Author's note: Thank you for your suggestions. They really helped me get over my writer's block! Special thanks to KBecks87 and Yanayamel for this chapter's questions. I definitely plan to use some of the others in future chapters. :-)
"Did you bring it?" Joey asked Pacey as he walked through the door of her house.
"Of course, I did, Potter," he responded absently. Pacey wandered further into the house to rummage through the Potter kitchen. "When is Bodie coming back? I really miss that guy."
"Sure you do, Pacey," she said accompanied by her patented eye roll. "Let's go, Witter. My family's livelihood awaits."
"Hold on, Potter," Pacey said as he pulled his hand out of the pretzel bag he discovered in the cabinet. "The lumber will still be there after I finish this handful of pretzels."
"Pacey Witter, if you don't get a move on, I swear I will …" she began, but Pacey did not allow her to finish her thought. He quickly wrapped his right arm around her slim waist pulling her lips to his. Pacey kissed Joey until he felt her body go limp in his arms. Confident that she was ready to submit, he kissed her softly once more before releasing her.
"Empty threats, Josephine," he said with an amused smile. "Ready to go?"
"What?" Joey asked with her eyes still closed. Pacey chuckled softly as she tried to regain her composure. "Oh, yeah. Let's go."
"Pacey why can't we just go to Lowes or Home Depot or something?" Joey complained. "Isn't that the 'More Saving, More Doing' place? We could really use both of those things right now."
Pacey shook his head in disapproval. "One, there isn't a Home Depot in Capeside. You wanna spend an hour each way just to get lumber? I'm not sure our relationship would survive a two-hour trip to a warehouse store." Joey blushed upon hearing Pacey allude to their "relationship," but he didn't seem to notice. "Two, these guys have never done me wrong," Pacey explained pointing to the local hardware store in front of them. "Trust me, they will give us everything we need, and then throw in the occasional freebie. Besides as a burgeoning business owner, you need to support your fellow local businesses."
"Hmm … that's actually a good point. When did you start making sense?" Joey teased.
"Probably right before you actually started listening to me," he remarked. "Now, I think your complaining has earned you the honor of carrying the heavy load today," Pacey added motioning to the large pile of lumber in front of them.
Joey punched him playfully in the arm. "What are you good for if not for carrying the heavy load?" she asked.
"Let's see … you seem pretty fond of my kisses, so I'd say that's on the list," Pacey suggested. Joey crossed her arms across her chest indicating she was not buying Pacey's argument. "Fine, at the very least you need me to drive the trailer because you have a lots of skills, Jo, but driving is not one of them."
"I don't need to be able to drive," she responded calmly. "I have you to chauffeur me around."
Pacey's eyes met hers causing them both to smile warmly at each other. "That you do, Potter. Now we better get to loading. My pops is going to be missing his trailer eventually." Joey nodded handing Pacey a long 2x4. He added a few more to his load, which he carried to the trailer attached to the Witter Wagoneer.
Pacey and Joey sat next to each other on the end of her dock. They had already loaded and unloaded the trailer full of supplies in anticipation of the first official day of construction at the Potter B&B. "Here is the jar as promised," Pacey said sitting the jar on the dock next to Joey. "I told you I would remember to bring it," he stated.
"Pacey, you will have to forgive me for questioning your ability to remember things. Sometimes I think you'd forget your head if it wasn't attached to your body," she replied.
"Jo, when it comes to you, I remember everything," Pacey stated simply.
Surprised at the seriousness and apparent sincerity of his response, Joey examined his face for more information. Not trusting the look of adoration on his face, she asked cautiously, "What do you mean?"
"Just what I said," he responded. "I remember how adorable you look in safety glasses, and how your voice squeaks slightly on the phone. I know that you use only yellow highlighters when studying because you think other colors are distracting and unprofessional. The way you chew on your lower lip, and fidget with putting your hair behind your ears when you don't know what else to do with your hands," Pacey explained.
"I do not chew on my lower lip," Joey protested.
