Page 13 of Only Be Mine

“And?”

“It’s winning.”

I burst out laughing. Real, unguarded laughter, and he laughed too, shaking his head like he was embarrassed and relieved all at once.

“Come help me?” he asked quietly.

I opened my mouth and closed it. “Today?” I asked carefully.

His eyes widened. “No-no. Not like that. I just… sometime. If you want. I could really use another brain.”

I studied him. The way he’d asked, then immediately backtracked. The way he was putting the ball in my court, without pretending he didn’t care.

The smart thing would’ve been to say no.

The me thing?

“I mean,” I said slowly, “I am already out. And my shoe is only holding together because of industrial-strength nail glue.”

Hope flickered across his face - quick and contained. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” I smiled despite myself. “Let’s go lose to furniture.”

His laugh was immediate. “Deal.”

Chapter 5

Cate

November 1 - Twelve Years Ago

John’s place was exactly what I expected, and not at all what I expected at the same time.

Clean, but lived in. Neutral walls, scattered blueprints on the kitchen counter, a half-drunk mug of coffee gone cold. His living room was dominated by one thing…

The dresser.

Or what wanted to be a dresser.

Wooden panels lay stacked against the wall. Drawers sat in various states of optimism. Screws and dowels were spread across the floor like casualties.

I blinked. “You weren’t exaggerating.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I may have underestimated it.”

Baby trotted in behind us, tail wagging like this was the best thing that had ever happened to her.

“Okay,” I said, rolling up my sleeves. “Show me the instructions.”

He handed me the booklet.

I stared.

Then I laughed.

“Oh no,” I said. “These are bad. Really, really bad….”

“They are lies,” he agreed solemnly.