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“It’s fine, I’m fine,” Hope said, letting the display swing back into place. “Watch out, I’m coming down.”

Ava let go as though Hope were burning hot and took a step back just as Hope backed down the ladder. Hope turned and then they were nose to nose.

Ava cleared her throat again.

Fantastic. She was developing a nervous tic. Just what she needed.

“I told you I got it,” said Hope, but her voice was a little quieter and her eyes were flickering, shining in the morning sun.

“You did,” Ava said, entranced by those eyes, wondering what it would be like to see the world through them.

“It’s, um, it’s all fixed now.”

“Uh-huh.” Hope’s cheeks were flushing a pale pink and Ava thought that she might be blushing too and then they’d match and…

“So, um,” said Hope.

“Uh-huh,” Ava said again.

“If you could, uh…”

“Ah, yes, of course.” Ava blushed even deeper red and took a large step back, freeing Hope who had been trapped between her and the ladder. She cleared her throat one last time. “Don’t use the ladder alone,” she said brusquely, moving away and picking up her bags.

“Why not?” Hope asked, folding the ladder up.

“It’s dangerous.”

Hope snorted. “As if. It’s a tiny step ladder. It’s fine.”

“Everything’s fine with you, isn’t it?” Ava said, depositing her bags on her desk. “Always fine. Right up until there’s an accident and you have to go to the ER.”

Hope leaned the ladder up against a wall and pulled a face. “Speaking of, I didn’t thank you for last night. I’m sorry, I was tired and out of sorts when I got home and that’s no excuse, but seriously, you were a life saver.”

Ava sniffed. Alright, so maybe she didn’t regret helping out. It was the neighborly thing to do, wasn’t it? Nothing more than that. She hadn’t been at all interested in seeing inside Hope’s house. And she’d definitely not looked in the bathroom cabinet.

One peek. She’d had one peek. Then slammed it closed and gone back to read a story to Alice.

“It was nothing.”

“No, it was something. A big something, and I really appreciated it,” said Hope. “I, uh, well, I’d meant to grab some flowers for you on the way back, but it was so late…”

“Just as well you didn’t,” Ava said, opening up her bag. “Can’t stand the things.”

“Flowers?” Hope asked, coming closer to the desk. “Who doesn’t like flowers?”

“Me.” Ava looked at her over the top of her glasses. “Leave them in the ground where they belong. Don’t kill them to present to someone you’re indebted to.”

Hope raised an eyebrow. “Right. Okay. I’ll remember that.”

“I doubt you’ll have future cause to present me with anything, let alone flowers,” Ava said sharply.

Hope lowered her eyebrow, cheeks flushed, and backed off. “Yeah. Doubt it,” she said, as she walked back over to take her ladder back to the appropriate closet.

QUINN’S FACE GLOWED weirdly orange on the tablet, but her eyes were bugging out and she was practically yelling. “You did it, I knew you would! How hot is she? Tell me every detail.”

Ava frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“What are you talking about?” Quinn asked, looking confused now. “I thought you went to this woman’s house. Hope. What’s she like? Is she hot?”