Page 17 of Ginger

“I’m okay,” I said.

“All right. Just remember, you can stop whenever you want. Once we’re done with this part, the plaster will need to dry then you can paint it. Shouldn’t take long. Bronx and I will put the new bedroom furniture together while we’re waiting.”

“Because you can’t do the living room until I finish painting?”

He nodded. “No rush though, Ginger.”

I’d peered into the hallway earlier and noticed they’d blocked it past Reno’s room. I hoped no one needed to get down there anytime soon. The boxes for the furniture, new TVs, and whatever else they’d bought filled up the space. Bags even lined the wall the opposite direction past Bronx’s room. Although, I guess I needed to start thinking of this space as just our apartment and not in terms of their separate bedrooms.

The door opened and I waved at Houston. He gave me a nod before coming over. Letting him talk to Reno, I focused on the wall again. I doubted he’d come to speak with me. Even though things were better between us now, I didn’t think we’d ever be considered friends.

I did, however, listen to them. I probably shouldn’t have. Then again, if they’d been talking about something secret, they would have left the room, or at least lowered their voices.

“The club wants to help. The three of you have been working all morning and afternoon. We’re going to carry the futon downstairs, as well as your other living room furniture, and put it together for you. Then we’ll just have to bring it in once the room is ready,” Reno said.

“We appreciate it,” Reno said.

“And the girls are downstairs making a bunch of food. Just stuff like cheese sticks, potato skins, and other finger foods. I think one of them plans on bringing a bunch of it up to you shortly. Want me to put the kitchen table together and set it in the other room? You can move it later,” Houston said.

“Thanks, VP. And tell everyone the same. We want this as finished as possible by tonight. The kitchen and closet will take more time, but I’d like for at least the living room to be completely done for Ginger.”

“We’re here to help however we can,” Houston said. “And Vegas is trying to keep track of those assholes who wanted to hurt Ginger. No plan as of yet, but we’ll figure something out.”

Houston left only to appear in the next room, and started putting the little dinette set together. While he did that, I finished the wall I’d been working on, then sat on the floor to rest for a moment. I watched Bronx and Reno finish off the doorway, then Bronx came over and kneeled in front of me.

“You okay, beautiful?” he asked.

I nodded. “Just taking a short break. My arms are getting a little sore.”

“You can stop. Reno and I can finish painting.”

“But he said the two of you needed to put stuff together while I painted.”

Bronx glared at Reno, who just shrugged a shoulder. Although, if the club planned to help with the furniture, then maybe it wouldn’t hurt for the guys to finish the painting. I really did worry I wouldn’t be able to lift my arms tomorrow. I’d never done this sort of work before. Or any work really. My uncle might have treated me like a slave, but this sort of thing was beyond anything I’d ever done.

“We’ll get the two chests put together, then if you want to help without overdoing it, you can put our things away. That way the bed will be cleared off. Sound good?” Bronx asked.

“Sure, I can do that.” I smiled up at him. I just needed to wash my hands and arms really good first.

Reno stepped into the hall and returned a moment later with two sacks in his hands. I noticed they were full of clothes, and he carried them into the bedroom, then motioned for me to follow him. Houston had finished putting the legs on the table and started on the chairs. I stepped around him and Reno led me into the bathroom.

“Go ahead and shower. Put on some of your new things, then you can work on the clothes. We should have the chests put together by the time you’re done. Let the hot water hit your muscles for a bit. Otherwise you’ll be stiff tonight and tomorrow.”

“But I can still…”

He pressed a finger to my lips. “No arguing, Ginger. It’s an order.”

I nodded and stepped into the bathroom. He’d already moved all of our things over earlier so my shampoo and body soap were in the shower. I shut the door and twisted the lock, feeling uneasy about Houston being on the other side of the door. Now that I belonged to just Reno and Bronx, I didn’t like the idea of other men seeing me naked. It seemed odd since I hadn’t had a problem with it before.

I started the water and stripped out of my clothes. While I waited for it to heat, I stared at my reflection in the small mirror. The dark circles under my eyes were still there, but I looked happier than I had in a long time. I only hoped this would be my new normal. Was I really going to get my happy ending? I was too scared to dare hope for such a thing, and yet I yearned for it.

Bronx

I could tell Ginger had worn herself out. Even though she’d never painted before, she’d done a good job. There were a few spots I’d have to touch up later, but I’d do it when she wasn’t paying attention. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her feelings by making her think she hadn’t done an adequate job.

Thanks to the club, all the furniture was already put together, and all we had to do was to place it where we wanted it. Or rather, where Ginger wanted it. Although, getting her to give us feedback hadn’t been easy. If I ever got my hands on her uncle, the bastard was a dead man.

We’d pulled up the drop cloth after painting the new doorway. While I’d have loved to get the bedroom finished today, Reno made an excellent point when he’d suggested waiting to paint in there until we’d built the closet. So now the bedroom was about as finished as it could get for tonight. I stood in the doorway, arms folded, as I watched Reno and Ginger. They’d placed a colorful rug in the middle of the room, and both stood back, studying it.

---