“Rules are there’s no using the internet for ideas but you can text with your phones. Grace has alerts set for each hour as a countdown. You have to think about what the other person would want and maximize the space. You’re supposed to…” He trailed off as he squinted at the clipboard. “Make it functional and enjoyable.”
Morty clucked his tongue. “Lot of hubbub to paint some rooms.”
Noah saw that the others’ expressions mirrored his own. Funny old guy. He was all bark, no bite.
“You’re allowed to get other supplies if you need them but not change the furniture chosen for the room. Bonus points for creativity in design and execution. I guess I get to give those. Alsobonus points for doing a theme. What does that even mean? Not my problem, I guess. You have three hours which started ten minutes ago so I suggest you get going.”
Noah reached for the paint, but Rosie put a hand on his arm. “Hang on. We need a plan.”
He looked around, counting the boxes. “Okay. Half of us can paint, half can start putting the furniture together?” He was enjoying a lot of the process more than he expected but he wasn’t a fan of assembling his own furniture. Stupid Allen wrench.
Rosie nodded, smiling at him like he’d said the right thing. “We want to create a space Grace will love. Let’s figure out color and design. Then we can split up. I need a pencil and some paper.”
He’d watched Grace enough over the last couple of weeks to know that designers’ minds worked differently than his own. It was fascinating to watch how Grace could make subtle changes—move furniture, switch colors, or add an accessory—that pulled her ideas together. Rosie’s design was excellent. Worth the delayed start time.
They split up, Everly painting with Noah while the others assembled the furniture and shelving. Nothing was cut-and-dried with Grace. He should have expected that. She’d left two blues, a gray, and a soft yellow for paint, like she was silently testing him.How well do you know me?When Rosie and Everly suggested gray with an accent wall of yellow, he didn’t share his agreement. But it felt like a victory to have thought it before they voiced their opinions.
As he set up the rollers, trays, and brushes, Everly tied her hair back and up.
“Sorry to rope you into this,” Noah said, swiping the dripping paint off the side of the can. It was fun and exciting to him but maybe not how others wanted to spend their night.
“What? This is what friends and family do. Have you never had friends over to paint? Stacey helped me paint my whole place when I moved in,” Everly said.
Noah thought about the places he’d lived in. He’d grown up in a penthouse condo in Manhattan. When his parents divorced, he’d stayed with his mom for part of the time in a luxury hotel. He’d gone to college but lived off campus in a high-rise apartment. After that, he’d bought a condo overlooking Central Park. It’d come fully furnished.
Everly picked up a brush and the tray of yellow paint. “I forget sometimes that you guys are rich. Well, I’ve helped others paint and asked the same of friends. No need to apologize. We’re happy to be part of it.”
He nodded, a little surprised at his own recap of his living situations. He’d really never done any of this until he met Grace.
“Plus,” she said, “I like your friend.”
He rolled his eyes. “Thank you, Everly. I hear that tone in your voice but that’s all we are, friends.”
“Because you’re the charming, funny, hard-to-tie-down one.”
His bobbed his brows at her, making her laugh. When he saw his brother in the hallway, he called out, “Chris, your girl wants to tie me up.”
Chris stuck his head in the room. “Do what you have to, baby. He’s expendable.”
Everly’s chuckle was much like her, sweet and quiet.
“Jackasses.”
“I’m surprised there’s no twist,” Chris said. He passed them both waters.
“You should be working or the twist will be that we lose.” Noah took the water, unscrewed the cap, and took a drink.
“Pretty good deal. Even if you lose, the rooms are getting painted.” Chris walked over to Everly, gave her a kiss on the cheek, and whispered something in her ear that made her cheeks rosy.
“I’d say get a room but I’m scared you might and I need the help,” Noah said. “Get to work. Please. Everly says this is what family and friends do. Go do.”
“On it.” He winked at Everly, punched Noah on his way by.
“You guys are so funny with each other,” Everly said, carefully edging the wall that met up with the windowed one.
“You think? Because we beat on and razz each other?”
She nodded, dipped the brush. “Yup.”
