She stopped walking and spun to face him. “It’s principle.”
He called her bluff. “Principle is just a fancy word for pride.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I think we both know I’m far from fancy.”
This comment got a stirring inside him, and he chuckled. It was a thrill quite different than what their usual banter caused. And he had to admit, he didn’t hate it.
A devious smile slid onto her lips and his chest expanded enough for him to sigh. Things for her might’ve been crap right now, but the two of them—their friendship—was fine. They were still Davis and Kelsey.
The earlier tension in his shoulders released. “As always, let’s agree to disagree.”
“Fine.” She gazed around the room while she stepped toward the mantle he’d built. She ran her hand along the old barn wood he’d installed to stick out past the rest of the fireplace.
He couldn’t help but track her eyes, to try and read them, to wonder what she saw and felt as she ran her fingers over the wood. Her opinion had always meant so much to him. Even more so since he and Garrett had signed the contract with HGTV. Kelsey would give it to him straight up. If he’d done shit work, she’d let him know.
“This is beautiful,” she said, her fingertips still grazing the wood.
He rubbed the back of his neck, the compliment feeling different than usual, and he felt his cheeks warm. “Thanks.”
“Where’d the wood come from?”
“The Pattersons' old barn.”
She gazed at him over her outstretched arm, her fingers stilling their movement. “And Garrett was okay with that?”
“It was his idea.”
“So sad. All that property just sold back to the bank. The barns torn down. The animals sold…Lissa moving away.”
He nodded, his throat thickening. She didn’t have to go into detail. Mentioning Lissa was enough. They rarely talked about his ex. In all honesty, there wasn’t much to say.
When the only woman Garrett had ever loved enough to commit to, died along with her parents in a helicopter crash in Hawaii last year, it was more than sad. It was infuriating. It was cruel. It had completely wrecked Garrett.
And in turn, he supposed he’d been wrecked too. Emma’s twin sister, Lissa, had been too distraught to stay. Or to keep her parents’ farm. She sold everything as fast as possible. In what felt like a blink of an eye, he’d too lost the only woman he’d ever loved. Or at least loved enough, Davis thought they had a future together.
Losing Emma Patterson turned Garrett into a bigger player than he’d been before. Now, he was out of control. He’d dated and slept with so many women, Davis had lost count. That had been the main reason Davis had agreed to the contract for the show with HGTV.
Garrett had been the strong one when their dad ended up being a complete flake.
This was Davis’s chance to return the favor.
The front door opened again, both of their attention swinging in the direction just as Garrett stepped inside the house, shifting a box in his arms to a hip. Cooper only glanced at him momentarily, too familiar with Garrett and his spontaneity. An instant chill entered with him, and Davis felt the distance between him and Kelsey immediately.
Garrett took one look at Kelsey and a big, goofy grin spread on his lips.
If she didn’t have three kids, orbaggageas Garrett would call them, he’d probably pursue her.
“Kelsey,” Garrett said, tipping an imaginary hat.
“Hey, slacker. Nice of you to finally show up,” she muttered.
“Hey,” he replied, incredulous. “Somebody’s gotta do the shopping. You and I both know, this guy isn’t gonna do it.” He nudged his chin in Davis’s direction.
“True,” she agreed.
Davis could fake being insulted but what would be the point? It was true. He hated shopping and he hated interior designing. That was Garrett’s expertise.
“I come bearing gifts.” Garrett held out the box.
