“I like the idea of cooking. I used to like it. It’s been a while since it’s been fun.” She was clicking and talking simultaneously, now, and some of the tension had left her voice. “I’d like to get back into it. Especially since I’m going to be living on a single income. Best to avoid going out and save that money, so I better learn how to make food I really love again.”
Robinson nodded. “And, not to be overly personal. I’m the plumbing guy. So kind of have to ask if there’s any special fixtures or anything you’d want in the bathrooms. Now would be the time to add anything like that.”
Caroline tilted her head side-to-side a couple times, then shook it. “Nothing comes to mind. Just need a shower and a tub and a toilet. As long as I’ve got hot water, I’m good to go. And, like, a sink. Obviously.”
Movement caught Dane’s eye and he flicked his gaze to Kyle. He was pointing up and, as Dane reached for the switch on his light, he noticed the shadows that had begun to creep into the shot. As soon as he turned on his soft, round light, they diminished.All this setup for that. Super worth almost poking my crush with a boner.
Chapter six
Aras
Carolinewrappedupwiththe design app quicker than most of their clients. Thirty minutes and she was done, the results compiled. It was certainly a vibe, what she got out at the end. Lots of bright colors, mixed with a modern farmhouse style. Not exactly what this house was designed to be, but achieving it would be doable. She’d selected some pretty standard lighting fixtures. Wooden squares and natural-looking slabs hung with Edison bulbs. Nothing too crazy, but Aras had to admit, it was a look he enjoyed. That would make the job easier.
Once they had everything looked at and distributed, Mason and Eliza gave the sign to break. Then Aras approached Caroline, hands in his pockets. “I think we need to talk carnival glass.”
“Yes.” Unlike before, when she’d panicked over her answer about tech, she looked much more relaxed and much brighter when he mentioned that. “I’d love to talk carnival glass. See if I know as much about it as I think I do.”
Her humility rubbed Aras the wrong way. It wasn’t a healthy sense of herself, but some kind of self-deprecating weirdness she kept returning to. That was the impression Aras got, anyway. “I’m sure you know plenty. What are you thinking for it? Just display pieces, or you want some in use? And…well, probably a lot easier if I can look at it and see what you have so that we know what we’re working with.”
“And me!” Evander jogged up, all smiles. “That’s going to bethefocal point of the whole design. I want it in every room possible, so I won’t know how to proceed with anything else until I get a look at it.”
“Forgive him. He’s a moron, but he’s good at his job.”
Evander rolled his eyes. “At least I’m not an irrepressible sourpuss.”
Caroline sighed. “There’s just a lot of different pieces. I don’t know the best way to show it to you. It’s not going to be any fun trying to look at it in the middle of the storage facility.”
“Well we’d just bring it back here.” Aras gestured to all the emptiness, trying not to let himself get annoyed. Why was he the only one who had the obvious solutions in mind? “We’ve got a ton of tables we can set up and look over everything. Once we see colors, function, patterns, all that, Evander can get his nonsense figured out, and I’ll have a better idea how to do the lighting on it.” Plus, he relished the thought of going through a whole collection. If it was big enough that Caroline was worried about displaying it all for them to look through, then it had to be a mighty impressive collection. Not that he’d say as much. This wasn’t the time or place to make things about him.
Eliza seemed to justappearout of thin air, joining the conversation. “If you want to head out, we can drive. Send you with a camera crew.” She pressed her hands together and nodded to Caroline. “Obviously we won’t use any footage you don’t want. I know you might not want all your information out there in case you ex finds it.”
Caroline waved the concern away like an annoying gnat. “Robbie isn’t dangerous. He’s just a controlling asshole. Besides, you’re showing my entire house, right? That’s a bigger risk than the storage unit I’m not even going to keep once I get moved in.”
Eliza shrugged. “Fair point.” She turned her attention to Aras. “You want to head over now, or do you have some stuff that needs your attention here?”
He tilted his head to the door. “May as well make myself useful there. Muscles and hauling and all that.” He elbowed Ev in the side. “Don’t dick around. This is old glass and I’ll rip your head off myself if you break any of it.”
“Ooh, you’re in a particularly pleasant mood if you’re giving me a warning.” Evander moved aside and headed for the door. “I’ll be in the car. Don’t punch anyone on the way in.”
He left and Caroline touched his arm, just below the elbow. “Hey. The glass isn’tthatimportant.”
“Sure it is. Besides, Ev needs reining in sometimes.”
She nodded, offering a tight smile. When she turned around, Aras chewed on his lower lip. He reallydidneed to watch the way he talked. It wasn’t making Caroline more comfortable, that was for sure. But his mind filled with visions of bright, iridescent shards of broken glass from Ev fucking around and notappreciatingwhat he was handling. He couldn’t handle that.
“Aras?”
The voice was high and familiar. Aras’s whole body stiffened and warmed, and he turned to see Dane looking up at him. Aras swallowed hard, trying not to find the frown on Dane’s face so attractive. “Anything I can help you with? I can still haul lighting if necessary.”
“No. I just…you seem stressed?” He shrugged and cringed, and his loose mohawk rustled a little. “I know it’s not my business. Just hoping you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” As fine as he ever was around this many people. Anything outside of his house and a nice cup of coffee was at least a little stress, and this show had so many more people than they ever dealt with on their VideoHead channel. “Thanks for checking in, but you don’t need to worry about me.”Really have to get a hold on myself if the production crew are taking notice.
Dane nodded. “Well, also, if you need some help moving stuff, I handle delicate collectibles all the time at home. I make, like, little mecha models.” His cheeks flushed red and he averted his gaze. “I don’t want to butt in. Just a ‘many hands makes light work’ kind of situation, I figured. If you’re worried about how delicate the glass is.”
Aras nodded. “More the merrier.” Which typically wasn’t the case, but he wouldn’t say no to a little more time with the cute redhead. “What kind of mecha? I don’t do the model kits, but I watch my fair share of anime.”
“Oh you don’t want to hear—well, I mean, you asked. So I guess you do.”
