Page 24 of Shadows of Before

She raised her eyes to the ceiling. “You are something else. But no thanks. I decided I’m ready to be done with you.”

He walked over, close to her. “No you’re not.” He leaned over and whispered, “Your nipples are hard. I can see them because you aren’t wearing a bra.”

“No, Will.”

“Why not? You enjoyed me. I enjoyed you.”

“No.”

“Okay.” He rolled up his sleeves. “What’s left in the house?”

“We’re nearly done with cleaning. We were going to paint next.” She gestured to the cans off to the side. “Mary picked out the color. She said it would make the whole place look bigger.”

The doorbell rang. “She also ordered a new kitchen set and some other things with same day delivery.”

He arched a brow. “She paying for it?”

“No, I am.”

“Okay. I’ll start in the bedroom.”

She went to the kitchen.

He went into the bedroom. They’d moved all the furniture to the middle and a ladder leaned against the wall.

He got to work.

* * *

Katie worked like a madwoman, trying to ignore the fact that Will was helping her. She was still angry at his attempt to change their relationship to more than just sex. She finished cleaning the living room, then stalked to the kitchen and painted for an hour. The light came in from the bare window and bounced off the white walls. She knew she’d find the same in the bedroom.

When she went back into the living room, she found him painting the edges of the wall next to the ceiling. So she took another can and worked on the side he’d already cut in.

All told, it took them three hours to paint the small apartment. The music played but they didn’t speak. Then he went into the kitchen and came in with two beers. He droppeddown to the floor, leaned against the couch and handed a bottle up to her. He sipped his all the while listening to the music and staring at her.

So be it. She sat too. He turned down the music. “It looks great,” she said. “Thanks for your help.”

“Yeah, you should call Mary and tell her we’re done.”

“No. We have to clear away all the paint stuff.”

“Katie…let’s…”

“No. Besides, I’m staying overnight at her mother’s house with her and the baby.” A small smile crooked her mouth. “Like we did when we were little except no baby of course.”

His brows skyrocketed. “So youdoknow how to have fun.”

She rolled to her feet. “I have to shower and change.”

“Me, too.”

Her gaze narrowed on him. “Just sex?” she asked.

“Yeah, just sex.”

“Okay. I’ll call Mary.”

* * *

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