For the Love of Gav

Saturday

 In her first half-second of consciousness the next morning, Nina clocked several facts:

1) Someone was knocking on the apartment door.

2) Based on the light, she had overslept—significantly.

3) Someone was answering the door

4) Oh shit, Gav

Probably if she had had the luxury of waking naturally, she would have had a moment of wondering if everything from the day before had been a dream. Instead, she found herself hurtling out of the bed and pulling on clothes as quickly as she could to prevent Gav from interacting with whoever was at the door. Even as she reached for her bedroom door she could hear she was too late and conversation was already happening.

Nina rocketed out of the room to find Gav happily talking with her brother's friend Leo, who looked very confused. She pulled her sweatshirt on and pushed herself bodily in front of Gav.

"Morning, Leo."

"Morning, Nina. I'm here about the door?" She had completely forgotten she had asked him to come and help with it yesterday before heading out to the mesa.

"Yeah. Yup. Thank you." Leo's eyes shifted to Gav and back to her. "Leo, this is my friend Gav. He just needed a place to stay last night." Nina blushed fiercely. She knew what it must look like: a strange man answering the door and her hurriedly pulling clothes on. It was not what she wanted him to see. "Gav, this is Leo, he's my brother's friend." Now Chris would know about this too. She was mortified.

"Oh hey, you helped her get this place." Gav smiled easily. Leo's eyebrows raised.

"Yes, I did. How do you know Nina?" He looked Gav up and down, taking in his buckskins.

"He's just a friend. From work. So the door? Yeah, whatever you can do about that would be great. Sticks like anything."

Leo looked at Gav again, nodding. Then he returned his attention to Nina. "The landlord here isn't too attentive. Let me have a look." He moved the door back and forth, peering closely at the hinges. "Screws are loose. Won't take a minute." He pulled a multi-tool from his pocket. "Gav, was it? Will you just lean on the door here, so it gets nice and tight to the hinge?" Gav looked delighted to be involved and happily did as was asked.

"That should do it. Let's give it a try." Leo shut the door and Gav grinned at Nina and nodded. He was clearly enjoying the whole exchange. Nina couldn't shake her embarrassment. Maybe moving into the same complex as a family friend was a bad idea.

Leo opened the door back up, now swinging easily and freely. "There we go. It might start sticking again come winter. If that happens then it's swelling up with moisture and needs to be shaved down. Probably better to have the landlord do that one so they can't claim you damaged it."

Nina nodded. "Thanks Leo. I appreciate your help. You have a good day, okay?" Nina knew it was rude to rush him out, but she needed him to leave.

"Okay. You know where I am if you need anything." He glanced at the odd man out once again. "Gav."

"Nice to meet you, Leo." Gav turned back to Nina. "Want some breakfast? I'm starving."

"Okay Leo, bye!" Nina couldn't shut the door fast enough, pressing her back against it just to be sure. She grabbed her head with her hands and moaned.

"What's the matter? He fixed the door."

"You made it look like we're an item, that's what!"

"An item?"