Sleeping in would be a big luxury. I just want to be able to keep my eyes closed until seven. That’s not a ridiculous request.
As he rifles through the sacks for things, I vaguely wonder if he knows what he’s doing. This place is his baby, his renovation masterpiece, so he must have at least a little skill. Still, watching him mess with tools while wearing a button-up shirt and a bowtie tells a completely different story.
“Can you grab a chair for me?”
“This?” I hold up one of the ultralight chairs that surround the small kitchen table. It can’t weigh more than a pound or two. I’ve been lazy and eating on the couch since I got here, but I’m not sure these would hold an adult sitting down. Using it as a ladder seems inadvisable.
“Perfect.” Nix snatches it from my hands before I can say anything, tucking it under the window and climbing on. His wingtip dress shoes squeak against the plastic as he gets into position.
I’d be happy with stick-on blinds, the ones that take less than sixty seconds to install and supposedly come off without much trouble, but Nix went all out. He’s got brackets, a rod, and, of course, curtains. It makes sense, given this is a long-term investment, but still. It’s an awful lot of work in the middle of the day.
“Could you hand me the hammer?”
Nix’s toolbox is a random assortment of items, most of which look relatively new. The hammer, on the other hand, is a bright shade of pink, but scuffed up and dented from years of use. It’s strange seeing it among what looks like a serious collection of those little Allen wrenches that come withIkeafurniture.
“Here you go.” I pass it up to him and watch as he attempts to reach high enough to get the bracket into the spot between the molding and the wall.
“Do you want me to do that?”
He shoots daggers at me, all while barely turning away from his work. So, that’s a no? “Not because you’re doing it wrong. Orpoorly. Just, I’m taller, so it’ll be an easier reach.” I’ve got a full head on him. Even on his tiptoes, he’s struggling to reach the right spot.
“I got it. Just relax. You’re the tenant.”
Since I don’t pay rent, that’s a bit of a stretch. “Okay. Let me know if you change your mind. Happy to help.” Especially if it means I don’t have to clean his blood off the floor after he falls. Not that I have big plans for anything this evening, except re-watching episodes of one of my favorite sitcoms.
“I’ve got it.”
The way he’s stretching up to reach is something I never expected to find myself looking at. With the effort, his shirt has come untucked and riding up, exposing pale skin across his midsection. I should look away. But I can’t.
If this was one of my friends, I wouldn’t think twice about seeing his bare skin exposed by his raised shirt. I wouldn’t even consider looking away. So why does it feel like an invasion of privacy to be looking now?
I briefly wonder if it’s because I know he’s gay. That doesn’t sit right, though. It’s because it’s Nix, which doesn’t make sense either. I try to shake the thought loose from my mind. Being off work, without a purpose, is starting to get to me.
“Chase?”
“Yeah?”
Nix is giving me a quizzical expression. “You okay? It didn’t seem like you could hear me.”
“My mind just wandered off for a minute.”
“Could you hand me the bar?” He points to the silver rod on the bed.
I grab it, then spot the curtains still on the bed. “Do you want me to put these on it first? It’ll be easier before it’s up.”
“Good idea. I can—” He twists to the side, no doubt getting ready to step off the chair. Except something doesn’t work in theprocess, and instead of gracefully setting his foot on the ground, his whole body hits the floor.
“Nix?”
Shit. If I killed Russ’s best friend, I’ll never hear the end of it.
“I’m fine.” His voice is meek.
“Don’t move.”
“I don’t think we’re in any danger of that happening.” He groans and closes his eyes.
I rush around to meet him, trying to remember what the instructor said in my first aid class. There was something about not pulling out anything that might be protruding from a wound. Maybe something about not moving someone with a neck injury? Or he’s supposed to put his head between his knees?
