Page 44

44

TECH

T ech was surprised by the doorbell ringing. He jumped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around his waist and padding wet footed through the house.

Kailani stepped back, holding her tool bag, surprised as the door opened to reveal Tyler, half-naked. “Um, here to hook up-” Tyler’s eyebrows lifted at the same time Kailani realized what she said. “I mean, hook--connect, damn it. Connect the…stuff.”

Tech stepped back to let her in as she dropped her head embarrassed. “I’ll be a few minutes getting dressed. I can leave the door open…”

“I’m not looking,” Kailani was intensely staring at the stove in the kitchen.

Tech laughed as he headed back down the short hall.

“APPLIANCES!” Kailani shouted as the word finally hit her. “hook up, damn it, connect, connect the appliances,” she muttered to herself. “You’re such an idiot!” she continued as she started pulling out tools.

“Wha---!” Tech had started back out into the hall when he slipped on the wet floor and crashed down.

Kailani’s head came around the corner of the kitchen. “Noth---Are you—oookay, that’s a lot.” She threw her hand up as if to block her view. Tech’s towel opened as he was rolling to get back up and his butt was on full display.

“That’s gonna leave a bruise.” Tech said ducking back into his room, rubbing his butt.

Tech stepped back into the hallway once he was dressed. “So, you’re gonna be done today, right?” Kailani had moved into the small closet housing the water heater.

“Yes.”

“So not working here anymore.”

“Right.”

“So, I can ask you on a date?”

Kailani looked up from her work, it wasn’t convincing.

“You’ve been pretty clear that you don’t like white guys in general.”

“Oh, great. Cause I thought maybe you’d missed it.”

“I don’t think you’re as racist as you’d like to think.” He was purposely poking.

“So, you’re willing to give me a chance to prove how openminded I can be?” She turned back to her work.

“I can’t stop thinking about you. Based on the blush at my front door I think you like me despite your best effort.”

“I might kill you if we go out.”

“I’ll make sure it’s public.” More sensitively, he looked down to try and catch her gaze, “We don’t have to go to Uncle’s.”

Kailani looked up turning her wrench and knocking knuckles against the heater. Her face signaled the pain in her hand for a fraction of a second. “He was an asshole,” she bit out.

“My gain.”