Chapter Thirteen #3
“Let’s not forget all those women you’re schmoozing.”
“Definitely, I’m a real playboy,” smirked Matty.
Reese’s sweet, teasing smile could have melted chocolate. “Total playboy.”
Matty chuckled, shaking her head as the last nut gave way. “I guess there’s nothing really stopping me. Just fear of change and not passing the tests. Can you grab me a towel?”
“Sure. You know, I think you’ll do great. You just need to practice for it. There are practice tests, right?” She grabbed a towel from under the sink and handed it to her.
“Yeah, there are four tests, and all have practice ones. It’s been forever since I studied.
I’m not sure I even remember how.” She wiggled out the cartridge, replacing it with the towel to catch the water still in the pipe.
The white towel quickly absorbed it. She wasn’t surprised to find some bits of brown on the fabric when she pulled it back.
Tossing it on the other side of the bathtub, she inspected the valve.
She fished out a seal and found it worn down to almost nothing.
The inlet screens were completely blocked with brown, rusty-looking debris.
She looked up with a grin. “I think we have the problem.”
Matty wasn’t surprised that the issue was the mixer cartridge valve. It was what controlled the water going out of the faucet. It was where the hot and cold temperatures and pressure were controlled. With both inlets clogged, no water could come out.
A quick ride to the local hardware store was all they needed.
Being back in the car with Reese was more relaxed this time but also still charged.
Their brief moments of flirting had spilled out of her unintentionally.
She couldn’t seem to stop herself. She had stopped thinking about romantic relationships outside of the fictional ones she had spent her evenings with a long time ago.
There was something about Reese that pulled her in. Made her not want to keep that wall up. Having a friend would be nice. But change was hard for Matty. Her routine, so structured and predictable, was where she found safety. Was the woman worth stepping out of that protective box?
That was a question that would need time to answer.
After the part needed was secured, they went back to the home. The dusty smell was no less strong when they went inside, but it was much better upstairs.
“Now, all I have to do is screw this little baby back in, and if this is the problem, then we’ll be great. If it’s not, then, well, we keep looking.”
Reese sat on the edge of the tub, close enough for Matty to be well aware of her presence. She licked her lips and focused her attention on the valve. She really hoped this was it. The last thing she wanted to do was start tearing things apart.
Once it was attached, she stood, wiping her hands on her jeans. “Well, moment of truth. Let’s try the cold first.”
Reese moved so she could get out of the tub. Matty felt Reese lean close, her hip brushing Matty’s as she turned the handle.
Nothing happened.
“Oh, dammit,” moaned Reese.
Matty frowned, then realized what was missing. She’d turned the tap off. “Reese?”
“What?”
“We didn’t turn the water shutoff back on.”
“You’ve got to be joking?” Then she laughed.
“Give me just a minute.”
Her heart was beating fast after jogging outside, then back inside and up the stairs.
“Okay, let’s try this once more.”
Resuming their spots, she reached for the tap, turning it.
Nothing.
“Dam—”
A rattle in the pipes sounded, knocking like Matty’s still-fast-beating chest. It only increased as she felt Reese wrap her hand around Matty’s arm. Then it tightened when water spurted out, then flowed out like normal.
“You did it!”
“Wait, don’t get too excited. We need to check the hot.” She twisted the other handle.
“I can’t believe there’s this much suspense over water,” breathed Reese, but she never took her eyes off the tap. “Is it hot?”
“Might need a minute to heat up.”
Time ticked by like minutes, but it was only seconds, and with each one she felt Reese rock on her heels a little more. The pressure on her arm was pleasant, and it was the only reason she was dragging it out longer than needed.
“Matty,” whined Reese, a sound she never would have expected to come out of the woman.
Chuckling, Matty reached down. Her fingers threaded into the water. She turned her head. “It’s hot.”
“For real?” breathed Reese, her eyes sparkling.
“For real. You’ve got a working shower.”
The size of Reese’s eyes and toothy smile were almost the same.
Her arms went around Matty’s neck as Matty’s arms encircled her waist. Both bounced up and down in triumph, laughing all the while as water ran in the background.
It continued for a few moments before both slowed.
It quickly became noticeable to them both, heads ducking and limbs untangling, that their bodies had been pressed together.
The blush on Reese’s cheeks only seemed to make her glow more as she gave Matty one more squeeze before standing a respectable few feet apart. “Thank you, Matty. This means more to me than I can even explain.”
“No need to thank me. It’s what friends are for, right?” She didn’t miss the hopefulness in her voice as the words came out.
“Totally. Friends sounds nice.”
It did indeed. Only Matty now wondered if this would stop there. She was excited and terrified to find out.