Page 96 of How to Love Your Neighbor
“Aww, things could have worked out so differently for us,” Rosie said, leaning her head on Grace’s shoulder.
“That’s fine. Laugh it up. Like none of you have put both feet in your mouth?”
“How about I grab us some snacks,” Josh said.
Grace wanted to reach out to Noah or go curl up on his lap. She’d never craved physical closeness with anyone before. Growing up with her mom, she’d gotten used to drying her own tears, reveling alone in her small successes, and lifting herself up when she fell down, physically or emotionally.
“I think it’s supercute,” Grace said.
Noah rolled his eyes. “Just what I was going for.” He winked at her, then looked at Rosie. “How’s school going? You’re on the same timeline as Grace, right?”
“Yes. Less than six weeks. It seems hard to believe. Speaking of, we can finalize the slide show after dinner,” Rosie said.
Josh joined them with stuffed mushroom caps and scooped tortilla chips filled with salsa and topped with melted cheese.
“You are a man of many talents,” Noah said, leaning forward to pass out the napkins Josh set down on the coffee table.
“It’s just snacks.” He sat back down after pressing a kiss to the top of Rosie’s head.
“He’s modest but he is good at everything he does,” Rosie said.
Grace heard the happiness in her friend’s voice. Maybe it was too soon, but Rosie had a point: Why wait if you’ve found what makes you happy? Too often, people waited for the perfect moment only to have it pass them by.
“What’s the slide show about?”
Grace picked up a tortilla bowl, holding it over her napkin. “How to make a house a home. We had to talk about essential design elements that change a place from being walls and floors to being ahome.We’ve been introduced to so many techniques, styles, and influences, it’s basically a wrap-up with our preferences.”
“That’s a good description,” Rosie said, after she finished a chip. “Grace has a fondness for marrying modern with rustic.”
Noah choked on his chip, pulling all of their attention to him. He pressed a hand to his chest, coughing, but lifted his other hand as his eyes watered.
“You okay?” Grace watched him carefully.
He nodded. “Yeah. Sorry. Wrong tube and all that.”
She continued to stare.
“I’m fine, baby.”
The term of endearment threw her for a loop. It was like her heart took a leap in her chest.
“It might have been the word ‘marry,’” Josh said, snickering.
“Bite me,” Noah said, his voice rough.
“No matter how many times you ask, the answer is going to stay ‘No.’”
Noah cleared his throat. “Sorry. What are you fond of, design-wise, Rosie?”
She sighed into her answer. “I love vintage. Unique patterns, heavy furniture, old parlor rooms.”
“Now,” Grace said, pleased he was so clearly interested in their assignment, “we just have to show how each of these things, the elements we choose, can transform a room into something more. I guess it’s establishing a connection between the technical andthe emotional. Because really a design only comes to life once you start putting the features, textures, and materials into place.”
“We’ve got examples of what fabrics we might choose to create a warm sitting room or what décor we might give a modern-day library or home office.” Rosie looked at Noah. “We’re allowed to have a guest for our presentations. Josh is coming.”
Grace glared at her friend. “Way to put him on the spot.” She looked at Noah. “You do not have to come.”
“Do you want me to?” His voice was flat, like he didn’t want his tone to influence her decision.
