Page 3 of Micah

“It’s not,” he agrees.

“Then let’s take it down.” The wall in question will open up two rooms, turning them into one giant space. Each of the individual rooms on this floor is too small for a photography studio on their own. But the two largest rooms combined will be the perfect solution. Avery once said so herself when she was daydreaming about what she’d do with this house if it was hers.

“Declan cool with this?” he asks.

Declan Maxwell, one of my closest friends, was not only one of my roommates for the past year, but happens to be the owner of this rental house. He moved out a couple of weeks ago to live with his new wife. “I cleared it with him.”

“You’resure?” Caden asks. “Because once we take this wall down, I’m not helping you rebuild it.”

“I’m sure.”

Caden reaches for one of two sledgehammers and prepares to swing. But before the hammer can make contact with thedrywall, he stops. “Did you get the subdivision to sign off on this?”

“I’m working on it.”

“We can wait until you have enough signatures and take down the wall another day,” Caden suggests.

“It has to be today.”

“Why?”

“Because Avery’s working all day. I don’t need her getting nosy.” Avery thinks I’m updating the second floor for our new roommate. But if all goes according to plan, we won’t ever need a third roommate. Which is just as well since I’m basically destroying the only area that could house a third person. The only hang-up is that I need fifty-one percent of the subdivision to agree to amend the covenants so that Avery can run her business from this house. I’m close, but not quite there.

“Fine, but if this falls through, you can hire Declan’s brother to rebuild your wall.”

“It won’t fall through.”

“Then go ahead,” Caden says, nodding at the wall. “Take the first swing.”

My hammer busts clear through the wall, daylight pouring in through the hole. There’s no turning back now. Not with the demolition of this wall.

And not with Avery Flanders.

Since college, I’ve been stuck in the friend zone with her. But even all those years ago, I knew she was the one. I knew it when we were both living in the city, miles apart. I felt it in my soul when I suggested she move with me to Daisy Hills, and she said yes.

For the past year, we’ve been roommates. All the while, I’ve continued to play it cool, allowing our friendship to build a strong foundation that will help us go the distance.

When Declan moved out a couple of weeks ago, I felt it in my bones. The time is now. I’m determined to bust my way out of the friend zone with Avery Flanders if it’s the last thing I do.

“You’ve got it bad, don’t you?” Caden asks, a shit-eating grin on his face.

“I want her to be happy,” I say, deflecting. It’s not exactly a secret with my buddies on the volunteer fire department that I’m in love with Avery. Hell, they’ve been heckling me about it for months now. I’d do anything to put that dazzling smile on her face. Including surprise her with her own photography studio.

“I get it, man.”

“Yeah? How’s Ruby?”

Caden’s carefree expression hardens as he takes an aggressive swing at the wall that exposes one of the studs. “Good thing we’re taking down this wall,” he says, avoiding my question. “Looks like this stud’s rotting.”

“That’s weird, right?” I ask about the interior wall, wondering how it might have gotten water damage. The second-floor bathroom is tucked away in a corner, and there aren’t any pipes in this wall. At least, there’s not supposed to be.

“Might need to check the attic,” he suggests. “Or better yet, give Malcom a call. He’s the professional.” Caden spent his summers in college working construction. His knowledge is vast, but as a gym owner, it’s not his expertise. Declan’s oldest brother, however, owns his own construction business.

“Let’s get all the drywall down and see how bad it is,” I decide. I’ve already called in one favor with Caden this week. Worst case, I’ll call Declan first before we involve his older brother. A knot does its damnedest to form in my stomach. If there’s extensive water damage up here, it might do more than halt my plans to renovate the second floor into a studio. It could hinder me from buying the house altogether.

Nope.

I’m not going to go there.

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