“But it doesn’t have to be perfect, bro.” Garrett slapped Davis on the back.
“Actually, it does. Otherwise, my measurements will be off,” Davis grumbled, rolling his eyes at his brother.
“I guess this is why you’re in charge of measuring and cutting.”
Davis rested a hand on his hip, studying Garrett and noticing the faint sheen of makeup on his clean-shaven face. “Remind me again, what are you in charge of? Looking pretty?”
That comment earned him a punch to the shoulder. “Screw you, Davey.”
Davis hated that nickname. Garrett was the only one besides his mom who called him by it. But he hadn’t seen her in years.
Garrett strutted around the garage, adjusting the tie at the nape of his neck, ignoring Davis. “I know what you’re doing out here.”
Tension spread across the top of Davis’s shoulders as he picked up the 2x4. “Yeah? What am I doing?”
“You’re trying to get out of the shot. You’re out here to avoid the cameras.”
Busted.
“You know I’ve always preferred to be out here rather than in there.” Davis carried two freshly cut 2x4s through the garage door and into the Larson home which was the current project and episode forRenovation Dudes. “Besides, we both have specific duties. It’s in our contract, remember?”
Garrett followed him into the house. “Oh, don’t give me that bull. You’re always throwing the contract in my face.”
They passed two cameramen and a woman fidgeting with a light on a stand.
Davis ground his teeth. Garrett wasn’t wrong. That contract was like a ticking time bomb. Each episode, each season they completed, he was that much closer to freedom. Though free to do what, he wasn’t sure.
“All I’m saying is, you’re better at this than me. The camera loves you.” Davis leaned the wood against a wall, yanking his hammer from his tool belt.
Garrett pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing. “Davis, we’re twins.”
He said it so matter-of-factly as if Davis was unaware of this obvious fact. Because yeah, they were twins. Identical even. But that was on the outside. Inside, the Vance twins were two very different people.
Davis grunted in response and went about the task at hand. Framing in a faux fireplace and mantle for the living room they were renovating. The Pineridge home was built in 1985 and was quite honestly in desperate need of more updates. But the show wasn’t funded to help with other rooms. This was the part of the gig Davis didn’t like. They were only contracted to renovate one room of the homeowners choosing but then the rest of the house remained outdated. Sometimes even lacking some much-needed repairs.
“Look, after this one, we only have one episode left to film this season. We’re in the homestretch.”
Davis grunted.
But Garrett was right. He could do this. In a few weeks, he’d be done. At least for six weeks before they began shooting the next season. Their final season. But he wasn’t going to think about that. For now, he had his eyes on the prize. The six weeks of solitude after they wrapped up this season. Just him and Cooper, and his canoe, books, and projects. His TBR pile of books was about to topple over. And he had so many projects in his shop waiting to be finished.
Not to mention the tasks at Kelsey’s home that needed attention. Ricky, God rest his soul, had been overly consumed by the bar which meant the simple repairs at his home took a backseat. Davis knew Kelsey had a lot on her plate, and whenever he was at her place and he noticed a project that needed attention, he itched to be the one to fix it for her. She deserved that much, and whatever he could do to shoulder some of her burden, he’d happily do—if only to see her smile. A smile he’d been thinking about more and more as of late.
Davis gestured at the other end of the piece of wood. “Hold that for me, will ya?”
Garrett listened, propping up the 2x4 on one side while Davis used his screw gun on the other. After it was secure, he brushed his hand across the wood, his fingers skimming over the screw. The tension released in his shoulders, and he exhaled, the work calming him like it always did. It was so natural to him, like breathing. This was much easier than dealing with people. Less complicated, that was for sure.
“What you need is a night out,” Garrett suggested, tugging on the sleeves of his sports jacket.
And there it was. The earlier tension returned tenfold.
Davis’s jaw ticked. “I went out last night.”
“Hanging out with your platonic best friend isn’t my definition of a night out,” Garrett retorted, unable to hide the disgust in his voice.
The idea of being friends with a woman and sex being off the table did not interest Garrett in the slightest. In fact, it was so far-fetched, he couldn’t even comprehend it. But if he knew what had happened between the two of them the night before, he wouldn’t think his evening was so dull after all.
The problem was, Davis couldn’t explain what had actually happened between them. Only that the definition of their usual platonic/innocent relationship had become obscure. And if it didn’t make sense to himself, then he couldn’t explain it to Garrett. Besides his brother would most likely taint it, and ruin whatever this was before it even began.
