Page 9 of The Holiday Exchange
“Nope. It would actually make things easier since all my tools are there.”
“I didn’t even think of that. Okay, I’m sold. What time should I be there Saturday?”
“Is ten too early?”
“I’m an early riser,” she says, waving her hand as if ten in the morning is kid stuff.
“How about eight then? I’m an early riser too.”
“It’s a date. See you later, Trevon.” She winks at me and my throat goes dry. She’s almost out the door when she turns around. “Don’t forget to text me your address later.”
I give her a double thumbs-up and watch her walk out.
“Dude, who was that?” Garret, a senior associate and probably the closest thing I have to a work friend, nudges me with his shoulder. “And why did she call you Trevon?”
“She’s a friend. It’s an inside joke.”
“Think she’ll be back in again soon?”
“Maybe.” I glance sideways at him. “Why?”
“If she’s just a friend, you mind if I ask her out? She’s kind of a babe.”
“No,” I state firmly, surprising myself. It’s not like I have some sort of romantic claim on her and Garrett is a niceenough guy. But my whole body flashed hot at the thought of him taking Kayla on a date. I wasn’t expecting that kind of visceral reaction.
“I mean…” I scramble for a better response. “I don’t think she’s dating right now.”
I have no idea if this is true or not, but it could be so it’s not a total lie, right?
Garrett looks at me, a slow smile growing. “I see how it is.” He puts his hands up and backs up a step. “I’ll keep my distance. But you’d better act quick before someone who’s not as nice as me snatches her up.”
I scoff. “What? No, it’s not like that…”
Is it?
“Whatever you say, man.” He points a finger at me. “Just don’t wait too long to figure yourself out.”
Before I can respond, the customer service phone rings and Garrett answers, effectively ending the conversation. Or interrogation? Therapy session? I don’t really know what that was, but Garrett’s warning makes me think. Am I interested in dating Kayla?
I ponder this as I wheel the buggy filled with Kayla’s purchases to the backroom. She’s beautiful, smart, kind, friendly…
Sure sounds like I’m interested.
But is there any chance that she would be interested in someone like me? I think back to the comment she made yesterday about me not being so bad myself. I took it as an attempt to lighten the mood after I made things uncomfortable by letting it slip that I’m intimidated by her beauty. But maybe the attraction isn’t just one-sided.
Maybe I should take a shot at asking her out. I could do it Saturday while we’re working. But what if she says yes because she thinks I’ll stop helping her if she doesn’t agree? Of course, Iwouldn’t do such a thing. But she doesn’t know me well enough to know that.
Okay, new plan: I’ll ask her out, but I’ll wait until after this project is complete. That way if she says yes, I’ll know it’s really because she wants to, with no perceived obligation.
Now my goal is to finish this project as quickly as possible.
7
KAYLA
Ipull up beside Trevor’s mailbox at seven fifty-five. As I get out of my car, I zip my jacket against the morning chill and survey his house. It’s a mid-century rancher that looks well-maintained but a bit dated with twisted black iron railing, a half-screened metal storm door, and mud-brown brick. In my mind’s eye, I picture the brick repainted white and the scraggily bushes in the front replaced with hydrangeas. It definitely has potential.
But I’m not here to play HGTV. I’m here to build sets, so I grab my bag and march to the front door to announce my arrival. Trevor answers my knock within seconds like he was waiting for me.