AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I love you so much,” Rachel said with a smile.
“Why?” I frowned. “Because I like porn?”
“No, because I do. Does Gideon just walk into your bedroom without knocking?”
“No. Never.”
“Then there you go.”
“You don’t know me at all. That doesn’t help.”
She laughed. “Okay, well, then no, I don’t think it’s rude. Just tell him you need a couple of hours to yourself, where you know he won’t come home. Gideon’s a cool guy. He’ll respect that.”
He would. I’d just already freaked out about the fruit, and I didn’t want him to get sick of me. “Maybe I’ll talk to him. For now, I need a distraction. Put on your goggles and hard hat.”
“We’re carrying wood. I don’t need them.”
“Safety first! No hard hat and goggles, no work.”
“I don’t love you anymore.”
“I like you a lot. You’re one of my first friends, but it’s too early to love me anyway. I’m comfortable with the fact that it will come with time.”
“Aw, Milo. I love you again. I’m sorry people suck. I’m happy to be your friend.”
I smiled. “I’m happy to be your friend too…but Gideon is going to be my best friend, I think. I hope, at least. Is that okay? Don’t tell him I told you.”
I froze when she pulled me into a hug because…why? I didn’t know what I did to prompt it, so I just stood there with my arms plastered to my sides. “Yes, that’s fine. I absolutely approve of anything Milo and Gideon related.”
“Perfect. I’m killin’ this friend thing. That went really smoothly.”
She laughed. “You totally are.”
“Hard hat and goggles.”
“Ugh. I changed my mind.” But she put them on, and we got to work. She helped me haul some lumber and other items I’d need inside. I’d had to buy a couple of kinds of saws and kept a table inside and one outside to do projects on. Gideon had said I could borrow some tools from his family, but I didn’t want to risk breaking something that didn’t belong to me. Plus, I’d never even met them. He’d gone to his parents’ house once when they came home from their trip, and he met his brother sometimes, but they never came to the apartment, and if they went to Conflicting Ink, I missed them.
I’d just started to frame out the U-shaped counter when Rachel asked, “Have you talked to Gene again?”
“Did Gideon tell you to ask me that?”
“No, but I’m taking it he’s asked you.”
“He asks me every couple of days.” That was another annoying thing he did that I’d forgotten about earlier. “I went over once and fixed his stairs, but I didn’t knock and he didn’t come out. I left my cell number. He sent me a text to say thank you.”
“Did you reply?”
“Yes! I’m not that clueless.”
“But you fixed his stairs without asking or saying anything?”
“Well, I’d told him the first day we met that I could do it. He didn’t say yes, but why would he care?”
“Good point, I guess.”
“I’ve had two of those today. I have to go cut this board,” I said, holding the one I’d just measured.
She followed me out back, where I kept the supplies behind the building. “You’re a sweet man, Milo Copeland. Why don’t you talk to him?”
“Veto. Two of those today too.”
“Fine, I know how to take a hint.”
We worked until about five, when she asked, “Do you want to go and get an ice cream? Don’t tell Cammy I sometimes have dessert before dinner.”
“I won’t, and there will never be a time in my life when I turn down ice cream.”
It was really hard not to go up and shower first, but I did my best to wipe the sawdust off and clean off in the bookstore bathroom. Then we walked down to the ice cream parlor, which was less than a block away. They had a huge, covered outdoor area. There were quite a few people, but it wasn’t too overwhelming. Rachel got a cone, but I got a milkshake because I didn’t like it when ice cream melted on my hand. We found a table outside and sat down. We were only there for a few minutes before a guy stepped up to the table and said, “I think you’re my new brother-in-law.”
“Huh?”
He chuckled, the sound familiar. “I’m Gideon’s brother, Orlando. You’re Milo, right?”
He held out his hand, but I stared at it for a moment. Why would he call me his brother-in-law? Unless he thought Gideon and I were dating? Go fictional me. “Yes, I’m Milo Copeland. Please don’t call me Mr. Copeland. But Gideon and I aren’t dating. Is that what you meant?”
He frowned slightly, but I could see he was trying to hold it back. Or maybe he didn’t even realize he was doing it. People were like that sometimes; they thought things and didn’t realize it showed on their faces. Orlando was wondering about me, thrown off by me too.
