andrewdyer

[andrewdyer]

"Cures never taste good. It's why they work. Sorry for talking about it, it looks like you're having some bad flashbacks," he jokes lightly, smiling at how she shivers. "Well, those work with everything, and it fits for my job." And it's like, eighty percent of his wardrobe, she missed out on the navy blues and the browns. He chuckles a little, shrugging. "If I agree, you'll burn down my entire closet and I can't have that, Rose."

"I think it would be good for moderate hangovers. The only real problem is that it definitely didn't taste good," she says, shivering just recalling the taste of the detoxifier. "Sure, maybe if the color is tan, or black, or if you're feeling fancy... grey," Rosie retorts, rolling her eyes playfully. She's never seen Andrew in anything bright! It's a crime because he definitely has the eyes to rock an emerald green or a Tiffany blue. "Does that mean you agree? They have that "Pimp My Ride' show, but I think I could do it with your closet instead."

[andrewdyer]

Drew's brows furrow when she reaches for her inhaler. He doesn't know if it's his place to ask about her health. It's a weird position to be in, knowing the things that used to be so normal to do and talk about for seven years are now things that get his head spinning in wonder. He remembers her asthma improving during the years they were together. "How have you doing lately? I hope the asthma hasn't been troublesome," he says quietly, concern evident on his eyes. Eden may have hurt him deeply, but it doesn't mean he won't care for her still. It'd be so much easier if he didn't care for her, but he's not that type of person. "Yeah, it's still the same." And Drew immediately assumes she doesn't remember it, because well, why would she? For all he knows, she probably deleted it. "Is yours the same?" He has no idea if she just ignored his texts and calls two years ago, or simply changed her number after leaving him. He takes his phone out of the pocket, ready to save her number. "That doesn't sound too bad. I'll check it out after coffee to see how long it should take and we'll restore and fix everything." Lord knows the place is in dire need of restoration. "I'll take a look at the electrical outlets too, see if I can do them myself. Just... stay away. We don't want to end up in the hospital," he jokes lightly, trying to make light of a tense situation. "Busy's good, but I don't have to tell you to remember to take care of yourself." It slips out of his lips, and he realizes a little too late. So he just smiles a little, as if to shrug it off and attempts to continue. "I've been so busy with the yacht club too lately. There's a lot of work to be done. I want to make it a good place again, motivate people to visit even after everything that happened there." He frowns a little. "That's fair enough. I'm glad she had you." Eden's grandmother was a lovely woman, and he's met her a few times whenever they visited to see her family, it saddens him to know she was gone. "I hope she didn't struggle a lot with her illness." There's a grim expression on his face. "I've been alright. Keeping busy with work. Like I said, there's a lot to be done with the yacht club, but it's going smoothly. Besides that, I'm just connecting with people again around here."

As casually as she can - Eden slips the inhaler out of her pocket and takes a few puffs of the medication; there's an incessant fluttering in her chest that hasn't gone away since he's arrived. Not only in her shop - but in town; it's like watching your past stare you down, brows furrowed as they try to figure out the present in front of them - how they got there, how everything turned out the way they had. It's nerve-wracking. "Alright," She nods, small smile as she pockets the inhaler again, "Is - your number the same? It's just - small things, really. I want to touch up the paint outside - take out some rotten floorboards, outside and in - replace them. Um - some of the electrical outlets needs re-wiring, but honestly I'll just hire help for that, knowing my luck I'll end up electrocuting myself." Despite how old everything is in the house - all Eden wants to do is restore what can be fixed, and replicate what can't. The house is so old it feels near damn historical - and the idea of restructuring history to fit a modern aesthetic leaves a bad taste in her mouth. She lifts her mug to her lips - his still extended in her hand. "Yeah - yeah, it's been... nice, in a way. I've been so caught up in - organizing everything and settling her finances that I haven't really had any time to myself." It was almost beneficial - Eden so caught up in the shop and her grandmother that she hadn't had time to venture outside often; it might've even saved her life - who knew how the victims were chosen? "Yeah - I mean, pretty much. I was the primary caretaker for my grandmother when she got sick so it was just - easier to stay here, than find my own place. And then she left me the house in the will - and the shop, and all of her belongings - if my family isn't how they are, I feel like I would've been in some weird Knives Out scenario." She'd always been the favorite grandchild - an unspoken rule that she'd inherit everything her grandmother owned. It's not like her parents were materialistic in the slightest - if anything, they were happy that Eden inherited it all; it didn't infringe on their free time. "It's alright - it was a long time coming - I'm at peace with it all." Of course she was a mess when it finally happened - but Eden's trying her best to keep her emotions at bay. "But that's - enough about me. How - how have you been? What have you been up to?"

