“Uh, hi. What the heck are you two doing?”
Avery hands Stephen the drill, and climbs off of him. “We’re just fixing a couple of things around the house.”
I arch a brow at Stephen, who is uncharacteristically silent. “And why are we doing that?”
Stephen hikes a shoulder, trying to make himself busy so that he doesn’t have to look me in the eye. “I noticed there were a few things on your to-do list.”
“Oh, you just happened to notice it?” I widen my eyes as I look at Avery, who won’t look at me either. “Wonder how that happened.”
Thick as thieves, these two.
Stephen’s eyes finally meet mine as he reaches out and brushes my hair behind my ear. “I’m teaching Avery some important skills.”
Avery gestures to his handiwork. “I just put that whole thing up by myself!”
My chest warms with so much love. “It looks great. I’m so proud of you.”
Avery beams. “Stephen’s going to teach me how to clean the gutters, and then we’re going to repaint my bedroom.”
I hold up my hands. “Whoa, hold on. You’re redoing your bedroom?”
He nods, chewing the inside of his cheek. “If that’s okay with you.”
I glance between him and Stephen, and nod. “Sure. What color are you thinking?”
“Not sure yet. Could we go to the store and look at some swatches?”
Stephen nudges him with his elbow. “Tell her your other idea.”
“I’d like to paint a mural on one of the walls.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “I think that’s a great idea. I’d love to see what you come up with.”
“Really?” His cheeks push up into his eyes with his wide smile. “I’ve been sketching some ideas.”
Having Stephen and Chance around the house has been so good for the kids. I haven’t seen Avery this full of life. I need to keep putting him in situations that boost his confidence, and give him a sense of control.
“It’s your room,” I say. “You should have a say over what it looks like.”
He lunges forward and slams into me, squeezing me hard with a hug. “Thank you, Aunt Presley.”
My eyes flick up to Stephen as I hold my precious nephew in my arms.Thank you, I mouth.
He shoots me a wink.
God, this man is so getting laid later.
“What areyou smiling about over there?”
My cheeks push up even further as I sneak a picture of Chance. “Oh, nothing.”
His head whips around as he shoots me a glare, but Alyssa tugs on his hand. “Stop moving. You’re going to make me smudge your nails.”
“Sorry,” he whispers. “It’s your aunt’s fault.”
She giggles. “I’m actually surprised at how good of a job you did with my nails.”
“Yeah, if hockey doesn’t work out for you, you can open a nail salon.” Stephen’s shoulders shake with his silent laughter as he pokes fun at Chance.
