Page 42 of The Other Room

Silence settled over us, the waves lapping at the shore the only sounds surrounding us. Matt looked back at his driftwood coffee table base.

“You really think I could make a business out of being a handy man and making these for people?”

Nodding enthusiastically, I blew out a sigh. “Yes. Seriously. So much yes.”

He rubbed his chin for a moment, and then turned to me, eyes lit up like the sun. “Matt’s Manly Masterpieces!”

“What?” I snorted.

“The name of my business!”

“Oh, God no! Terrible!” I burst into laughter.

“Terrible?”

“So terrible. Keep trying.”

“Damn it. Thought I had it.” His laugh merged with mine.

“We’ll think of the right name.”

His laughter petered off, and a shy look softened his face. “Do you... do you want to get a drink together after work? I feel like I’ve barely seen you in days.”

“Yeah. That sounds good. I should be done by nine.”

“Okay.” He smiled, and I tried to put a halt to the cartwheels starting up in my stomach again.

Settle down, Jo. It’s just friend drinks, not a date.

“Okay.” I returned the smile and then turned back toward the house. “I need to get some water. Want anything?”

“Nah, I’ve got water out here, but thanks. Back to work for this guy. I’ve got a new business to start and I need some products to display!”

“Don’t hurt yourself, Bob Villa.”

“Shut it. I could run circles around Bob Villa.”

“Just don’t lop off a finger. I’ve got errands to run today, and I’ll hit the grocery store and get us some supplies. Text me a list. You’ve certainly earned whatever the hell you want after all of this work you’ve done.” I waved a hand at my roof.

“Captain Crunch!” he shouted after me. “And Doritos! And maybe some ice cream!”

“How the hell are you not five hundred pounds?” I shouted back as I made my way up the stairs.

“And bacon!”

“I’d never forget the bacon. Just text me the damn list!”

With one last wave I went back into the cabin, pressing my back against the wall once I’d made it safely out of his sight line.

Drinks with Matt tonight. No big deal. We’d done this hundreds of times. But everything felt different now after what I’d thought was an almost kiss. What I’d thought was maybe the start of something new. But seeing the nonchalant way he acted around me today only drilled home the fact that my feelings remained one-sided. That kiss on the court held all my desires, and none of his.

Even though the thought of spending an evening at his side seemed like torture at the moment, I knew if I was going to get past this again, I had to rip it off like a band-aid. Force myself to stay at his side until the feelings subsided and my brain accepted what I’d always known.

Just friends.

CHAPTER TEN

MATT