Page 61

Ellis

It took us three days to lay the tile, but once it was down, it felt like the space was feeling like it really was going to be my own soon. I knew once we added paint, things would only get better. It also didn’t take Kieran and me long to establish a comfortable routine—getting up in the mornings, making coffee together, maybe grabbing something for breakfast, and heading to the shop to get to work.

Lena found us in the kitchen on painting day, me setting up mugs of coffee for Kieran and myself while he made us bagel sandwiches to take with us for lunch. She wandered in, ready for work, and chuckled when she saw us.

“Morning, lovebirds,” she said cheerfully as she poured herself a cup.

My shoulders tensed and I scoffed to cover up the heat burning the back of my neck. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Lena leaned against the counter and smiled over her cup. “You two just seem awfully friendly these days.” Kieran frowned deeply and opened his mouth to speak, but Lena cut him off. “Oh, come on, you know I’m just kidding. All I’m saying is, I’m glad you two are friends now.”

“Friends,” I muttered, trying to sound annoyed.

“Well, friendly then. You’re able to work together, at least.”

Kieran let out a soft chuckle and shook his head. “I’ve worn down his defenses. He knows I have way better taste than he does in furniture and I’ve got a vision. That’s all.”

“Whatever it is, keep it up,” Lena said. “Since it looks like we’re all going to be living under the same roof for Christmas, I want it to be pleasant, at least.”

“Thanksgiving wasn’t so bad,” I pointed out.

“It wasn’t,” she agreed. “But that was more than a week ago. I didn’t know if whatever truce you’d called was still in effect.”

I let out an annoyed hum and sipped my coffee. “It’s fine.”

“There’s the grouchy older brother I know and love,” Lena said.

“Whatever.” I turned my attention to Kieran, desperate to escape the conversation. “How are those sandwiches coming?”

“All set,” he said, to my relief. He tucked both sandwiches into paper lunch bags and passed one to me. “Ready to hit the road?”

I nodded. “Ready.” A moment later, I turned to Lena. “See you tonight.”

She put her coffee cup down. “I’m working late on a project, so I won’t be home for dinner. You’re on your own. Don’t burn the house down.”

“Whatever you say, boss,” I said.

Kieran laughed and glanced at me. “I’ll meet you in the car.”

“Right behind you.” I nodded at Lena and followed him outside.

We were both quiet until the car doors shut and Kieran had backed out onto the street, which was when he let out a little relieved laugh. “That was weird,” he said.

I tried to tell myself it was fine. Lena was just being Lena. She didn’t know anything beyond the obvious—we were getting along and working together. For all she knew, I was paying Kieran to help. “Do you think she suspects anything?”

Kieran sighed quietly. “I don’t know. Probably not. She was probably just joking around.”

My stomach roiled and I closed my eyes briefly. “I hope so.”

By the time we got to the shop, my thoughts had stopped racing and I was ready to get to work painting. I helped Kieran set out the drop cloths, painting supplies, and buckets of paint, with every intention of helping tape the walls where we wanted the gradients to change. Kieran cut me short on that one, though.

With an unenthusiastic sigh, I reached for a roll of green painter’s tape and pulled a little from it. The second I did, Kieran reached over and took it from me. “Shoo,” he said. “I’ve got this.”

“But—”

“But nothing. I’m a designer. Let me design.” I opened my mouth to speak but he cut me off again. “I know you’re an artist. It’s in your job title and everything. But this is the fun part for me. Let me have this. Unless you really love taping walls, that is.”

I laughed quietly and conceded the point. “Fine. At least let me help.”