"You do, Jo, and it's endearing," he insisted. "I remember exactly what ingredients go into your Mom's Chex mix. You see, if something is important to you, then it's important to me. I really could go on and on, Jo," Pacey explained.
Joey blushed, "That won't be necessary." She stared deep into his dark blue eyes, and then kissed his lips. She tried to put all of her feelings into that one kiss, hoping Pacey would sense how much his words meant to her.
"And I will definitely remember what that kiss felt like," Pacey remarked with his voice low.
Joey smiled brightly, "It's your turn to go first."
"Sure thing, miss," he said reaching for the jar. He unscrewed the top to reach his hand inside. Pacey leaned in close to Joey who complied with the demand of his puckered lips with a quick kiss before he pulled out a question. "What is your favorite type of pie?" he read.
"Pacey, that is not an emotionally salient question," Joey complained.
"I'm surprised at you, Potter. Do you not know me at all?" he chastised. "Food is an extremely emotional topic, and pie is the mother of them all."
"You're ridiculous. You know, I bet you don't even eat one vegetable per week."
"Not true, I have tomatoes on cheeseburgers all the time," Pacey argued.
"Tomatoes are not a vegetable, Pacey," she said with a laugh.
"Yes, they are."
"Nope, tomato is a fruit," Joey reported.
"What?! No way," he said in disbelief. "Fruits are sweet. Tomatoes are savory."
"Don't know what to tell ya, Pace."
"I mean seriously, this is a conspiracy or something because I've tried Doug's V8 and let me tell you it was not an enjoyable experience," Pacey remembered with a grimace.
"I know this is traumatizing information for you, Pacey, but are you going to answer the question?" she asked.
"Oh, right. Yes, my favorite kind of pie is … peach. I love the stuff. I've actually considered moving to Georgia just so I can eat it more frequently," he explained licking his lips. "And your favorite, Miss Potter?"
"I'm not a huge pie eater, but I guess I'd say pumpkin. I love all things fall," Joey stated.
"Yum, pumpkin pie is delicious! As long as there's Cool Whip on top," he added. "Maybe we can do some fall activities together … pumpkin carving, haunted houses. Oh wait, sorry, forgot you're my skittish kitten."
"Shut up, Witter. Fall activities would be fun. Assuming we make enough progress on the renovation, of course," she agreed. "Now, I suppose it's my turn," Joey observed pulling out another piece of paper from the jar. "'What do you like and dislike most about yourself?' The dislike part is easy. I hate that when I'm feeling insecure I attack other people. Like Jen. God, I was horrible to her when she first moved here all because I felt like I wasn't good enough for Dawson's attention. That her presence meant I had somehow lost my place in his life … pathetic," Joey paused. "Like is harder. I guess I'm pretty proud of how hardworking I am."
"You are truly the most hardworking person I know, Jo," he offered proudly. "I agree with you that dislike is easier. I really like being a free spirit, but sometimes I wish I had more direction. You guys all seem to have your future planned out, but I'm barely surviving the present. I've just never really committed to anything," Pacey reported.
"That's not true, Pace. You've committed to lots of things," Joey started. "I mean, look at all the work you've done on True Love. Not to mention the commitment you've made to the Potter B&B. And when you put your mind to it, you perform really well academically. You're really smart, Pacey, but not just book smart like me. You're smart about life. You know how to do all kinds of things. Personally, I'm excited to see what you decide to do. Because you will do great things, Pace. Just maybe not in the expected or conventional way."
"Thanks, Jo. I don't know how you're able to believe in me so confidently, but I'm glad that you do," he stated.
"The same way you believe in me, silly. It's really not that hard, Pace. You're actually a pretty solid bet," Joey explained lovingly. "Now for your like."
"I guess what I like best is that I'm pretty loyal. I mean, I surround myself with good people, and keep them near me."
"Yeah you do," Joey said. She screwed the top on the jar, and snuggled up next to Pacey who put his arm around her. "You are very loyal, Pacey. I like that about you too."
Pacey hugged Joey tight as the wind blew across the creek. "Now, about that pie …"