I turn back to my paper-thin wall and the man I can slightly see behind it. How can I be crushing on him when I am actively investigating the guy funding his restoration? Especially when I know how much The Shadowridge means to him. If I find anything, Owen is going to feel betrayed by both of us.
CHAPTER 16
THE TO-DO LIST HEARD ‘ROUND THE KITCHENS
OWEN
As I get dressed, I think through my to-do list, and for whatever reason, the tune toShe’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountainpops into my head. Weird, since I haven’t even thought of that song in years. But, like I do every morning, I respect the “first song that pops into my head” rule and roll with it, singing my to-do list to that tune, making up the words as I go to get myself properly pumped up for the day.
“The whole crew will be there, all rarin’ to go. (Hooray!)
“They’ll be staplin’ insulation like a pro. (Great day!)
“Luis will work on the ceiling,
“Nate will scrape floor glue that’s peeling,
“And delivery truck’s at ten with trim cargo.”
I’ve got my work pants on, but remember my work shirts are all still in the laundry room. I grab a pair of socks and put one on as I’m doing a hop-shimmy combo across my room and out to the top of the stairs.
“On break, it’s dry cleaner to pick up my suit. (Go there!)
“So, as Charlie’s wedding date, I can look cute. (With flair!)
“No, I want to look mighty fine,
“When I show up dressed to the nines,
“So her jaw drops and her words go down the chute.”
Then, I attempt to put my other sock on as I’m going down the stairs, doing a much more aggressive hop-shimmy combo.
“Then, send investor pics that make him scream. (‘A dream!’)
“Gotta sign off on the brackets near the beam. (Check, check!)
“But first, I need a clean work shirt,
“‘Cuz I am more than eye dessert,
“And leading shirtless feels like a bad drea?—”
I freeze, mid-hop, one half-socked foot in the air as I make it almost to the bottom of the stairs. Somehow, I didn’t hear that the Demo Daydreams guys had arrived and had apparently been letinside from Charlie’s and Reese’s townhome. I also hadn’t heard the sounds of them taking down the plastic from both sides of the wall frame, removing what little sight and sound barrier had existed between our two places.
Charlie is standing in her kitchen, yogurt topped with granola in one hand, the fingers of her other hand on her lips, trying to hide a smile. Reese is standing next to her, only giving maybe ten percent effort to try to hide her amused smile. Josh is smiling too, but the one with the biggest grin is Leandro.
“Aaay!” he says, hands outstretched. “Two weeks ago, I was here and there was no wall” —he turns to Charlie—“you came down those stairs in nothing but a towel and covered in bubbles.” He holds his hand out toward me. “And your construction-clad neighbor saw, and there was blushing.
“Now, you come down the stairs, all shirtless and self-consciously flexing your abs, your smartly-dressed neighbors saw, and there was blushing. So beautifully reciprocal. So synergetic. Such a full-circle moment.” He looks back and forth between Charlie and me. “You two are like one. Man, this is my favorite job site!”
“I’m just going to…” I hike my thumb over my shoulder and clear my throat, “Go get that shirt now.”
I and whatever dignity I still have head to the laundry room. I plan to stay in there for a minute ortwo to give my “blush” a chance to go away, but Leandro just keeps talking to us, louder now for my benefit, so I grab the first shirt I see and tug it on, walking back out as I do.
“And, from your singing about the wedding you are attending together,” he says, “I’m guessing things between the two of you have progressed since I was last here, huh? See? Good came from taking down this wall! The gods of broken pipes, or fate, or destiny, or whatever shone down on you.
“And I tell you what,” he says, pointing between Charlie and Reese and me, “Josh and I are going to make this placeperfectfor you.”
