She spent the next few days off thinking, like Deacon had suggested, she hiked, went to the beach, and started to repaint her apartment.
On the last morning of their days off she figured she should listen to her gut and Deac and try to talk to Street. Or at least clear the air a bit before next shift. So, she messaged him.
"Hey, sorry for being distant. I just needed time to process stuff. U busy today?"
Street was lying in bed when his phone buzzed. He smiled reading it. Did this mean she was ready to talk and let him back in?
"Hey, I know you did. It's okay. I don't have any plans why?"
"Good, I need a hand finishing a few jobs here if you're up to hanging out today?"
"Sure, No problem. See you soon."
With that he had rolled out of bed and dressed. He felt a little nervous about this, but he knew if she had reached out, she must be ready to talk and try to fix things.
He arrived with two coffees, knocking on her door. She opened the door wearing paint covered overalls and wiping her hand on a rag.
"Hey, come in." He couldn't help but think how beautiful she was. Her dark eyes brightening as she smiled at him.
"Hey," he replied stepping inside over some sheets on the floor and glancing about. "Oh, hold up, you never said we would be painting." He laughed looking about the apartment. Furniture covered with sheets and tins on the floor. She grinned and looked at him.
"Is that a problem?" She asked with a smirk.
"Better be worth my while." He mumbled back. Chris felt herself smile at how easy they could banter about like this. She was glad that that had never changed. But she knew they had to talk, and she needed to apologise. She inhaled and put down the rag as he handed her a coffee from the tray looking about. "This is a big job Chris, I dunno if just the two of us will get it all done today, I mean, there's a lot of walls to..."
"Street." She interrupted, slightly shaking her head. He looked at her with a confused frown. "I didn't ask you to come here just to help paint." She licked her lip nervously and sighed.
He watched her, he could see her nerves and that made him nervous.
"Listen," she began again. "I need to apologise and wanted to fix the mess I made of our friendship this last little while." As she spoke, she sore him smile a bit.
"Hey, I will be here, no matter what. Remember I told you that way back…"
"Yeah." She interrupted, waving her hand to stop him. He stepped closer and just looked at her. His soft brown eyes scanning her, trying to make sure she was okay.
"Thank you." She added as she looked up to him. He smiled and opened his arms and hugged her to him. She was a little shocked at first but soon wrapped her arms around him in return.
"Of course, anything for you." He whispered against her hair.
She stepped back and smiled at him. "So, we can hang out, catch up, try and get a bit of this done." She motioned with the cup in her hand to the walls around them.
He laughed and nodded. "Okay, but you realise, catch up means you have to actually talk to me, right?"
She shook her head with an exaggerated eye roll. "Yeah okay, you know me too well." She laughed a bit too taking a sip of her coffee.
The day was spent laughing and painting, casual banter, and all that. As the afternoon grew darker, Chris wiped her hands and handed him a clean rag, as she stepped back to admire their handy work.
"Hmmmm," She nodded impressed. "We did good. I think."
He chuckled slightly, "Yeah that was a big day. I'm gunna be sore tomorrow." He added stretching his back. She laughed.
"Come on with the TLI's I know you're in better shape than that." He smiled and watched her as she began cleaning up.
"Thank you, again for everything." She said.
"Anytime, Happy to help, and Luca and I owe you anyways…so.."
"Stay for dinner?" She asked nervously as he looked at her. The fact that she wanted him to, made him smile. Things between them felt safe and steady again.
A while later, she carried the pizza boxes to the table. They were both starving and smiled at each other as they dug in.
"Mmmm, great pizza." He mumbled with a mouth full, a string of cheese hanging from his lips. Chris chuckled motioning to it.
"Maybe it just tastes so good cause you're hungry." She laughed. After he finished that piece, he took a drink of his beer and looked at her.
"What?" She asked self-consciously.
"You seem happy." He commented. "A lot better than a week ago."
She smiled and nodded. "I am. I'm looking forward to the here and now. I've let go and closed that chapter, and I'm okay with it all. It's how it's meant to be." She said looking back up to him.
"Good, but hey," He looked up to her. "I am sorry you got hurt." She swallowed and nodded back at him.
"Thanks, but I wasn't the only one. And this is all for the best now." As she smiled at him, he caught sight of a fleck of paint on her nose.
"You um," he lifted his hand and gently swiped at it with his thumb. In that moment the air went electric as his skin grazed hers. She was suddenly holding her breath, that magical feeling he gave her, came flooding back. "Have a bit of paint." His eyes caught hers and she looked at him, frozen, not able to speak or move as his brown eyes smiled at her.
"What?" He chuckled slightly looking at her staring at him.
"Um, I," she cleared her throat and dragged her eyes from his. "Thanks." She managed quietly, trying to not let her blushing cheeks show, as she slid back off the seat and started to clean up. Smiling to herself about that feeling that he gave her.
It wasn't long before she had thanked him again for his help and they stood at the door.
"I'll see you tomorrow then." He smiled watching her.
"Yeah, back at it. This" She motioned to the mess, "Will have to wait til next block off."
"Well, I'm always happy to help. It was fun today. Nice to spend time again with you." He said smiling at her. She smiled too.
"It was, and I am glad things" she gestured between them, "are okay." He opened his arms to offer her a hug. Part of her slightly hesitated, but she smiled and stepped to him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
After a quick squeeze, he said good night and was gone. Chris turned as the door closed and smiled looking about her apartment. She was glad things felt okay now between them, but she chewed her lip thinking how he had given her those feelings again. She couldn't deny the chemistry between them and the connection they had.