Miss Fix-It

“I never have, no. She’s your mom, but I am, too. We’re just your moms at different times in your life. Your dad still loves her, but it’s a different love. I accepted that a long time ago. You can’t erase the memory of someone, but that doesn’t mean you have to be second best to them. And anyone who makes you feel that way doesn’t deserve you in the first place.”

I smiled sadly. “Thanks. That makes me feel better. But, still, you’re a stronger person than I am. Does it make me a bad person if I say I don’t know if I want the baggage of someone else’s kids?”

“Not at all. That makes you human.” She finished her coffee and put the mug down. “For the record, I felt the same. Sometimes you don’t get a choice.” She stood and kissed the top of my head. “I’ll see you for dinner, honey.”

I smiled, and just before she left, turned around and said, “Hey, Mom?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m really glad you didn’t get a choice.”

She winked. “Me, too, Kali.”

***

Lunchtime passed in peace. The crazy started when Eric showed up, armed with floorboards and anything else you could imagine. Together, we cleared Ellie’s room of all my crap and got started. The delay in my schedule meant he was by himself, and that meant I had to get my hands dirty.

We went through the motions. One by one, we laid the boards and nailed them in, cutting them to size where we needed to. After about an hour, it started to take shape.

I was glad we were doing this together, in the end. It took my mind of the monotony of the painting I’d spend the last forever doing, and being with Eric was always fun. His humor made the time pass a little bit quicker.

His constant requests for a date… Not so much.

“Gonna date me yet, Kali?”

I looked at him as I hammered a nail into place with one swift whack. “That’s what I think of your offer.”

“You wound me.” He shot me a lopsided grin.

I rolled my eyes and got back to work.

Half an hour passed before he spoke again, and when he did, it was because Brantley had shown up and poked his head through the door.

“Hey,” he said. “Everything okay?”

I couldn’t help my blush as I looked up and our eyes met. “Fine. We should be done in here soon, then we can get Eli’s done.”

He held my gaze for a moment with a smile, then looked around. “It looks amazing. Ellie’s going to freak out when she gets home.”

“Lord, I hope I’m gone by then,” Eric muttered.

I shot my leg out and kicked him. “Only because you can probably remember the epic tantrums you threw as a kid.”

“I did not throw epic tantrums as a kid!”

“Oh, really?” I slid off my knees to sit properly and look at him. “When we were seven, your mom made you get out of the pool to eat at your birthday party. You tantrummed so hard you almost drowned.”

“She’s lying,” Eric told Brantley. “It’s not true. That was her.”

I kicked him again and grabbed my hammer.

Brantley gave him a tight smile. “Oh, I believe it.”

“Hey!” I pointed my hammer at him. “What does that mean?”

He held his hands up. “The hammer is way more terrifying than the paintbrush.”

I waved it.

He laughed, all the tension from his smile at Eric disappearing. “All right, all right. Put it down. Do you need anything before I work?”

I glanced at Eric. When he shook his head, I did the same. “Thanks, but we’re good. How long until the twins are home?”

He checked his watch. “You’ve got about three hours.”

Eric looked at me. “We’re not gonna get it all done today, Kali.”

Aw, shit.

“Can’t you get one of your guys in? I can’t be anymore off schedule.”

“I can try.”

“Please.” I shot him the sweetest smile and held my hands together. “I’ll pay you extra.”

He paused. “I’ll waive that fee if you go out with me.”

“I’ll pay you extra,” I repeated.

He sighed, putting down his hammer. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“So, you’re good?” Brantley reiterated. His eyes swung from Eric to me, softening in the process.

Hmm.

“We’re good. Thanks.” I smiled, and he returned it, something that seemed completely at odds with the look in his eyes.

He disappeared, and Eric stood up. He stared at the empty doorway for a moment before looking at me.

“Somethin’ going on with you two?” he asked, eyebrows drawn together.

“No,” I answered a little too quickly, turning away to line a nail up to bang in. “Why?”

“Dunno. I get the feeling he doesn’t like me.”

“That’s ‘cause you’re an asshole,” I said cheerily. I hit the nail.

He nudged me with his foot. “Shut up.”

I grinned at him until he’d turned and left the room. Then, I let the smile fall away and sighed.