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Oh damn, that’s hot. “All right, fellas. Maybe we should cool it. After all, we’re done. We don’t want to ruin all the work we’ve put in.”
“Screw that,” Drew says. “That’s a challenge if I ever heard one.”
“Damn right it is,” Holden agrees. “I like your style, kid. Get your brush up, Lexi, talk the talk, walk the walk.”
“I gotta agree with my brother there, Lex. Brush up or shut up.”
She gasps, mouth dropping open. “Noah, they have corrupted you.” She grabs the paint can and without hesitating dips her hand in and flicks me. Actually flicks me, in the face, with paint.
There’s a minute of shocked silence before everyone dissolves into laughter and paint chaos ensues. Somehow in between all of the laughter, slipping and dogging paint brushes, and yelling of, ‘Don’t get paint in my hair!’ and ‘I got paint in my mouth!’ teams were formed. Lexi, me, and Axel against Holden, Drew, and Ryan. The James brothers seem to be unofficial team leaders.
“Okay!” Lexi yells from our crouch behind the covered couch.
“We give up!” Axel says at the same time as her.
“You win!” I shout, putting the nearly empty can down. Knowing there is no way we were going to win with only a half can of paint and them stealing the only full can left.
“Yes!” Ryan yells, raising his fist, and Drew gives him and Holden victory fist bumps.
“Ahh, you should have known, man. You can’t win against me.” Holden holds his arms up, flexing his muscles.
“Yeah, whatever.” I shake my head, surveying the room which surprisingly isn’t too bad. The drop clothes served their purpose. The most damage is, a few spots here and there that can be easily fixed with paint thinner and a slash of blue against one of the finished walls which can be painted over with a few brush strokes. “These walls are looking better than we are.”
“We’re a mess.” Axel smiles, brightly.
“We sure are,” Lexi puts her hand on his back. “How about you go upstairs and take a bath and get ready for bed. It’s past your bedtime.”
“But I’m hungry, and you promised pizza.” Axel looks up at her.
“While you're taking a bath I’ll order pizza. By the time you’re done, it’ll be here.”
“But—“
“Come on, Ax. You know how much you hate to wait. This way you won’t miss anything. Holden and Noah will still be here, right guys?” Drew says, with what I would say is a hopeful hitch in his voice, looking my way and then at Holden.
If I didn’t know better I would say he didn’t mind us being here. Unlike the first few times I’ve been over, it seems like he doesn’t mind if we stay. “Sure, I like pizza; who doesn’t?”
“Can’t go wrong with pizza.” Holden shrugs.
“Okay, if it’s okay with you guys and Lexi, we’ll have pizza,” I say. “And I’ll pay.”
“Are you kidding, you guys were a great help. The least I can do is treat you to pizza. I owe you a meal or two. I’m falling short of your aunt’s agreement.” She presses her fingertips against my chest, smiling at me. “What do you like on your pizza? Let me know, anything.” Her voice dips lower, drawing my eyes to her lips.
I press my hand over her warm hand resting on my chest. I love when she touches me. I wish she would do it more often, with the same warmth and smile that makes me feel a way I haven’t felt in a long time. “Anything?” I say, not really thinking about pizza.
“He likes pepperoni.” Holden irritatingly interrupts our moment. “I like it too if you were also going to get around to asking me if I would like,anything,” he ends with an almost breathy sigh and his annoying smirk.
“Lexi, get a room. Innocent eyes and ears here.” Drew holds Axel's hand, leading him away. “Come on, Ax, I’ll help you with the water.”
“You guys suck.” She moves her hand from my chest, regretfully.
“I—“
“Not one word.” I shake my head sternly at my brother, knowing exactly what’s coming next. No one needs another replay of the conversation in the truck on the way over here.
Lexi laughs, getting her phone off the kitchen table to order the pizzas. Holden smiles, holding his hands up like he’s innocent, which is totally out of place on him. But it feels good being here and laughing, relaxed, like brothers. That hasn’t happened in a long time and it probably wouldn’t be happening if we weren’t here.
After we eat pizza and Axel entertains us with his song and dance act, we say goodnight to the boys. Holden goes out to start the truck and make a call and Lexi walks me to the door. Leaning against the porch railing, both of us still paint splattered, she says, “Thanks for coming and helping with my spur-of-the-moment painting. Someone ordered custom paint but it was in the wrong color so Rachel gave it to me at a dirt cheap discount I couldn’t pass up. Couldn’t have done it without you guys' help.”
