Page 25 of The Perfect Hit

I walked around the side of the house and saw boxes and the Buttars boys all doing something around them.

“What’s going on?” I asked, stopping next to a tower of boxes.

“Our grandpa is moving in,” Nash said, lifting a box and taking it underneath the small deck at the side of the house.

I smiled at that. Colt’s grandpa was a fun guy, and even though I’d only met him twice, it was fun to think he’d be there.

“Hey, Hazel,” Colt said, dropping a couple boxes he’d just pulled out from the garage-turned-guesthouse. He sported a shirt with the sleeves ripped off, and with the flex of his arms to move the boxes, I might have been distracted for several seconds.

“Hey. Your grandpa is moving in, huh? That will be fun.” Why was I struggling to talk?

We’d joked about the guesthouse for a while, that the people who’d owned it before loved to live in the past because the few times I’d peeked in through the window, I saw brown flowered wallpaper. Our homes had only been built about twenty years ago, which didn’t fit the time period of the interior décor of the guesthouse.

Colt smiled and wiped at his brow with the hem of his t-shirt, drawing my gaze to his stomach. I shouldn’t have been looking there, but, wow, I wasn’t used to seeing this side of him.

“Yeah, it will be an adventure.” He walked over and gulped from a sports drink.

“Is he going to live here permanently?” It was kind of prying, but I was curious and trying to keep my brain from drifting back to how hot Colt was looking right now.

He shrugged. “I’m not sure right now. He’s got a bunch of therapy for his hip, and my mom thinks it’s best that he be here instead of his own house by himself. She’s got the training to know what to do, and we’ve got this usable place.” He laughed as he pointed to the guesthouse.

“Is there a kitchen in it?” I asked, wandering over to the window. There had always been so much stuff in there that it was amazing to see it without all the boxes blocking the way. There were still dozens of boxes and odds and ends, but it was easier to see now.

“I think it’s just a kitchenette. But we’ll make all his food anyway. He can’t really get up and down yet.”

I turned back to him. “What can I help with?”

Colt looked like he didn’t believe me. I was in jean shorts and a nicer blouse, but it wasn’t like I couldn’t help move some things, or even sweep and clean. “Are you sure you want to help? I mean, this is ten years of my family’s junk.”

“It’ll give me something to think about other than the play.” I tried to keep the nerves out of my voice.

Colt walked over and put his arm around my shoulders, tucking me to his side. When I turned, my breath hitched as he looked me straight in the eyes. The whole thing sent a shiver along my spine, and I watched as a smile formed.

“Are you cold?” he asked.

I laughed and shook my head. How could I explain that away?

“Well, what’s bugging you? Talk to me.”

That was the great thing about Colt. He was always ready and willing to listen to anything I had to say.I hadn’t always had friends who were up for that.

I blew out a breath. “Just trying to figure out all the ins and outs of directing. It’s a lot harder than I thought. If I would’ve known sooner, I wouldn’t have mentally criticized the directors in my past.”

We walked into the small room, and I saw a broom in the corner. I picked it up and went to the far corner, sweeping at the thick layer of dust that had formed in between the boxes. There were still distinct lines where some of the stacks had been, as well as several cobwebs. I just had to breathe to make sure I didn’t freak out. Spiders and I didn’t go well together.

“I think that’s true for just about anything. We think we know a lot until we’re thrown into the reverse role.” He bent over and picked up a few more boxes. “Just know, I may not have a lot of experience, but I think you’re doing a pretty great job at all of it.”

He walked out of the room, and I bit my upper lip, doing my best to think of something other than the amazing guy I called best friend.

I just had to keep my emotions in check and use my acting skills so he wouldn’t know I was starting to like him. I didn’t need a repeat of Seth, even with the differences in character.

16

Colt

It was fun having Hazel over to help with the cleanup. Wyatt and Nash, even though they talked about her like she was a weirdo when she wasn’t around because of her love of drama and acting, were really nice to her once she was there. That was one thing I was grateful for, because I didn’t want her to stop coming around.

“It’s looking good in here, kids,” my dad said, returning from the plumbing store. He’d found a leak in the faucet when he’d turned on the water and had gone to get the supplies to fix it. Of course, that was over two hours ago, and he’d come back with only a small bag.

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