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She examined her finger, her expression more annoyed than pained. "Damn staple. I didn't even see it."
Without a word, I rushed to grab the first aid kit conveniently stashed in the hallway. Gently taking her hand in mine, I cleaned the cut before wrapping it neatly with a bandage.
"There," I said, giving her a reassuring smile. "All patched up."
Lexi let out a laugh, her eyes dancing with mischief. "We're such a mess. Maybe we should lay off the mimosas if we're going to be wielding sharp tools."
Chuckling, I raised my glass in agreement. "To not drinking and renovating." That evening, after a particularly tiring day, I was at Jake's place, preparing a hearty meal for the both of us.
"This chicken is amazing, Mand," Jake commented, breaking my reverie.
"Thanks," I replied, "It’s just something I threw together."
He smiled appreciatively, "You really have a knack for this. You should cook more often."
“I think I will. You know… you wouldn't believe how fast this week flew by. It's been a whirlwind with Lexi, but every single moment... it's like we're reliving the old days and making new memories. Like the other day, we were yanking out those stubborn kitchen tiles, right? And I kid you not, one of them was so tough that when it finally gave way, I lost my balance and crashed into Lexi. She was holding this jar of paint, and whoosh! We were both drenched in lilac paint.”
He laughed, and, encouraged, I joined in.
"You two are a disaster,” he teased.
“It was everywhere, Jake, everywhere! And Lexi, oh, she just starts laughing and says, 'You know, Mand, purple has always been your color!' I mean, what could I do? I just wiped the paint off my face and told her, 'Absolutely! And it looks fantastic in your hair, too!' We couldn't stop laughing, covered in paint from head to toe.”
“My sister, the graceful swan,” he laughed.
“And then there was this other time,” I said, thrilled he was engaging with me so well, “we were taking a break from all the renovation chaos. We headed to the diner for a quick bite, reminiscing about college days over milkshakes. Lexi brought up this hilarious story – remember when I tried to impress that guy with my 'death by chocolate' cake, only to find out he was allergic to chocolate? Yeah, I was mortified! And there's Lexi teasing me, suggesting maybe you'd like that cake. I just brushed it off, you know, trying to play it cool. Anyway, I hope you left room for dessert."
“Sounds amazing,” he said, and I rushed to the kitchen to grab it.
Later in the week, after another hearty dinner, Jake and I were lounging on the couch, indulging in some old action movie. At some point, Luke joined us, making himself comfortable between Jake and me.
"Man, Mandy," Luke commented during a particularly dramatic scene, "you've become quite the chef.
Jake's lucky to have you around." Jake chuckled, nodding in agreement, "Definitely, it's been a while since I've eaten this well."
I just smiled, my heart fluttering, but keeping my emotions masked. Throughout the week, whether with Lexi's teasing remarks or Jake's innocent appreciation of my culinary efforts, it became increasingly clear that no one seemed to pick up on the real reason behind my gestures. My feelings for Jake remained my own little secret.
About a week after I arrived, it was oddly cool for a summer morning, which I'd hoped would be filled with labor and sweat, working alongside Lexi. We had made a routine of turning the renovation chaos into some of our best memories, often ending up in laughter more than actual work. I felt a loyalty and bond with Lexi that was hard to put into words. The same way you'd feel for someone who had seen your highs, lows, and everything in between. It was the kind of unspoken understanding that comes from years of friendship.
So, when my phone rang, Lexi's name flashing on the screen, I expected it to be another one of our regular morning chats about the day's renovation plans. Instead, her voice had an apologetic edge.
"Hey, Mands," she began, "I've got some news. The contractors are coming in for the next few days, and they've got a massive crew. It's just gonna be a bit too crowded for us both to be there."
My stomach dropped a little. "Oh," was all I managed to say, trying not to sound as disappointed as I felt.
"I'm really sorry. You know I'd have you there if I could, right?"
"Yeah, of course," I replied, forcing some cheer into my voice. "Just... give me a call when they're done, okay? We'll pick up right where we left off."
She laughed. "Absolutely. Thanks for understanding. And hey, enjoy the time off. You deserve a little R and R."
The house felt quieter after hanging up, so I wandered into the living room, only to find Jake lounging out on the couch, remote in hand. The room echoed with gunfire, fast cars, and the unmistakable sounds of an action movie. The screen displayed a rugged hero evading an explosion, his face smeared with grime and determination.
Jake looked over, his lips curling into a smile. "Care to join? Got a whole lineup of these."
Sitting down beside him, I nodded. "Why not? Looks entertaining."
As the hours rolled by, I found myself getting engrossed in the adrenaline-fueled plots and unexpected twists. Every so often, I'd catch Jake glancing over, laughing at particularly over-the-top scenes, or commenting on the absurdity of a car surviving a ten-story fall. We sat close, but not too close, a gap maintained by Jake's oblivion to my growing feelings.
