“I agree,” she murmurs. “I was reluctant to say it, but we’re perfectly imperfect together.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Megan
As if my body hadn’t dealt with enough adrenaline this week, I can feel my leg tapping as I sit at my desk after Clark and I have given our presentation. We have two weeks left at our internship. But so much is riding on today. Other than a written report with our final files, today was the day we presented our ideas and work on the mechanics of several devices to be used on the moon. Aside from the last few days, Clark and I had been working hard.
Since Anthony is behind bars, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Last night was the first night I was able to sleep.
Clark and I had stayed up talking about everything that had happened. It helped to talk it out and discuss things. It all still seems surreal.
I feel Clark’s hand on my leg, and I look up to find him staring at me with concern on his face.
“You OK, Megladon?” he asks.
I shrug. “Yeah. I’m just nervous. I mean everyone politely clapped, but did they really like it? And we were the first ones to go. What if the other interns do a better job?”
Clark squeezes my leg. “What do they always say about going first and last?”
“That people remember you the best,” I state.
“Well, we set the bar fucking high, so they better remember us.”
I nod. “Fingers crossed.”
I glance at my computer screen. “Is it bad that I want to leave early?”
Clark looks at the time. “I mean, we only have an hour left and we skipped lunch to prep for the presentation, so I don’t see why we shouldn’t,” he says.
I shake my head. “No, we need to power through. We have to show them we are the best. Let’s work on the report. I want the graphics to be perfect,” I declare, feeling more myself than a few moments ago.
Clark chuckles. “As you wish.”
He pulls his chair up to my desk and we both stare at my screen as I start to play with the order of things.
After sixty minutes of work, I start to realize how great we are together, and not just as a couple. We’re good at collaborating. My strengths are his weaknesses and vice versa. I can’t believe I didn’t see it before, and I can’t believe I ever questioned it.
“What are you thinking, bunny?” he whispers in my ear and I feel my skin dot with goose bumps.
I turn to him as I close down my computer. “I think we are done. And I think our report is going to seal the deal. We got this.”
He holds up a fist and I bump it. “We totally got this. Now, we probably should have a celebratory dinner…but there’s one issue.”
I raise an eyebrow. “What’s the issue?”
“I promised Kent I’d stop by my parents’ house and check on things. They come home next weekend, you know?”
I nod. “Let’s go grab burgers at the pub and we can swing by and check on everything. Why doesn’t he just send your sisters over there?”
I laugh. “I have a sneaking suspicion that he doesn’t want them messing with his décor choices in the family room. It’s this ongoing battle.”
“Oh?”
He chuckles. “Come on, let’s go see what Kent’s done to the house.”
He holds out his hand and I take it, reveling in how comforting his touch is, how much I want his touch, and how much I need his touch.
Clark
With burgers in a take-out box, we head to my parents’ house. I haven’t been here in a few days and I’m shocked at how much progress has been made when I walk into the kitchen.
“Holy shit!” Megan says. “This looks…wow! Your parents are going to be so excited about this.”
“If they don’t keel over from a heart attack,” I state as I survey the new cabinets, countertops, and appliances. The breakfast room has been transformed with storage and more seating. The pantry has been reconfigured to allow more open space between the kitchen and the family room. And the family room looks awesome. The new sectional is high tech and I know for a fact that Kent chose it. Even if he hadn’t sent a photo in the group text, I would know it was his idea.
“I can’t believe they were able to pack this much more into the same footprint,” Megan says as she walks around the wide-open space.
She stops in the family room and motions to the pocket doors. “I thought we were re-doing this too,” she says, glancing up at the now tray ceiling which gives the family room even more height.
“No, we squabbled over the living room, but Di refused to let us touch it.”
She laughs. “You guys are too funny. What do you think your parents are going to say?”
I tilt my head and ponder their reactions. “Dad is going to freaking go crazy over his new wine bar.” I point to the old wet bar area that now is a u-shape with a small sink and cupboard with open storage above it on one side and a wine fridge with storage above it on the other side. Between them are two slim pocket doors. I walk over and open them. It’s a small wine closet with labels for each type of wine.
“Yeah, hell, my dad is going to love it too,” she says with a giggle.
“And Mom…is going to cry, of course.”
“I bet. Hell, my mom might cry too, with envy, when she sees that kitchen,” she says as she walks back up the two steps into the kitchen. I watch her run her fingers over the different countertops. There are granite counters, a marble baking counter along one side, and the island is a beautiful natural wood with a live edge. The bulkheads were removed, and the cabinets go all the way to the ceiling now. I laugh because along the ceiling there is a brass rod and next to the refrigerator hangs a ladder.
“I can’t believe you did this,” she says as she secures the ladder onto the rod and pushes herself around the kitchen.
“It’s cool as fuck, right? Kylie found that online and it was a must. Poor Mom could never reach those cabinets without it.”
She pauses and looks around the empty room. “Where are all the construction people? They aren’t done yet, right?”
I shrug. “I think the paint guys are here to touch up tomorrow. And the contractors are finishing trim this week and there are still a few lights to be put in.”
“Oh. They worked fast!”
“Kent’s paying them a lot of money. I guess people work fast for lots of money.” I can’t help watching Megan’s ass as she slowly climbs down the ladder and hangs it back up.
I look around. “I’m not going to hang those photos until the painters finish,” I state as I motion to some paintings covered in paper wrapping. I step up to the family photos that Kent and my sisters wanted hung in the family room and a thought pops in my head.
“I have an idea…and we’re going to need Di’s help because she’s the artsy-crafty one,” I state as I whip my phone out and text my sister.
Me: Could you come over to the house?
Di: Uh, I’m at school.
Me: Later.
Di: I thought Kent said you were stopping by to handle things today.
Me: For the love of…I have an idea and need your help. Also, paints…I need paints.