Chapter 4 #2
Ah, things are starting to make more sense now.
I’ve heard Ashton talk about Zane more times than I can count.
This is his best friend and coworker. The guy who rented him the cabin after his wife left him.
Somehow, I’d pieced together a hundred stories about Zane without ever putting a face to the name.
“The plumbing?” I blink. “Should I be worried?”
He lets out a laugh, and I totally ignore the cluster of butterflies taking flight in my stomach at the sound.
“Not anymore. It just needed some quick repairs and is all good now.”
I narrow my eyes. “Repairs from…what, exactly?”
Zane hesitates, lips twitching like he’s trying not to smile. “Let’s just say your brother swung by this morning to ’check on a few things,’ used the bathroom, and left me with a minor toilet catastrophe.”
I blink. “He clogged the toilet?”
“Spectacularly,” Zane snickers. “He tried to blame it on the low water pressure, but that wasn’t the issue. I spent the afternoon taking it apart to make sure it didn’t flood before you showed up.”
“Why didn’t he fix it himself?”
He shakes his head, his smile spreading across his face. “Ash might know a lot about building houses, but the man is clueless when it comes to plumbing.”
I shake my head. “I’m surprisingly not shocked by that.”
Zane shifts his weight, one hand still at the back of his neck, as his gaze lands on me. It lingers long enough to make me aware of it. His gaze is attentive and because of that, I find myself studying him too.
The man is objectively attractive, sure, but that’s not what blindsides me.
No, it’s the way he appears so at ease and how different that is from Derek.
There’s nothing rehearsed about the way Zane smiles or seems to carry himself.
He’s perfectly content being exactly who he is, and that’s refreshing.
I find it infinitely more appealing than all the expensive suits and fake smiles I spent the last three years surrounded by. Derek would’ve hated this place. He would’ve complained about the drive, the lack of cell service, and the fact that the nearest upscale restaurant is probably an hour away.
He definitely wouldn’t have spent his afternoon taking apart a toilet for a friend.
I shouldn’t be noticing the kindness in Zane’s eyes or the way the corner of his mouth keeps twitching like he’s fighting a smile. My heart betrays me as it does an inconvenient little flutter, and the realization hits me like a splash of cold water. Nope, this is not happening.
I pull my eyes away from Zane before whatever this is that I’m feeling can turn into something confusing.
I didn’t come here to check out the hot handyman-next-door.
I came here to breathe. To figure out my life after ending things with Derek.
To get rid of the version I twisted myself into just to keep him happy.
I made a promise to myself, on the drive here, that there will be no romantic distractions this summer or any rebound disasters.
I will not allow myself to confuse attention with affection.
I want peace, to be with my plants, to spend time with Ashton, and hopefully rebuild a relationship with my dad. That’s it.
Zane leans onto his heels, and I get the feeling he might be stuck in his own thoughts too, until we both snap out of whatever is happening at the same time. We awkwardly glance away, right as the front door swings open, and Ashton stomps inside, his arms full of my luggage.
“Why did you bring more plants than—” He pauses, glancing between the two of us with a raised brow. “What’s going on here?”
Neither of us answers quick enough, and a slow look passes over Ashton’s face.
“And Zane’s still shirtless. Fantastic.”
Zane looks down and groans before grabbing a shirt I didn’t notice was hanging off the back of a chair and slipping it over his head.
“Dude, what did I tell you?” Ashton adds, jerking his chin my way.
My eyes narrow at him. "Tell him about what?"
“Nothing,” they answer in unison, which is suspicious.
“Nothing was ’going on here,’” Zane answers, shaking his head. “I was busy fixing your toilet.”
Ashton’s frown deepens. “Uh-huh.”
“Don’t start,” Zane snaps, whistling for his dog to follow him toward the front door.
“I’m just saying,” Ashton mutters. “I leave you alone with my little sister for five minutes, and somehow you’re standing around shirtless.”
“Your plumbing issue was the reason I was shirtless. Not your sister.”
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling at their bantering.
“Hey, I warned you about the low water pressure,” Ashton adds as he drops my duffel bag onto the couch.
“No, you just clog every toilet you use,” I say over my shoulder with a smirk, grabbing my bag and head toward the hallway.
“Down the hall and to your left,” Ashton calls helpfully then returns his attention back to Zane.
“Seriously, man. If you break anything else, I’m sending you a bill,” I hear Zane say.
Ashton snorts. “You say that like I’d pay for it.”
Their banter fades behind me as I step into the bedroom.
It looks simple. A bit rugged in that ’a dude definitely lives here’ kind of way.
The comforter is an olive-green color, the furniture is made of mismatched wood.
A pair of old boots sits by the closet, appearing as if they haven’t moved in months, and there’s a faint, familiar scent, like clean soap and worn leather, that tells me this space belongs to my brother, even if he hasn’t stayed here in a while.
I set my plant on the windowsill, letting it soak up some sunlight. I hear Zane’s voice faintly from outside of the window. “Sven! Let’s go.”
A few seconds later, Ashton is leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed casually. “Well, what do you think about the place?”
I nod, brushing my fingers over the edge of the dresser. “It’s going to take a little getting used to.”
He watches me for a beat, and his face softens. “I’m glad you’re here, Maxie.”
I meet his eyes. “Me too.”
The words surprise me because I expected this summer to feel like an obligation. A pause before my real life started again. Instead, standing here with him feels strangely like the beginning of something. I just don’t know what yet.