Which is exactly what this is supposed to be.
Pretend.
Except standing close to her in every room we stopped in and watching her light up when an idea clicks into place. Or the way her hands move when she’s mapping something invisible in the air—it feels dangerously close to something real.
EPISODE TWO
THE FRONT PORCH SHOWDOWN
This weekonNailed It or Failed It, Tucker and Scottie are tackling the sagging front porch, or as Tucker likes to call it, the death trap with charm. Years of neglect have left this once-stunning porch drooping so severely that even the crew has been hesitant to step onto it.
But fixing the porch isn’t the only thing at stake here.
Between sawdust and second chances, there’s something else lingering in the air.
Last week, sparks flew faster than a power sander when these two shared the screen. This week? Let’s just say the sparks aren’t cooling off anytime soon.
Scottie is determined to keep the aesthetics, while Tucker is convinced the whole thing needs to be rebuilt. We can’t tell for sure if Scottie would rather keep their relationship off screen, but the banter and chemistry between the two is hard to deny.
Let’s get to work.
CHAPTER 9
BUT CAN YOU HIT THE NAIL?
Scottie
We’re wasting no time getting this project started.
After filming the intro pieces and the walk through two days ago, I walked through the house the next day, without the cameras or crew, to remove some old things left behind. I was hoping to find some personal belongings from my grandparents, but I couldn’t even find a single photo.
Last night, I spent the entire evening holed up in the apartment drawing sketches and layouts for each room. I had a general idea of what I wanted after the first walk through but I’ve figured out exactly what we need to do and the best way to execute it so we can finish this project on time.
As I was finishing my last set of notes, my dad called. He didn’t ask for numbers or timelines. He didn’t question whether I was ready. He just wanted to hear how it felt to be at the house. He ended the call telling me how proud he was of me, like it was already a given. Sometimes that kind of uncomplicated faith in me has made my chest aching in a way I don’t know what to do with. There’s been times I’ve resented him for it and how easily he believed in me and how much simpler it would be if my mom was able to do the same.
After the call with my dad, I emailed all my plans to Andrea. She asked me to break it down by episode, and I did. Her reply reminded me that much of it will take place off camera, but if we can highlight the big stuff, my plan will work beautifully.
Pulling up to my grandmother’s home today feels different.
I feel ready.
It probably has something to do with the award-worthy pep talk I gave myself this morning.Focus on the house. That’s it. Smile for the cameras, laugh when Tucker tries to put on the charm, and absolutelydo notlet my heart, hormones, and other uninvited emotions get involved.
I basically had a full-blown staff meeting with my brain, heart, and body before arriving today.
My brain is on board—she’s rational. Sometimes.
My heart’s on probation.
And my body? She RSVP’d yes and then didn’t bother to show up at all.
So, yeah, today’s focus is the house. If it’s not, I lose the only shot I have at proving I can do this. I need to stop focusing on the man currently standing on the other side of the yard, staring me up and down with his stupidly nice smile, who somehow makes every scene we’ve recorded so far feel a little too unscripted.
Now would be a good time to bring my body up to speed on the meeting.
What a traitor she is.
Of course, he got here before me, leaning against the porch railing like he owns the place. The sun hits his stupidly perfect and messy hair that looks like he just rolled out of bed. It’s unfairly attractive. He’s infuriatingly handsome. Smug. And yet every time he grins, I feel like he’s chiseling away at my armor. For half a second, I forget why I promised myself I wouldn’t notice him like this. He’s wearing a pair of dark denim jeans that roll at his ankles and sit just above the rim of his work boots, paired with a solid white T-shirt. Both of which lookwell-worn, like he’s built dozens of houses in this uniform of his.
