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Amelia headed up the steps to the front door, then waited for Blake before pressing the doorbell. When the door swung open, Layla stood there, a big smile on her face.
“Hey, Amelia,” she said, as she moved to the side so they could step into the house.
When Amelia quickly removed her jacket and boots, Blake said, “We won’t be here very long, so don’t get too caught up in anything.”
“Okay,” Amelia said with a nod, then followed Layla as she ran toward the back of the house.
Blake stood there for a moment, uncertain what to do now that he’d been left alone in the foyer. He didn’t really want to take off his outer wear, since he needed to go back outside to transfer the tires from the garage into his truck.
The house was quiet, and he didn’t know if Charli was even aware that he was there. Shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans, he shifted his weight from one foot to the other as he glanced around.
Though the house was big, it didn’t feel empty. The home that Charli had had a hand in creating was warm and cozy. Just like she’d told him she hoped to have one day.
“Hi, Blake.”
Blake turned at the sound of Charli’s voice. She was walking toward him from the direction where the girls had disappeared.
Though his heart raced at the sight of her, it also pained Blake that she didn’t greet him with the unabashed joy she once had.
Returning her smile, he said, “Hey.”
It looked like she’d changed after school. He doubted black leggings and an oversized dark red sweater that reached almost to mid-thigh was an outfit she’d wear to school.
“I see the girls are already in Layla’s room.”
“Yep. They ran off pretty quickly.”
“Do you want to take off your jacket?” Charli asked as she came to a stop near him.
“I figured I’d keep my stuff on so I could transfer the tires.”
“Okay. Did you want to come through to the garage?”
“I’m going to back the truck into the driveway, so I’ll just meet you there.”
After Blake stepped back onto the porch, Charli gave him another smile, then closed the door. Blake jogged down the sidewalk to the truck.
He got behind the wheel, then maneuvered the truck so that he could back up the wide driveway beside Charli’s car. The garage door in front of Charli’s car was open, so he walked into the large space.
Cars were his passion, which meant he also liked the spaces they inhabited. This garage had been painted white and was super clean and bright. It was a large space with room for two cars as well as some storage and worktables along the sides and back. There was a car parked on the other side, which he assumed belonged to Will or Janessa.
“The tires are over here,” Charli said, gesturing to where three wheel racks stood. When Blake joined her at the tires, she tapped the ones on the rack nearest to the door of the garage. “These ones are mine.”
Blake ran his hand over the tread. “They look good. How old are they?”
“This will be my second winter using them.”
“Good.”
He lifted the first one off the rack, then carried it over to the truck and placed it in the bed. When he turned, Charli was trying to pick up one of the other tires. Hurrying over, he said, “Hey. Let me do that.”
“Are you saying I’m too weak?” Charli asked as she stepped away from the tires.
Blake glanced over, relieved to see that she wasn’t saying it in anger or defensiveness. “Nope. Just don’t want you to get messed up. My clothes are more used to collecting dirt.”
“That’s not what you wear to work, is it?”
“It is, but I wear coveralls over them. But while my clothes are made for rougher work, yours are not.” Blake lifted another tire and headed for his truck.
