Page 16 of Perfectly Imperfect Us
“It works just fine. I should be developing film by this afternoon.” I picked up a few cracked pots from the work table, deciding I needed a trash can to help clear it off.
“Okay, well, your father and I are off to the club for a quick game of tennis. We’ll be back shortly as we’re having Mr. and Mrs. Mulholland over for dinner and I need time to prep. You’ll be around, right?”
I bit my tongue on what I truly wanted to reply with and nodded. “Sure will. It’ll be nice to see Skylar’s parents again.”
Mom patted me on the cheek and headed out, grumbling as the door swung shut so fast it almost clipped her backside. I’d have to mentally prepare for sharing a meal with Mrs. Mulholland. Her matchmaking skills were legendary in Nickel Bay and I knew as the fresh—single—meat in town I’d have to make sure I didn’t find myself on a blind date before I could formulate a way to say no.
I swept off the table and grabbed the crate I’d left in the corner, organizing the beginnings of what would be my new dark room, excitement building for a new venture, though it would remain a secret for now.
The doorknob jiggled and then the door opened with a bang. I spun around to see Ava looking all kinds of flustered as the door flew out of her hands and hit the outside wall. She lunged forward and made it inside before it swung shut again with a clunk. With the windows covered up and the door closed tight, I could just barely make out Ava’s form.
“Hey,” I said.
She cleared her throat and smiled at me before she started rambling. “Hey yourself. Your mom let me in as she was leaving. Said to go on back and find you out here. Hope that was okay. I can go if you want. I don’t mean to disturb you or get in—”
“Ava. It’s okay. I’m glad you’re here.” I cut her off with a smile. Seeing her again was more than okay.
She exhaled and moved closer, the small shed seeming even smaller now that she was standing in front of me, her dark hair piled on top of her head. She sported an oversized T-shirt hanging off one shoulder and some white shorts that did something wonderful to her short, tan legs. What she lacked in height, she made up for in perfectly sculpted curves. Add in the scent of coconut, the same I’d detected on her on that Ferris wheel, and I was in serious trouble.
I crossed my arms over my chest to keep from reaching out to her. She was a friend, a neighbor, a lovely girl who gave no indication she wanted anything more from me. In fact, up until a week or two ago she hated me on reputation alone. Manhandling her wasn’t called for.
“I was hoping to see the rest of the photos from the carnival. I, uh, thought I could do a video about the pageant girls’ makeup. You know, if you don’t mind me using some of those shots you got. I’ll credit you, of course.”
I tossed my hair out of my face, pleased she thought the photos might be good enough to use. “Of course I don’t mind. I’m setting up my dark room for some beach pictures I took on film yesterday, but I can email over the shots from the carnival tonight.”
She smiled wider and looked down at her feet in flip-flops. “Awesome, thank you.” She looked up at me again and reached out to touch my forearm briefly.
When she turned around to head out of the shed, I followed, scrambling to think of something to say to keep her with me just a bit longer. I ran a hand through my long hair, too focused on watching the way her legs ate up the ground with purpose to notice she’d stopped suddenly. I ran into the back of her, eliciting an “oof” as she got pinned between me and the shed door.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, moving back and trying to figure out why she’d stopped.
“It’s stuck.”
I frowned. “What’s stuck?”
She looked over her shoulder, hands yanking on the ancient doorknob.
“The door. It’s stuck.”
I gently pushed her aside and gave it a try, pushing with all my might. The thing groaned but didn’t give way. I leaned back and then shoved the door with my shoulder. Still no give. Jiggling the doorknob, I could feel that it was turning, so it wasn’t a lock I was up against.
Then it hit me.
“Oh crap,” I muttered, closing my eyes.
“What?” Ava’s voice held a hint of laughter and heavy dose of nerves.
I opened my eyes and turned to her. Laying my hands on her shoulders, I gave her a reassuring smile. “We may be stuck here for awhile. Care to help me take down some of these blackout curtains so we can see each other while we’re stuck?”
She huffed out a nervous laugh. “Did we get locked in or something?”
I traced my hands down her arms, unable to help myself when her skin was so silky. The responding shiver made me grin wider.
“Yeah, I think so. There’s a bar that swings down to lock it from the outside. Dad put it on there years ago when Mom complained the afternoon wind would flap the door open.” Ava frowned at my explanation. “Yeah, I know. Putting a lock on the inside would have been more logical, but have you met my dad? He’s not exactly handy, and in his mind, he could come out here and take care of Mom’s problem for her like a proper gentleman. Didn’t want Mom getting her hands dirty, I guess.”
Ava shook her head. “That actually sounds just like Jimmy logic. So you think it locked when the door slammed so hard?”
I tugged on her hands, moving us toward the far windows. “Yep. So, hopefully you have nowhere to be. My phone is in the house.”
