Page 21 of The Fall Fix Up

Janae chuckled before shrugging. “It’s not like I really had a choice.”

“True,” Grace conceded as she took a bite of her food. “Well, how are you handling living with someone again? I know you had said it’s been a while since you had to deal with someone else all up in your space.”

“I mean, I lived with Braeden and my ex for years,” Janae said. “And between the two of them, I honestly think Braeden was worse minus the obvious relationship woes. Sometimes siblings are your biggest haters.”

Grace chuckled. “I wouldn’t know about that at all, but I can imagine. I’ve heard horror stories from Ava about living with her sisters.”

“Oh, listen, I could tell you some things that would make your head spin,” Janae joked, though she was being serious. “I could write a whole dissertation on micromanaging and its effects on your will to live. Compared to my sister, Aiden is a dream roommate, and I would gladly choose to live with him over her.”

“Is that so?” Grace smirked. “I thought you were going to say you had your hands full keeping him in line.”

“Not even a little bit. The man is quiet and cleans up more than I do. Honestly, I know I’m getting the better end of this deal to the point that I might need to start cooking for him or something just to make it more even.” She took another bite of her sandwich, chewing quickly before speaking again. “And it’s been nice to have some company. The house isn’t huge, of course—you’ve been in it—but it feels more lived in with him there instead of me living alone in a construction zone.”

Grace hummed softly, a teasing glint in her gaze. “You do realize that every time you talk about Aiden, you smile with all your teeth.”

Janae narrowed her eyes. “I’m just grateful,” she replied, probably too quickly to seem anything but suspicious.

“Is that what we’re calling it now?”

“That’s what it is.” When Grace stared at her, Janae tried to glare but she couldn’t help but laugh at Grace’s knowing expression. “What? Why are you staring at me like that?”

“I’m just saying. Grateful might not be the word I’d use.”

“What are you implying?” Janae asked.

“I’m not implying anything,” Grace said, her faux innocence not something Janae believed at all. When Grace saw her expression, she chuckled and shook her head. “I’m just thinking that maybe there’s something more there than just gratefulness. I mean, you did mention before that he looked strong and dependable, especially with his shirt off.”

Janae’s mouth fell open, and she scrambled to think of something to say. “I just meant he was strong. The man picked up a whole sink.”

“Mmm-hmm, and you just happened to need to mention his state of undress?”

“Well . . .” Janae trailed off. When Grace jerked her eyebrows up in a knowing expression, Janae sputtered with laughter. “Grace! Surely, you aren’t suggesting I have ulterior motives?”

“Not at all,” she agreed unconvincingly. “I’m just saying that Aiden is a good-looking man. Oh, don’t give me that look. I’m a lesbian, but I can still recognize if a man is attractive. And you’re bi, that means you’re somewhat wired to recognize the other half or so of the gender spectrum.”

Janae rolled her eyes. “I guess so.”

“Oh, come on,” Grace teased. “There’s no crime in noticing he’s cute.”

“I didn’t say there was. And he’s not cute,” Janae countered. “Puppies are cute. Babies are cute. Aiden is . . . I mean . . .” Damn it. There I go putting my foot in my damn mouth again.

Grace’s smile was wide. “So, you have been noticing. Good to know.”

Janae sighed and shook her head. “You are insufferable.”

“I’m still right though,” she said with a shrug as she took another bite of her meal. “Besides. There’s no harm in being attracted to him. He’s single. You’re single. It’s cuffing season and conveniently you have a candidate already down the hall.”

“There’s nothing going on,” Janae insisted. “And there’s not going to be. He’s living in my house and helping me fix the place up. Trying something with him would be highly inappropriate.”

“Why?” Grace asked. “You’re both adults and it’s not like you work together. There’s no scandal here. Just two people and one house.”

Janae crossed her arms and tried to ignore the warmth that curled in her belly at the thought of it. “Aiden is helping with repairs. That’s all it is.”

Grace pursed her lips and hummed but blessedly didn’t say anything more. They ate in companionable silence, but even when they started talking again about safer subjects, Janae’s thoughts still came back to Aiden. She had suspected he was single when he didn’t mention having any guests, and he was pretty much back at the house every night at the same time. They hadn’t talked about it, and now she was wondering if it was something she should try to bring up. She didn’t mind Vini or any of their mutual friends coming by the house, but the place wasn’t exactly party ready. It was part of why she was so insistent on Braeden not coming to visit yet. Well, that and the fact that Braeden didn’t know how to mind her own damn business on the best of days.

By the time the final bell of the school day rang, Janae’s head was pounding from the chatter of overdramatic teenagers and her own endless thoughts. She loved her students, but sometimes she just needed a bit of silence to get herself together. Thankfully, her drives home gave her that. She rolled her windows down, enjoying the scent of fall in the air and the golden afternoon light. Driving home was one of her favorite things to do, especially now when she knew there was someone there waiting for her.

When Janae pulled into the driveway, she couldn’t help but smile. Her craftsman might not be as large as the house she’d lived in before moving here, and it definitely wasn’t as fancy, but it felt more like a home. It felt more like her home, even with it needing work. The shutters still needed painting and the porch steps needed to be sanded, but just knowing that it had potential steadied her. When she pushed open the front door and stepped inside, the faint smell of sawdust and paint greeted her like a familiar friend. She had grown used to their presence now and wondered if she would miss them when they were finally gone.