Page 8 of Let Me Show You

Nervously, I knock on the cracked wood, then wait as a million thoughts run through my mind.

Has time been good to her?

Does Owen look like Gabe?

Will she forgive me?

I hear footsteps, and when the door opens, I nearly lose my breath when I see Katie for the first time in a decade.

She’s even more stunning than I remembered. Her blond hair is pulled back in a messy ponytail, and dust and dry paint cover her shirt.

“Ka—”

Before I can even finish saying her name, she steps back and slams the door in my face.

I deserved that.

My head and heart drop.

When I get back to the SUV, everyone gives me the most pitiful looks.

“Yeah, she hates me.”

Tyler looks at me. “Give her time.”

I scrunch my nose. “More time? How much more time should I give her?”

“Give her space,” Gemma clarifies as Tyler backs out of the driveway. “She’ll come around.”

I blow out a frustrated breath. Fuck, I hope so.

“Or here’s an idea…” Tyler begins. “She needs help on the new house, and Noah just so happens to be pretty good at fixing shit.”

I scoff. “Katie will never hire me.”

“She works during the day. She can’t say no if she doesn’t know…” Tyler grins through the mirror.

“Noooo…” Gemma shakes her head. “She’ll kill you for sure.”

“Actually, that’s not a horrible idea,” Dad blurts.

“She might think it’s romantic,” Belinda adds.

I chuckle at their encouragement.

Gemma shakes her head. “Absolutely not. She wants to do it all herself.”

“Well, if she won’t give me a chance to talk, then I’ll show her how sorry I am instead,” I decide. “Start fixin’ things little by little until she notices. She won’t be able to slam the door when I’m already inside the house.”

“This is seriously a bad idea. How’re y’all agreeing with this?” Gemma glances around, furrowing her brows at our dad and Belinda.

“I’ve pushed her away long enough, Gem. Let me do this,” I beg. “I have to win her friendship back.”

“Alright, on one condition…” Gemma’s shoulders slump as she blows out a breath. “She must never know I knew about this plan. Got it?”

I smile victoriously. “Deal.”

Gemma rolls her eyes, then repositions herself in her seat. Though I know it’s a crazy plan, it feels good to have my family’s support. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove to Katie how sorry I am and that I’m no longer pushing her away.