The Struggle •Unedited•

Chapter 10

My work was just emailed to the article editor and I was done for the day. I closed my laptop and see that Louis' nearly done with the shelf - with helpful tips from me every few minutes. A small laugh escapes my lips and I decide to go help him. My laptop is placed on the coffee table and I walk on over to the island.

"Hey," I shout over the drilling noise of the loud power tool.

He stops and wipes his brow with the back of his hand. "Hey," he smiles.

"You need help?"

"Uh," he looks over at the almost completely assembly on the wall, "Just a tad,"

I stride to the opposite side of the small counter and bend down towards the floor to get my hands on the wooden slabs that make the shelf. My eyes examined them. It shouldn't be that hard. A few screws here and there and it's done, but these actually have to be screwed in manually. Using the power tool will crack the wood.

A couple minutes later, I'm the one screwing in the finishing boards.

"Next one," I mumble to Louis as my arm extends asking for another screw.

It's placed in my hand as he takes a seat on a stool.

"So where did you learn all this?"

I smile at the curiosity. Everyone always asks these kinds of questions. Especially when I do something a guy usually supposed to do.

My attention is focused on the craft as my wrist flicks and drives the screw deeper into the wood. The whole scenario is pretty funny due to the fact that I'm literally standing on Liam's stove.

"I was always doing stuff around the house with my dad. He always says, 'Don't ever depend on a man. It's okay for him to take care of you, but don't you dare ever become dependant on him'. So he taught me all of this. Really glad I know it, though. It comes in handy," I inform him, hopping down from the stove.

After placing the tools I used back in Liam's tool box, I dust off my leggings and t-shirt. That job is completed. Way to go, Elisabeth, my mind praised.

Louis lifts himself from his seat, "That's nice,"

"Mhm,"

"You really should be the one to get paid. I wouldn't have got anything done if it wasn't for your help,"

"Nah. You did most of the work. Let's just say," I wink, "All I did was give you some tips,"

He chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"I forgot to tell you!"

He froze waiting for me to continue.

"You have an adorable son," I compliment.

His face lights up with a dazzling smile at the mention of his child.

"Thanks. He is a cute kid,"

***

I headed home in hopes that I'd have some peace and quiet time with my son. That's until I opened the door to my apartment to see Niall and Zayn making themselves at home on my couch and recliner.

"What the hell is this?" I gape while I close the door behind me.

They look up from the TV and Niall smiles.

"Hey, buddy! How was the job?"

My eyes squint in a angry manner. "What are you doing in my apartment? How the hell did you even get in here?"

"I used the key you gave me," he says casually pulling out the key from his front pocket to show me.

"That was for emergencies only!"