My Hometown Love

Chapter 12 – Teamwork Makes The Dream Work

Kevin’s P.O.V

It has truly been a hectic morning. From running some errands in the morning to decorating the church with Lexie, and most of all trying to avoid the questions of Nancy Drew aka Lexie Cooper.

I have to admit, the last few days have brought us closer. I’m so glad that we have clarified our past misunderstandings and are moving forward. My relationship with Lexie has never been better. She’s an amazing girl and deserves nothing but the best.

But something silly dawned on me when I entered the Cooper residence. I can’t believe the thought was running in my head about how I used to come here all the time but as Jake’s friend, but now I was thinking about how will things be if I was coming as someone trying to build a closer relationship to their daughter and sister.

I froze at the kitchen doorway with this thought. I was confused, was I really seriously thinking of a future with Lexie, or was I just toying with the idea of being with her? I knew I had to make sure before I do something stupid and break her heart all over again, or else, Jake will KILL me.

Mrs. Cooper’s voice brought my mind back to Coopers’ kitchen. She was a sweet and kind lady who always treated me like a son and today was no exception as she invited me to join them for lunch. Mr. Cooper, on the other hand, was a great comedian, and as usual, cracked a joke of how I might be sick of all of them already as he pulled out a chair at the table right opposite Lexie.

As I sat down there with the Coopers and Maria, the future Cooper, I found myself trying to stop staring at Lexie, but each time I look down at my plate, I found myself looking up at her and taking note of her every move.

Soon after, we were both left alone to work in the backyard for the rehearsal dinner and wedding reception, as everyone else went back to their routine.

I decided to lend a hand, so I cleared up the kitchen a bit and loaded the dishwasher. I started feeling weird that Lexie was nowhere to be seen so I walked out to the backyard only to see her hauling this tall stack of chairs from the shed to the center of the yard.

**************

Lexie’s P.O.V

There I was with this tall stack of chairs in front of me as I attempted to drag them to the center of the yard. I knew very well that this was too much for me and that I should ask Kevin for help but he wasn’t in the yard as we planned, thus, I assumed that he had to go back home or something.

Just as I felt the weight of the chairs start to almost push me over, I see a pair of toned arms reach above me from my sides and grip the chairs, just in time.

“Lexie! You shouldn’t be carrying these by yourself! These are heavy. Why didn’t you ask me to help?”, Kevin asked with a slight hint of anger in his voice.

“I assumed you had to leave since I didn’t see you around. So, I started with all the preparations myself. To be honest, I didn’t know it would be that heavy”, I replied as I looked up at the tall stack of chairs.

“I was helping clean up the kitchen, smarty-pants! Anyway, it’s a good thing you didn’t get hurt, or else who is gonna walk down the aisle with me, huh?”, Kevin said with a wink as he bravely and easily carried the chairs to the center and unloaded them one by one.

We arranged the table and chairs as per the arranged plan. We had the long main table at the edge of the backyard almost towards the grass fence, which was going to be decorated with some fairy lights. Then, we had medium-sized round tables placed in front of the main table, for the guest to dine. There were also a few long tables along the sides of the yard, for all the food and drinks.

It took us almost 2 hours to arrange everything, decorate the tables and chairs with ribbons and sashes and add all the extra decorations.

“Looks like we’re almost done, with time to spare too. We do make a great team, Cooper.” Kevin said as he threw me a soda before sitting down in the grass next to me.

“I agree, Dr. Walker.”, I replied with a smirk as I took a sip of the soda before jumping back up on my feet again.

“Ok, break time’s over. Let’s get back to work. We need to hang up all the fairy lights.”, I said as I put both my hands on my hips and stared down at Kevin commandingly.

“No freaking way! You got to be crazy if you call what we just had a break. Sit down and take a breather. We will get it done. Relax Lexie.”, Kevin said coolly as he pushed himself back to lie down in the grass with his arms holding him up.

“Well, sadly, I’m not like you. I need to get this done and over with, or else I’m gonna constantly overthink myself about it. So, you take your own sweet time Dr. Walker, and join me when you’re ready to work hard.”, I said tauntingly as I headed to the box with the fairy lights.

I started with the fence behind the main table, carefully hanging the lights over the fence so that it gorgeously falls dangling over the green grass fence. Occasionally I feel a pair of eyes on me, watching my every move. I turn around to see Kevin, who has turned away ever so quickly and has suddenly become very interested in examining the tiny blades of grass on the ground.

Eventually, Kevin comes over to help set up these wooden frames and railings over the whole backyard so we can hang candles and lights. I start working on the opposite end of the yard from where he is working so we can get things done faster. I start arranging some of the lanterns on the tables.

I suddenly hear the backyard door shut and I turn curiously only to see Kevin missing. I merely ignored it assuming that he must have gone to his car to grab something while I move on to hang the lights since Kevin was all done with the wooden frames. I mentally planned to hang these big glasses with candles in them at the corners and fill in the middles with the warm yellow fairy lights.

Realizing the frames are quite high, I reach over for a chair and climb it to reach the frame. I start throwing the lights around the wooden frame like a cowgirl with a lasso, which turned out to be much harder especially when you’re standing on a chair that is placed in the grass, dealing with tangled lights.

Cursing myself for not untangling the lights before climbing up, I reach further to right on my tippy toes to pull the lights back, so I can properly untangle them. Within a millisecond, I lose my balance and find myself already off the chair, about to fall into a very unfortunate accident.

I felt everything play in slow motion as I shout with my arms flailing only to fall into the arms of a very handsome doctor.

*************

Kevin’s P.O.V

“You’re really are trying to avoid walking down the aisle with me, aren’t you?”, I say to Lexie after I catch her in my arms, right in the nick of time.

Lexie replies with a small smile, displaying that she was clearly still in shock. So, I gently put her down on the grass as I examine her for any bruises or injuries.

“I’m okay. Just a bit shook.”, she replies as she stands up, clearly interested to continue with her work.

“Here, use this instead. I just went to my car to grab this ladder for you to use. I’m just glad I wasn’t too late.”, I said worryingly as I held the ladder for her to hang up the lights.

We spent the next hour finishing up all the little details. Lexie went into the house to turn on all the switches and came back out to admire the masterpiece we created. I looked over at her as she looked at the decorated backyard with sparkles in her eyes and a huge accomplished smile plastered on her face.

I reached over to give her a brief mini side hug before packing up my tools. She walked me to the backyard door as she stood there leading against the door frame, watching me load up my car with my stuff.

I shut the trunk of my car and walked back to her to say my goodbyes but unfortunately, I blurted out something else instead.  

“Lexie, will you be my date to the wedding?”