Effortless With You by Lizzy Charles Read Free Book Online Page A

must look confused because he continues to explain, “Family connection. At first I just hung around watching. Then I got so annoying they had to give me a brush … and then a paycheck.” He laughs as he hooks the paint holder to the underside of the ladder. “Not many thirteen-year-olds can purchase their own HD flat-screen TV.” He tightens the paint holder. “Now I’m saving for a car. I’m technically only allowed to work five hours a day so I help out the other three.”
    “You want to work full time?” I blurt. My cheeks burn. This is my first job and I already dread every hour.
    “Absolutely. An outdoor gig, hanging out with friends, listening to music, building muscle without thinking about it, and getting paid? Sweet deal.” He climbs back down the ladder, switching places with me. I climb back up. He hands me the brush. “Dip the bristles in only a third of the way.” I do. “Yup. Now gently wipe the excess off on the inside lip of the bucket. Now brush with the grain of the siding. Not up and down, but side-to-side.” I do. The grey paint goes on smoothly. I smush the paint into a crack in the board, covering up all traces of the ugly yellow. Perfect.
    This isn’t as bad as I thought. It's kind of hypnotizing. Alex shuffles his feet at the base of my ladder. I bet holding my ladder all day is probably as miserable for him as me being on one.
    “Alex, you can let go.”
    “Really? Are you sure?”
    “Yup.” I nod to the ladder set up a few yards away from mine. “You won’t be far. I’ll holler when I need help with a refill.”
    “Awesome. You’re already doing great. A natural. But don’t tell anyone that. Tell them I taught you everything there is to know, okay?”
    I laugh, gripping the ladder. “As long as you keep me alive, consider it a deal.”
    “Can do.” He winks playfully and bounds away. The kid has energy. He scales his ladder to the top, with supplies in hand. He steadies himself, plays with his iPhone, and puts in his ear buds. Mental note: bring music tomorrow. He bobs his head in rhythm. A smile seems permanently glued to his face. He really does love this job.
    Assessing the siding in front of me, I carefully re-dip my brush while clutching the ladder. I reposition my grip and begin to cover the wood. Back and forth. I let my mind slip into blankness. It feels nice.
    Back and forth.
    Progressing down toward the ground isn’t so scary. I manage to unhook the paint bucket and move it with me. This isn’t too horrible.
    The sun gets hotter and the air stickier. Alex takes more frequent water breaks and eventually takes off his shirt. My tank top glues itself to me. I want to just wear my sports bra but there’s no way I’d put myself on display here. And, worse, they’d probably think I thought I was super hot or something. I’d just be embarrassing myself.
    The heat gets more suffocating with each stroke of my brush. We’re on the sunny side of the house. My only solace comes from knowing that eventually the sun will pass over and our sunny side will turn to shade.
     Like Alex, I start taking sips of water between each board I paint. I don’t know what causes me to sweat more, the sun or climbing up and down because of my thirst. Staying hydrated is a work out in itself. My progress slows.
    I sigh as I take my last sip of water. Dehydration, not a fall, would kill me.
    Just as I debate asking Alex for a sip, Troy comes around the corner. “Break time, take twenty,” he shouts. There is a gas station a few streets away. I can run there, buy more water, and be back in time. I nearly jump off my ladder, surprising both myself and Alex.
    “Whoa. Careful!” Alex calls as he climbs down his ladder. “Overconfidence can destroy you.” I think of Justin. Yes, that sounds about right.
    I don’t waste any time. “Right; I’ll remember that.” I pick up my water bottle and jog past Alex. “I didn’t bring enough water. I’ve got to run to the gas