I Guess You're Just Special

"So if I see you painting my neighbor's house tomorrow, I'm supposed to pretend I hardly know you," Jace mused. He pointed a fry at me. "This is bribery, then. Whatever, I'll take it."

"Come on, Jace, you know I like you enough to buy you fries outside of bribing you, right?" I wheedled. I did like him. He was a funny kid. Though sometimes annoying, he was quite talented at lightening the mood. Our little band of renegades needed that.

He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. What's not to like?"

"Exactly," I said with a smile. "You're pretty cool. Despite the circumstances, I'm glad I met you."

He smiled genuinely this time. "That may be the nicest thing you've ever said to me." I stuck my tongue out at him and he laughed. "I'm glad I met you too. I still probably would have met you though since you're dating my neighbor."

I shrugged. "It wouldn't have been the same. Do you talk to Jon the way you talk to me?"

"No," he conceded. "I guess you're just special."

"We're a lot alike," I said. "That's probably why we get along so well."

"It's real comforting being compared to a serial killer," he said with a crooked grin.

"Shut up before I punch you," I grumbled before taking a bite of my burger.

"Aw, come on Lori, you know you love me!"

I threw his words back at him. "Yeah, yeah." We made eye contact and both cracked up even though it wasn't that funny. Like I said, the kid was great at lightening the mood.

When I got home, Faye was waiting to ambush me. "I've hardly seen you this week," she complained.

"I've been helping Jon with some home improvement projects," I said, half-truthfully. Technically paint shopping was only one project but that hadn't taken more than an hour of the time I'd been out of the house.

"Seriously? Is he getting ready for you to move in?" She clapped her hands together in excitement. Wait…was that why he was blushing when I implied that it wasn't my house? No, he couldn't possibly be thinking of that. Our relationship wasn't that serious. Even if it was…even if it was I had to stay with Faye to know what was going on in the investigation. No use dwelling on the impossible.

"Don't be ridiculous," I scoffed. "We haven't even talked about that. We're taking things slow, Faye. He just wanted a female perspective because his house is hideous." My words implied that the whole house was horrible when really it was just the outside, and he hadn't picked it. The inside of his house was surprisingly tasteful. He'd confided that his mom and sister took over the decorating before his girls moved in because on his own he was a complete minimalist and they didn't want the kids to live in a "dungeon."

She held up her hands in surrender. "Alright, it just seems suspicious to me that he'd want a non-serious girlfriend involved in something that has to do with his home."

I'd thought so too but… "We're not like that," I repeated, perhaps trying to convince myself there wasn't a hidden meaning. No. I was just helping out a friend and distracting myself at the same time. No other implications. Although…if he'd wanted paint advice either Gina or Alicia would have been more than willing to take over, I'm sure. So why did he ask me?

"Whatever," she said. "I just miss you. Can we do something tomorrow?"

I shook my head, faking regret. "I'm painting the entire outside of Jon's house."

"By yourself?!"

"Well, not completely. He's going to help with the lower parts. He just doesn't like heights so I'll be on the ladder. I'm sure if we need extra help the neighbor kid will be willing. He babysits the girls a lot and would jump at the chance for extra cash."

"Fun," she said sarcastically. "By the time you get back I'll actually be out on a date so maybe Sunday. I have homework right now. Ciao." She walked into her room and shut the door. Her exit made it clear she was annoyed with me. Normally she'd gush forever about her upcoming date.

I slumped against the counter. Her grudge was a blessing in disguise. I didn't want to be at odds with her but I'd rather that than having to deal with the anxiety of never knowing what she was going to say and having to lie more than usual. If I ever managed to figure things out, I could repair my relationship with Faye then. But I didn't want to think about that now. Not thinking about my problems was working for the most part and I couldn't mess that up.