect our work. “The lights look amazing. And you got the tables out. Perfect,” she shouts to us.
Leo grins at me over his armful of shopping bags. “Happy birthday to me, I guess.”
“Your woman is a handful, sir,” Billie says, grabbing bags from him as they both chuckle. “What else needs doing, boss?”She turns her attention to her best friend, who is already draping a tablecloth over the folding table.
Where did that even come from?
“Not much. Darce, you’re still okay to handle the grill, right?” Neve asks as she removes bags of chips from the shopping bags.
“Yep,” I confirm. “All good.”
“Oh, and, Bills, I hope you don’t mind, but I invited someone I think you’d like to the party.” Neve is on a roll, isn’t she?
I watch Beth’s face carefully. Her smile doesn’t falter, but her grip on the shopping bag she’s lifting tightens.
“Oh?”
“Her name is Kennedy. She’s a carpenter, builds mostly outdoor kitchens. Really talented, super funny, total sweetheart.” Neve is practically bouncing with excitement. “I thought you two might hit it off. And if not, well, she’s a good person to know, anyway.”
As much as I appreciate her no-pressure approach with that last bit, my world narrows to a pinpoint.
Carpenter. Funny. Sweetheart. Hit it off.
I turn away sharply, focusing intently on the cooler that suddenly needs my full attention. Loading drinks into ice. Very important work. Definitely not listening to whatever Billie’s response to Neve’s description is.
