Chapter 10
Kade
Wednesday mornings are quickly becoming my favorite part of the week. It’s the one-time Liv and I sit down together and go through the calendar, organizing the schedule, shifting things around, projecting timelines for current jobs, and figuring out when we can take on new ones.
But mostly? I get to sit there and laugh with her.
It’s easy—easier than I expected. Talking to her doesn’t feel like work.
Half the time, we’re barely talking about construction by the end of it.
And yeah, I still get the same warning glare from Brandon every time he passes her office and catches us doubled over laughing.
But fuck it. It’s the best part of my week.
“So, we’re pushing this one back to leave room for any surprises on the school?” Liv asks, pointing between two projects in the planner.
“Ugh, I guess. It’s annoying. I wanted to get started at the Watersons’ before the end of next month, but the school job had issues that delayed us slightly." I scrub a hand across my chin, thinking it through.
Liv nudges my shoulder. “Stop thinking so hard, it looks like it’s causing you actual pain.”
“It is causing me pain.” I laugh.
“Look, the way I see it. The school’s already in motion, so it’s the priority. Focus on that, push the Watersons’ back a little. It’ll all work itself out.” Her voice is calm, steady. Like she already knows I’ll listen.
She’s right. I glance back at the calendar and nod. “Yeah. I could head down there, pitch in with the guys a bit. Trent would probably appreciate the help.”
“Now that’s something I’d love to see,” Liv says, grinning as she extends the timeline for the school.
“What, you don’t think I can still get my hands dirty with the best of them?” I ask, raising a brow.
“Oh, sure. I bet it’s just like riding a bike for you, with how often you’re doing manual labor and all,” she says with a mock-serious tone, eyes fixed on the computer like looking at me would make her laugh too hard.
“You have no idea. What do you think I was doing before the old man retired?” I cross my arms over my chest, fully leaning into it now.
“I don’t know… sitting around looking pretty? Whistling at women as they walked by? Maybe on your tenth break of the day while the real men worked?” She tilts her head, clearly enjoying herself.
I bark out a laugh. “Okay—first of all, I taught most of those guys everything they know. Second, I’m all fucking man, I can assure you. And third and most important—” I flash her a grin. “You think I’m pretty?”
The blush that creeps across her cheeks is instant. And the eye roll she gives me solidifies my decision.
“Fuck it,” I say, sitting back. “Block my calendar out for the same amount of time we extended the school project.”
She raises a brow. “And who’s going to meet with new clients between now and then?”
“Brandon can handle it. I’ll be working with the real men.” I throw her a wink.
She laughs, shaking her head again as she updates the planner and fires off an email to Brandon. Silence settles between us, easy and comfortable, the kind that only makes it harder to picture walking out of this office. I want to find a reason to stay. To keep talking to her.
Then it hits me, Aubrey mentioned something about Liv’s sink. The idea of seeing her outside the office, just the two of us, has a pull I don’t bother ignoring.
“Your sink still leaking?” I ask, hoping—for my sake—that the answer’s yes.
“Yeah, but it’s nothing major. A bowl underneath is doing the trick for now.” She doesn’t look up, still typing.
“If you’re free tonight, I could stop by, take a look. Maybe bring some Chinese food with me?” I offer casually, though the knot tightening in my gut makes it feel anything but.
Her eyes snap up to meet mine. She blinks, face unreadable.
“Oh, I’m not free tonight,” she says quickly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
I grin, still teasing. “Got yourself a big date or something?”
I don’t expect her to blush. But she does. And shit—there it is. A flush creeping up her cheeks, a flicker of guilt in her eyes.
She does have a date.
Something in my chest twists.
“Who’s the lucky guy?” I ask, trying to keep my voice light even as that tightness builds in my stomach.
“Cameron Hollis. Aubrey set it up.”
Cameron.
Fucking.
Hollis.
What the fuck, Strawbs?
I nod like it’s no big deal. Like hearing her say Cameron Hollis doesn’t make me want to drive a nail gun through a two-by-four just to work the tension out of my chest.
“That’s cool,” I say, keeping my tone light. “Cam’s… decent.”
Liv offers a soft smile, but she doesn’t say much more, just turns back to her laptop, fingers tapping the keys like nothing’s changed.
But something has. At least for me.
I lean back in my chair, eyes drifting to the calendar but not really seeing it. She’s allowed to date—of course she is. Hell, I’d be the first to say she should. She’s smart, funny, beautiful. Any guy in this town would be lucky to take her out.
So why does the thought make me want to rip the page out of the planner and set it on fire?
She’s not mine. We’re coworkers. Friends, maybe. And sure, I like our Wednesdays. The way she laughs at my dumb jokes. The way her brow furrows when she’s focused. The way she teases me and somehow always gets the last word.
But that doesn’t mean I like her. Not like that. Right?
Except… no one else makes me feel like this. Like I want to hang around just a little longer. Like I’m looking for excuses to be near her. Like I want to be the one taking her out tonight, making her laugh, seeing that blush spread for a reason that has something to do with me.
I drag a hand down my face.
Nope. Not jealous. Just… protective. That’s all.
Still, when I glance over at her—head down, totally unaware she’s just knocked the wind out of me—I know I’m full of shit.
And I have no idea what the hell to do about it.
I clear my throat and shift forward in my seat, trying to shake it off.
I should go. It feels awkward now even though it shouldn’t and I don’t want Liv to sense it.
“Thanks for your help with the planner today,” I say, the words coming out stiffer than I mean them to. “Same time next week?”
She looks up, a little surprised by the sudden formality, but nods. “Yeah, of course.”
I force a smile, push up from the chair, and grab my coffee cup even though it’s been empty for the last ten minutes. I need air. Something that doesn’t smell like her coconut shampoo or remind me how easy it is to sit next to her and forget we’re supposed to be just coworkers.
As I step out into the hallway, the silence hits harder than usual. I roll my shoulders, let out a breath, and head for the stairs instead of the break room. I don’t need caffeine, I need clarity.
Don’t go there.
Aubrey’s voice echoes in my head, clear as day.
She’s been through enough. You don’t get to mess this up.
Trent’s said it too, in fewer words. Even Brandon, who normally doesn’t give a damn who I flirt with, gave me a look that said, not this one.
And they’re right.
Liv’s not just another girl in town. She’s figuring out who she is, rebuilding. She doesn’t need someone like me complicating things.
So why does it feel like I’m the one unraveling?
I stop outside, lean against the railing, and look out over the lot. The sun’s too bright, the air too hot, but it doesn’t matter. I need the sting of it to keep my head on straight.
She’s going on a date. She should.
And I should be okay with that.
But as I stand there, trying to shove the feelings down deep enough that it won’t get in the way next Wednesday, I already know:
I’m not.
Not even close.