Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right by Rosie Steppe

Chapter 84

"You'll never get it to turn!"

"It's been rusted shut for years."

"The ground's so hard now, the valve's practically buried."

People were whispering among themselves, but I couldn't take my eyes off Hayden.

I definitely didn't expect him to go full-on flat on the ground like that. His veins were popping out of his temples and arms as he pushed with everything he had, muscles straining under the effort.

But even with all that, the valve wouldn't budge. His face started turning red from the strain.

"Young man, save your energy. A few strong guys already tried, and they couldn't get it," an older neighbor said, noticing how hard Hayden was pushing himself.

I started feeling worried. "Hayden, maybe we should just leave it and call someone else to handle it."

Just as I said that, Hayden suddenly relaxed, and with a calm tone, he said, "It's done."

Then, in one quick move, he got up, casually brushing off the dirt and grime. "Let's head upstairs and check."

pouring down the stairs, and stepping up meant soaking our

we should wait until the water dies

back at me. "I'll

instantly. "No,

moment those words left my mouth, I felt my cheeks heat up, especially since

Then, he said, "I'll go up

I could respond, he reached out and took

his fingers brushed against mine, I flinched without thinking. The sensation... It was like a jolt

something I had

we were kids. Holding hands or hugging had always been easy. familiar. But there was never that spark, that electric jolt people talk about when they were really in love. At that moment,

there, lost in the moment, watching him until an old lady's

+25 BONUS

ground like that," another old lady added.

hotter, and I felt this weird

the water slowed down, I made my way upstairs. The door

my pant legs and waded inside, heading

When he noticed me, he explained, "This section snapped off. It was probably

wasn't wrong. The pipes hadn't been touched in over a decade, so it made sense