not arguing about the wall color, it’s what you’re drinking.” Raegan waved one arm. “Or who’s better at basketball. Or whether capris are a legit clothing choice.”
Seth set his water bottle on the table. “They can’t decide whether they want to be shorts or pants. They’re pointless.”
Ava grinned. “Why do you care? Men don’t wear capris.”
Raegan pointed at both of them. “I’m just saying, you guys argue about everything. Maybe if you weren’t so worn out, Seth, you would get along more.”
“Debating is our way. And I’m not worn out. I’m fine.”
Mostly fine. There was still that lingering sense of frustration toward Maddie, who had never asked about his restaurant’s grand opening. They’d talked several times in the past two weeks, and probably it was ridiculous he hadn’t just brought up the restaurant’s opening himself, but some silly piece of him wanted her to bring it up . . . to remember.
It bugged him that she hadn’t. And it bugged him that it bugged him. He should be above that. After all, she had her own career, her own crazy-busy schedule.
And anyway, after this much time had gone by, he couldn’t really backtrack his way into mentioning it now. What would he say? Oh,by the way, you must’ve forgotten, but The Red Door opened two weeks ago. Everything’s great. Thanks for asking. Or, well, not.
“He’s zoning again, Ava.”
He blinked at the sound of Raegan’s laughter. Ava was smiling, but she wasn’t laughing. It was almost as if she read his mind.
For all he knew, she did. She’d slipped so easily into his day-to-day life in Maple Valley. She jumped into the second-floor renovation with gusto, helping to turn what’d been a mostly empty shell of a space into more and more of a livable place. She’d picked up a few shifts at the restaurant, too.
And though they’d both worked long days, they still managed to grab meals together, once in a while take walks in the evenings, take turns winning games of basketball at the hoop in Case’s driveway.
She was becoming a fixture in Maple Valley, in his world.
And he was torn between gratefulness and concern.
Raegan stood over one of the paint trays now, peering down and wrinkling her nose. “You know, I think I have to agree with Ava. It’s the wrong color.”
“You always side with Ava.”
Ava shrugged and slurped from her pop can. “Can’t help it that I’m always right.”
“Always?”
“Fine. Usually.” She set her can on the table and hopped down. “But seriously, Seth, it’s not too late to go with a different color. Red’s just not right for this space. You have all this rich woodworking around the floors and ceiling and windows, and it’s going to get lost in such a bold color.”
He looked around the space. Shortly after National Bank had moved into its new location, someone had attempted to turn this second floor into two separate apartments. They hadn’t gotten very far—though fortunately they’d reworked the electricity and plumbing. He was thankful he didn’t have to do that part.
But other than some poorly placed drywall, not much else had been completed. So the first thing they did was get Case and Bear’s help to take down a couple interior walls and open up the space. Then Ava had worked on stripping out the old wallpaper and ordering new appliances.
The paint color was the first thing upon which they’d disagreed.
He finished off his water and reclaimed his paint roller. “I bet it’ll look good when it’s done.”
“Why are you being so pigheaded about this? I know I’m not an interior designer or anything, whereas you designed an entire restaurant, and I know I usually argue with you just for the sake of arguing, but this time, I really think I’m right.”
He rolled paint over the wall, brash streaks of red coloring over the white primer base. “The living room in Maddie’s apartment in Chicago has red walls.” Why did his voice come out so
Seth set his water bottle on the table. “They can’t decide whether they want to be shorts or pants. They’re pointless.”
Ava grinned. “Why do you care? Men don’t wear capris.”
Raegan pointed at both of them. “I’m just saying, you guys argue about everything. Maybe if you weren’t so worn out, Seth, you would get along more.”
“Debating is our way. And I’m not worn out. I’m fine.”
Mostly fine. There was still that lingering sense of frustration toward Maddie, who had never asked about his restaurant’s grand opening. They’d talked several times in the past two weeks, and probably it was ridiculous he hadn’t just brought up the restaurant’s opening himself, but some silly piece of him wanted her to bring it up . . . to remember.
It bugged him that she hadn’t. And it bugged him that it bugged him. He should be above that. After all, she had her own career, her own crazy-busy schedule.
And anyway, after this much time had gone by, he couldn’t really backtrack his way into mentioning it now. What would he say? Oh,by the way, you must’ve forgotten, but The Red Door opened two weeks ago. Everything’s great. Thanks for asking. Or, well, not.
“He’s zoning again, Ava.”
He blinked at the sound of Raegan’s laughter. Ava was smiling, but she wasn’t laughing. It was almost as if she read his mind.
For all he knew, she did. She’d slipped so easily into his day-to-day life in Maple Valley. She jumped into the second-floor renovation with gusto, helping to turn what’d been a mostly empty shell of a space into more and more of a livable place. She’d picked up a few shifts at the restaurant, too.
And though they’d both worked long days, they still managed to grab meals together, once in a while take walks in the evenings, take turns winning games of basketball at the hoop in Case’s driveway.
She was becoming a fixture in Maple Valley, in his world.
And he was torn between gratefulness and concern.
Raegan stood over one of the paint trays now, peering down and wrinkling her nose. “You know, I think I have to agree with Ava. It’s the wrong color.”
“You always side with Ava.”
Ava shrugged and slurped from her pop can. “Can’t help it that I’m always right.”
“Always?”
“Fine. Usually.” She set her can on the table and hopped down. “But seriously, Seth, it’s not too late to go with a different color. Red’s just not right for this space. You have all this rich woodworking around the floors and ceiling and windows, and it’s going to get lost in such a bold color.”
He looked around the space. Shortly after National Bank had moved into its new location, someone had attempted to turn this second floor into two separate apartments. They hadn’t gotten very far—though fortunately they’d reworked the electricity and plumbing. He was thankful he didn’t have to do that part.
But other than some poorly placed drywall, not much else had been completed. So the first thing they did was get Case and Bear’s help to take down a couple interior walls and open up the space. Then Ava had worked on stripping out the old wallpaper and ordering new appliances.
The paint color was the first thing upon which they’d disagreed.
He finished off his water and reclaimed his paint roller. “I bet it’ll look good when it’s done.”
“Why are you being so pigheaded about this? I know I’m not an interior designer or anything, whereas you designed an entire restaurant, and I know I usually argue with you just for the sake of arguing, but this time, I really think I’m right.”
He rolled paint over the wall, brash streaks of red coloring over the white primer base. “The living room in Maddie’s apartment in Chicago has red walls.” Why did his voice come out so
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