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“That’s right. Jess will have to stay somewhere else for a few days while they remove it.” And that’s my cue. To ask her to stay with me. In my guest bedroom.
Delores claps her hands, her mouth curving into a satisfied grin. “Perfect. Then you can stay at my house, Jess, while Fred and I are away. That way you can easily keep an eye on it.”
“Are you sure?” Jess asks her. “What about Bailey?”
“Bailey is more than welcome to also stay at my house. Fred and I don’t have animal allergies, so that won’t be an issue.”
Jess’s smile is wider than Delores’s, even with the scar tugging at the corner of her mouth. “That’s great. Thank you!”
Yes, Delores. That’s. Just. Great.I somehow keep from blowing out a frustrated sigh.
So much for my plan.
* * *
“You ready for this?”I take a step back. Jess is standing at the wall separating her kitchen and living room, a sledgehammer in her hand.
The asbestos was removed last week. And now it’s Monday evening, and we’re about to begin her renovations. A project that will take us at least five months to complete.
“I’m ready.” She pushes up the rim of the hard hat I’d insisted she wear for this part of the renovations. She’s also wearing safety goggles to protect her eyes from flying pieces of dust and drywall. This look, Jess as the adorably sexy construction worker, is my new favorite fantasy.
A fantasy that’s still off-limits as far as I’m concerned. Off-limits until she decides she wants to take our friendship further, to step out of the friend zone we’re in.
Ifshe decides she wants to step out of the friend zone.
“You know,” I say, “once you start knocking down the wall, there’s no going back.”
“I have no intention of changing my mind. I’m looking forward to this.” She adjusts her grip on the handle, her eyes locked on the target.
“Remember to let loose when you swing the sledgehammer into the wall. Little love pats won’t do it.”
She gives a determined nod, her eyes not swaying from the target. She’s a world-class baseball player getting ready to hit a home run. “Got it.”
“The best part is, you get to channel all your frustrations at the wall.” And I have a feeling she has enough of them from whatever caused the PTSD to knock down the wall without my help.
Another determined nod, and her lips curve into position. “Got it.”
“Okay, Jess. Whenever you’re ready.” I stand back, prepared to let her have at the wall all on her own.
She lifts the sledgehammer and swings it at the wall, creating a sizable hole in the drywall.
“Does that feel good?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“It feels fucking amazing!”
I laugh.
Grinning, she pulls the sledgehammer from the wall and swings at it again and again and again. After each hit, she bounces from side to side on her feet, wiggling her hips as if dancing.
“Let me know if you need my help.” I jump my ass up onto the counter and watch Jess demolish the wall.
Watch her attack her demons.
That’s my girl.
39
JESSICA
