Page 62 of Hoax and Kisses
“I’d do a better job at cheering you guys on, I swear.”
I glance at Matt, who watches me with gleeful amusement and nods to the gloves. “Put them on.”
Reluctantly, I take them from Cooper and slide them on. I don’t know how much protection they’ll offer, but I guess it’s better than nothing. Unless I contract an infectious disease from them and die.
“All right.” Cooper gestures to the chairs he hauled in, which are now stacked next to the bar. “Zoey, maybe you can arrange the chairs in rows to face here.” He points at the wall behind us. “Matt and I will continue setting up tables for food. Leave some space in the front,” he adds. “We’re gonna build a stage there.”
I give him a single nod. “Got it.”
For the next two hours, I move back and forth, placing the chairs in neat rows while Matt and Cooper haul the wooden planks onto the sawhorses set up against the wall. I don’t know how many chairs I carry, but the number is far more than my arms were built for. The temperature in here is still brisk, but I’m sweating, and flakes of dirt stick to my skin. I’ve never been this gross in my life. God, I’m sure I smell.
“Bend your knees,” Matt calls as I lean over, legs straight, to pick up two chairs stacked on top of each other. “You’ll hurt your back if you don’t.”
“I know how to lift things,” I shout back.
I don’t. My lower back is already screaming at me.
Once the guys are done, Cooper heads outside, and Matt waves me over.
“Where is Cooper going?”
“I brought flowers to add a bit more warmth to the place for tonight. He’s getting them from my truck,” Matt says. “Here, come help me with this.”
He positions two pieces of wood to make a forty-five-degree angle. Then nods to the hammer sitting on the table near us.
Wincing, I pick it up. “Uhhh, what do you want me to do with this?”
He holds a nail to the top of the boards, point side down. “Hit it. We’re going to build a makeshift stage for the fundraiser.”
I adjust my grip. “I want to preface by saying I’ve never held a hammer in my life.”
“It’s not rocket science, Zoey. Come on, drop it on the nail.”
I stare at the nail, then his fingers.
“What is this fundraiser anyway?” I ask.
“Remember Carl and his once-a-month trips to the forest with the kids?” He nods at the pieces of wood. “Go ahead.”
Giving in, I lower the hammer and hit the wood right next to the nail, only millimeters from Matt’s fingers.
“Okay.” He exhales sharply. “Careful, all right? I’d like to keep all my fingers if I can.”
“I’m so sorry.” Panic washes over me, and I drop the tool onto the table, hands shaking. “I told you I’ve never done that. Are you okay?”
His expression softens and his lips stretch into a reassuring smile. “It’s fine, Zoey, breathe.” He puts the nail down and takes my gloved hands in his, bending to meet my gaze. “I’m fine, see?”
I nod. “Okay, yeah.”
With a quick squeeze of my fingers, he releases me. “Lower the hammer slowly onto the nail first, to make sure you’re lined up with it. Then give it a sharp blow. Like this.”
He picks it up and shows me. When the nail is halfway in, he moves his fingers away and hits it again.
Smiling easily, he hands it over. “You’re good?”
“Yeah, I think so,” I say, tensing up as I take the tool and follow his instructions. This time, I drive the nail straight in.
“You were mentioning that Carl is involved with the fundraiser?” I ask as he sets up another one.
