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I rattle off a couple more assignments and then look at my sister, who is the last one to get an assignment. “Birdie, you and I are the jacks of all trades. We can start making some of the props if you want.”
Cole arches a brow. “You actually remember all of these people’s names and their strengths as people? How is it possible that you know all of this and care enough to name each person’s strong suit?”
I give an exasperated sigh. “I just do. It’s not magic, Cole.”
He shrugs, his expression impressed, and moves off toward Jared. There is a low buzz of conversation as people find their partners and figure out exactly what needs to be done. Birdie gives me a sheepish grin.
“I’m glad you announced the job assignments. I was staring at this and trying to make head or tails of it.” She picks up the list of props to be made and squints at it. “I know that I’m dyslexic, but these are seriously in an alien language or something.”
I laugh. “If I say build me a giant, construction paper hammer, you already have an idea of what to build. Right?”
“Well, yeah. I can picture it in my mind.” She taps her forehead. “It’s just reading the words that I’m terrible at.”
“That’s why I wanted you in my group. I have no original ideas, but I can read the items aloud and follow your instructions. That’s why we’re the dream team.”
Birdie looks at me with a sly smile.
“You’re really good at that.”
“What?”
“Knowing where other people’s strengths lie. Pairing up teams. Or maybe I’m talking about how you gave sneaky compliments to everyone here.”
“I’m just saying what is perfectly evident to anyone with eyes.” Picking up a pile of construction paper, I hand it over to her. “The first things we’ll need are a hammer and a watering can.”
She sits down with construction paper, scissors, and glue sticks. I check on everyone else and answer a few questions.
When I get to Cole and Jared, the warmth in Cole’s eyes has returned.
“Everything going to plan?” I ask. Cole is holding a drill but not working.
If that is a nod to me and he’s actually listening instead of working himself to death, I consider that a major win.
“Perfectly,” says Jared. “I’m already loving this shape.”
“I think we’ve got this.” Cole gives me a small smile and holds up a cordless drill. He puts the drill to a piece of lumber and then drills a screw into it.
I grin at him, my heart skipping a beat. Then I realize what a dope I probably look like and drag myself back over to Birdie.
As I expected, Birdie is already done making the hammer out of construction paper.
“Holy cow. That was fast!” Taking the hammer from her, I turn it this way and that. “This is a serious hammer. Look at the craftsmanship.”
Birdie rolls her eyes. “You’re so silly.”
“Even silly clocks are right twice a day.” I wink at my sister.
Across the room, I see Cole climbing up a ladder to screw a joist into the skeletal scaffolding that Jared holds in place. My eye snags on him and sticks there for a moment too long.
He has shucked his dark sweater, trading it for the tight gray T-shirt and dark jeans that do wonderful things for his thighs. He laughs at something Jared suggests, a bright flash that is gone too soon.
Maybe Cole doesn’t realize that his smile makes him a hundred times hotter than his usual scowl.
Not that his scowl is that bad. I’m coming to find it calls to me. Challenges me in a way that I can’t explain.
I rub my fingers over my mouth to disguise a grin.
When I look back at Birdie, she is staring right at me with the biggest smirk. She leans forward, whispering, “Busted.”
