Chapter 53

“I’m telling.” Finn’s jovial teasing was a nice distraction.

“Tattletale.”

“I have to stick around…to make sure you follow the rules.”

“That might be best.”

We were slow, but everything was working just fine, me hobbling, him guiding. Then, I reached the door. “Oh.”

“Doorknob?” Finn asked.

“You got it.”

“Can you balance your load to grab it?”

“Maybe.” I had my doubts. “Can you squeeze around to?”

“Maybe.”

We just stood there.

“So, which one?” Finn had no clue what decision I’d made because I didn’t know, either.

“I’m gonna lean against the door with the clothes,” I said. The pile went crotch to forehead. If I shifted too much, it was going to tumble like a game of washday Jenga. “You’re gonna press into me back there and then do a reach-around.”

“You’re such a middle schooler.”

“Sometimes.”

“Me, too.”

“A good pair. Sound like a doable plan?”

“I guess we’ll see,” Finn said.

“But—and here’s the important part—you can’t turn the knob until I say so, okay?”