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"You’re going to be working together for a long time Those sweat-equity hours don’t fly by as quickly as some people think It’s a lot of ti with Steve, then you should at least , don’t you think?"

This was quite a speech for Shelly The other woman was shy and quiet, but she’d opened up a little bit more over the last couple days Cassie felt that she had at least one ally

"Steve is one of those people who takes awhile to war roo

"You mean he actually has a ware and I were unsure e firstaround the corner

Cassie had the feeling her newfound friend was exaggerating "He was like this with both of you?"

Shelly hesitated

Cassie thought so "Not really," she answered on Shelly’s behalf, returning to her own painting

"It took hi inside a fort or soe and I think he’s really great now Give him a chance, Cassie"

"Okay, I’ll give it another try," she said, taking Shelly’s words to heart, although she didn’t hold out esture toward peace, Cassie switched paintbrushes and discovered Steve was right The bigger brush spread the paint just as smoothly as the smaller one and covered twice the area Her stubbornness, complicated by pride, had cost her a lot of extra work

She waited until George and Shelly were ready to leave before she approached Steve "I’ll be right behind you," Cassie told Shelly "Tell Aot a few extra minutes I’ll cut your hair for you"

Shelly’s eyes widened with appreciation "You will?"

"It’ll be iving A to be fast friends

"Are you going to talk to Steve?" Shelly asked, lowering her voice

"I’ to try," she responded, in the sa s to need it

George and Shelly drove off and Steve was picking up the last of his tools when Cassie approached him

He pretended not to notice her until she said his na around, he looked at her His face was blank, giving her no indication of his feelings

"Do you have a ed brushes the way you suggested and you were right The painting did go faster"

It would be a whole lot easier if he’d sive some indication that he appreciated the effort it took for her to adive an inch

"I think it would et along"

He acted as if he didn’t knohat she was talking about "I don’t have a proble just fine"

Cassie wasn’t sure what she had expected, but it wasn’t this Well, she’d tried She’d given it her best shot "Just FYI, I don’t have a probleot that settled See you next week"