A Fresh Start by Trisha Grace Page A

fished out a torchlight. He turned around and found her leaning against the side of the door. “Yes, you do.” He waved the torch in his hand and jogged toward her.
    “You bought that for me?” She took the torch and twisted it around in her hand. “Thanks.”
    “Anything else?”
    “Nope. Thanks for everything.”
    “See you on Monday.” He returned to his car and drove home.
    Throughout the drive back, he couldn’t stop the nagging thought in his head. It was going to take her forever to paint the house alone. He had nothing to do anyway, he could help.  
    That was the neighborly thing to do.
    But she hadn’t asked. It would be weird for him to show up and insist to help.
    He was still debating his decision when he saw Gloria standing outside his house. He sighed and shook his head.  
    Gloria never gave him a second look in high school.
    He was too poor for her to pay any attention to.
    Mrs. Seymour had told him in one of their phone conversations that Gloria had dumped her long-time boyfriend, Jason, when he lost his football scholarship.
    It didn’t take much for him to figure out why she was here.
    He stopped his car outside his house and got out.
    “Hi, Justin. I heard you were back in town. Remember me?” she said in a disgustingly coy voice. She flashed a wide grin and strode over toward him in her high heels and tight fitting dress.  
    Justin didn’t bother to reply her.
    “Anyway, a few of us are going down to Cheyenne for drinks. I thought you might want to join us.”
    “You thought wrong,” he said and continued walking to his door.
    “Come on,” Gloria coaxed, her hand running down his arm.
    The tingling sensation from her nails shot up his neck. He pulled his arm from her, stretching his neck to get rid of the weird prickle. “I’m working.”
    “On a Saturday?”
    He entered his house and closed the door behind him.
    Striding past his living room, he opened the door to his basement.
    There were only minimal furniture in his house, like every other house he’d flipped. The only thing he’d brought over with him was his tools and clothes.
    Jogging down to his basement, he grabbed a couple of things and dumped them into an empty box.  
    When he went back outside, Gloria had disappeared.
    In less than half an hour, he was standing in front of Paige’s door again.
    He knocked on the door and waited.
    “Did you leave something behind?”
    Spinning around, he was surprise to find Paige standing behind him. “Thought you were painting your house?”
    “Yeah, I went over to wash this.” She waved the dark blue water bottle in her hand while her eyes moved to the box he was holding. “What’s that?”
    “Brushes, tray, and a paint sprayer.”
    “Paint sprayer?”
    Justin reached into the box and pulled it out.
    “Oh, that. The painters used that for the exterior walls. We can use that inside?” She stepped up and opened the door.
    “It’s great for the white color base. If you want patterns after the base, then you can’t use this.”
    “Thanks for dropping them over. I’ve already got brushes, though.” Her hands stretching out to take the box from him.
    He twisted his torso, shifting the box out of her reach. “I’m not dropping them over. I’m here to help you paint.”
    Her hands froze. “You’re going to spend your Saturday helping me paint?”
    “What’s wrong with that?”
    She ran her hand through her hair. “What’s wrong with that? You’re not getting paid, and now you’re volunteering to help me paint on a Saturday. It feels like I’m taking advantage of you or something.”
    Justin laughed at her reasoning. “Don’t be silly. I have nothing on. This is better than lazing on my couch for the rest of the day.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “I’m here, aren’t I?”
    She nodded, her lips curling into a smile. “Thanks.” Cocking her head toward the stairs, she said, “You go ahead, I’ll fill this.”
    He had just set the box down when Paige entered