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It didn’t matter what we thought. She was clearly as happy as Wes was about their new home-to-be. She jogged over to join him, and they turned to face the group.
“Welcome to our housewarming party!” she exclaimed with a large smile. Happiness beamed from her. Her skin glowed and her eyes shone, even in the fading light.
My jaw dropped, bemusement stalling my footsteps. When I’d mentioned they could buy this place, I’d been kidding. But I had to admit, I’d never seen her look this happy before.
Beside me, Tyler chuckled lightly, shaking his head. “They’re going to spend the rest of their lives making this place livable.”
I agreed, but, if this was something they wanted to do, then I was happy for them. “Different strokes for different folks,” I murmured. Even if they were taking on the biggest restoration in the last century.
Tyler kicked at a loose floorboard as he made his way up the front steps. “Twenty bucks says Wes watched one season of a renovation show and thought, ‘Yeah, I could do that.’”
Wes grinned, having overheard him. “It was two seasons.”
I broke out in laughter, joining them on the porch. The verandah hung above us, and I wondered how it was still standing. Rotted out beams barely held the balcony above us in place, and I imagined it would fall down given the right pressure on it from above. Tearing my gaze away from the disaster waiting to happen, I turned my attention back to Wes and Skye. “Congratulations guys, I’m so happy for you,” I said, giving each of them a hug.
Tyler playfully shoved Wes in the arm. “Got your work cut out for you. How old is this place exactly?”
“Old,” stated Morgan with a grin. She turned to Wes, a cheeky look in her dark brown eyes. “Your birthday presents just got easier. Power tools for the win.”
Tyler laughed loudly, and he nodded in agreement. “This is a huge project. I hope you guys have a solid plan.”
Wes wrapped his arm around Skye’s middle. “We do. Reid’s given us some advice about where to start. He’s been a huge help. Speaking of, him and Colt shouldn’t be too far behind you guys.”
Great. So much for avoiding him.
Wes headed to the cooler he had set down in what I guessed used to be the kitchen, if the remaining carcass of drawers were anything to go buy. Lifting the lid, he motioned inside. “Drink?”
Abso-freaking-lutely.
If I was to get through the evening, I would certainly need liquor. “Please,” I said on a relieved breath. I made my way over to him, and selected a vodka soda. I flipped off the lid and took a sip. The bite of lemon spread over my taste buds; it tasted so summery; drinking it felt all wrong. But it was alcohol, and if Reid was going to arrive at this housewarming party, I needed all the liquid courage I could get to make it through.
We made our way further inside where Wes had set up what looked to be once the living room with an offcut of decidedly old carpet covering much of the floor. A few bean bags sat off to one side, and a lime green blow-up couch. I cracked up at the sight of it. It looked so out of place in a manor that’s color palette screamed ‘deceased.’
“Do you mind holding this?” Wes tucked a bedsheet under my arm and I eyed him with curiosity.
“Please tell me you’re not planning on sleeping here?” I asked worriedly. Surely, they would freeze.
He shook his head. “Hell no. Not yet, anyway.” Moving into the living room, he motioned for me to follow behind him. He picked up a hammer and some nails enroute.
Wes got Tyler’s attention. “Lend me a knee,” he said, giving him ‘the nod.’
What the hell was he doing?
Tyler shook his head. “You’re mad, you know that?” Chuckling, he walked toward him, lowering to the ground.
Wes stepped onto Tyler’s bent knee, his hand clutching the top of Tyler’s head. “Hold steady,” he warned him.
Tyler’s face twisted with discomfort. “Easy on the hair!”
Wes shot him a cocky look, his other foot lifting to rest on the window’s ledge. “Scar,” he said, nodding to the linen under my arm.
“Are we turning this into a toga party or something?” I questioned, not sure what he had planned with the linen.
Wes flicked his hand between us. “Pass it up.”
I did as he asked, surprised when he nailed the bed sheet to the top of the window, letting the rest fall like a curtain.
“I’m impressed,” I said honestly, grinning at his very simple, yet great, idea.
