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I got here at roughly 10:00 AM. “What time do you get out?”
A little wrinkle forms between her brows as she eyes me suspiciously.
“It’s Sunday,” I add. “They close early. And even if you left right now to get there, you’d end up late for work trying to find the right fuse with the kids they got working there. I can get it for you and put it in so you’ll be able to have a hot shower when you get home.”
Cassidy studies me for a long moment, no doubt doing the driving time math in her head, but I know I’m right, and so does she. “I get out at five today. Do you think you can do it after? I won’t be here by the time you get back, and Frankie gets antsy if someone is in the house without me around.”
“I can.” Popping out the fuses to take with me for reference. “Do you need anything else while I’m there?”
She shifts on her feet, clearly torn between asking me for something else and settling with only accepting my help for the water heater. “Um, my fridge light burnt out. Could you…grab me a new one? They’re those funky skinny bulbs.”
“Do you have it?”
She nods, sliding past me and down the hall to the kitchen. I follow her lead as she gathers the bulb from beside the sink and hands it to me. “How much do you think the fuses will cost?” she asks, grabbing her purse on the table.
“Don’t worry about it,” I grumble, flipping the bulb over.
“Butch,” she starts. I look at her. “I get you’re trying to be nice and everything right now, but…paying for my fuses and light bulbs isn’t your responsibility.”
“You’re right,” I grunt. “It’s not. And I am trying to be nice right now because I feel like shit about last night. Let me take care of this so I’ll be able to sleep tonight.”
She sets her purse down. “Fine.” Making my way to the door, she follows. “I’m usually back here no later than quarter after.”
I open the door to leave. “All right, I’ll see you then.”
I hop in my truck, placing the fuses and bulb in the cup holder. When I start my truck, I glance up to Cassidy’s porch. She’s hooking Frankie onto a line outside, watching me with a smile. I freeze, staring at her for a moment too short before she turns away, heading back inside.
Well, damn. That apology just turned into running errands and making repairs for her. It feels…good. It feelsright. And I don’t think I’d have it any other way.
Three hours and three different hardware stores later, I finally got what Cassidy needs. Since when did fuses become a hot commodity? After banging out a few of my own things I needed to get done today, I’m on my way back to Cassidy’s before I need to head to my parents’ place for Sunday dinner. It’s weekly, and generally, mandatory.
I already know I’m going to get shit for being late, but I think I’ve got a damn good excuse this time.
Pulling in, I catch Cassidy getting out of her car. When she sees me, she smiles. I get out and close the door with her new fuses and fridge bulb in hand.
“Did you find everything okay?” she asks.
“Yeah.”Barely.
She leads the way up the steps where Frankie sits with a tail that’s going crazy. “Hey, chubby baby,” she coos, unhooking him from the line and pushing inside.
I follow her in and kick off my boots as she does the same with her sneakers. “Is it okay if I watch how you replace the fuses?” she asks, setting her purse down on the table.
I raise a brow, a little caught off guard. “No problem.” Silently surprised, but still not as impressed as her telling me she removed the old water heater and installed this new one all by herself. Seriously, I’ve been wracking my brain all day on how she did it. They’re easily over a hundred pounds and hard as hell to maneuver just right. Especially into this tiny closet.
I walk Cassidy through every step and she looks like she’s hanging on my every word, watching my every move. “I’d give it an hour or so and you should be good to take a hot shower.”
She closes the closet doors. “Thank you for doing this. I really appreciate it.”
I nod, walking back to the kitchen to put the new fridge bulb in. Granted, she could probably do this herself, but I might aswell. Opening her fridge, I’m greeted with the sight of it fully stocked with fresh fruit, veggies, and meat.
“You cook a lot?” I ask.
“I do,” she says, washing her hands at the sink. “I can cook, but I suck at baking. I always end up burning whatever I try to make, even when I set a timer.” She laughs lightly.
Better than me, I think to myself. I always do takeout or drop by my folks’ place to steal leftovers or grab a plate to-go.
Frankie waddles over to the open fridge, eagerly sniffing around. Just as he goes to take something out, Cassidy grabs him. “Hey, you little fatty, get out of there.”
