Page 10 of As They Are
Mollie immediately narrowed her eyes. “You’re sad.”
Dammit. Curse my beautiful, kind, smart best friend.
“No, I’m not.”
“Come on. I know you. What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Wren . . .”
“I’m done with filming,” I said. “And that’s what’s important. I wanted to see the town you moved to and ... get away for a bit.”
“Get away from what?”
I thought of Jude. Of the cameras. Of the way my chest ached any time I thought of anything to do withRenovating with Love.
“Everything.” My voice came out dark. Mollie raised an eyebrow, expecting me to elaborate.
But this had broken open a part of me I’d buried a long time ago. Something that no one, not even my best friend, knew about.
“Okay,” Mollie said. “You’re welcome to stay with us. Right, Cain?”
“Yep. I can get the guest room ready.”
I gave them both a grateful smile and stepped inside. Cain disappeared up the stairs to get to the guest room, and I finally looked around. I’d been so focused on the two of them that I hadn’t seen the house.
It was just as incredible inside as it was on the outside. The floors were old hardwood, stained in the original warm-toned yellow. The walls were blue and welcoming and coupled with original wood trim. It was a little outdated, but very homey. Just the way I liked to start with projects.
This part of the house was more than likely exactly how it was built. I could imagine what it would look like with some work.
“Wow. This is so spacious.”
It would be even more so without a few of the walls.
“Thank you. I can’t take credit for the furniture. That was all Papa Bennie’s and Cain’s doing.”
My gaze traveled over the small couch and the different storage baskets. When I’d worked with Jude, he expected me to do all of the decorating. I wasn’t sure why men either refused to look at design or chose the most industrial, soulless things, but it infuriated me.
As did even the thought of him.
“You’re thinking pretty hard about something,” Mollie said. “Wanna talk about it?”
“Is the kitchen this way?” I asked, walking toward the back of the house. I was greeted with an old tile floor. It was white and worn with age, as were the countertops, the tiles decorated withhand-painted leaves. That would definitely be staying. “Wow. All original. Both here and the living room.”
“Yep. Just as Papa Bennie left it.”
“You know, this has room to put in an island. And I bet butcher block would look great with the original tile.” I could see it now. Modern comforts and space with the classics that Bennie left her. I could easily pull all-nighters to get it done.
But then I looked at Mollie, her arms crossed. “Aren’t you supposed to be on a break?”
I blinked. “Yes, but that doesn’t mean I can’t help my best friend make the house of her dreams.”
Her gaze was downright calculating. “But Ihavethe house of my dreams.”
“What? You don’t wanna change anything?”
She shook her head.