[andrewdyer]

The book's premise doesn't sound like Drew's cup of tea—he's not into supernatural and fiction, but hey, not everything is everyone's cup of tea. It didn't matter anyway, because she seemed passionate about it. "Bet you got creative with the ways," he notes, especially when it's a work of fiction. "That doesn't sound too bad. I wouldn't know, obviously, but it seems like a fair timeline."

[andrewdyer]

drew: You too, Eden. Enjoy it drew: Do you have any plans to celebrate?

eden: [...] eden: [...] eden: thank you, drew eden: i really appreciate it eden: [...] eden: have a good day, okay?

[andrewdyer]

drew: They're probably joking drew: Hell yeah, let's go check it out. when are you thinking of going?

dom: someone apparently does dom: speaking of cars you wanna come with me to check out the latest bmw xm? they got one for sale over at boston and i'm thinking of getting it

[andrewdyer]

Drew 📲 Eden

Drew: [TYPING AND STOPPING...] Drew: [TYPING AND STOPPING...] Drew: Happy birthday Eden

[andrewdyer]

drew: i don't think anyone actually drives a hearse drew: why the question?

Dom 📲 Drew

dom: it's weird for someone to drive a hearse right dom: like out of all the cars

[andrewdyer]

Drew walks around the kitchen to get what Analu needs for breakfast, looking for the pans in the cabinet and taking them out. "Asking the tough questions right after we wake up, huh?" he teases lightly, pausing to think a little. "Hmm, tacos. What about you?"

She takes a few sips from her coffee before she set it aside to take what she needs out of the fridge. "Let's do French toast and bacon." She quickly shows him where to find what he'd need and goes back to whisking the egg mixture for the toast. "If you could have one meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner what would it be?"

[andrewdyer]

"You're my sister, if you don't say nice things to me, then who will?" He scoffs playfully, bumping his legs to hers, reciprocating the annoying smile. "Okay, what do I get in return for helping out?" He's joking of course, and he'll help his sister with whatever she needs. Drew has no idea what Pinterest is, but he trusts Mia's opinion, or else he wouldn't have asked for her help. "There's the reception desk and the paintings and the waiting area. I'm going back and forth between two differently styles."

“I could’ve, but that would make me a liar and I don't need it going to your head. It's already big enough as it is," Mia jokes, flashing him one of her famously annoying smiles. "Well, now you've got the time because I wasn't taking no as an answer. You've got the muscles I need to bring everything inside. You're my only saving grace." Not true, but it was merely her own speck of lazy doing the talking tonight. "Redecorating?" Her face lights up then and if her face hadn't given the answer away, her words would. "My Pinterest obsession was made for this. What kind of things were you thinking of?"

[andrewdyer]

"Do they? I'll need to try them out one day. Did they do the trick?" Drew's not young anymore, so the idea of indulging in alcohol and getting himself drunk is uncommon, opting to enjoy a drink or two and call it a night, but it doesn't hurt to know about the cures, just in case. "What, I can pull off a full monochromatic look," he complains playfully, smiling in Rosie's direction. If it were neutral monochromatic sure, because that's what his wardrobe was. "It feels like I'm about to become your project."

"Hm, manageable, I'd say. They sell these hangover cures at gas stations now, so one time I bought a bunch just in case. I think I'd give it like... an 8 out of 10," she answers, though there is a slight reminder of the headache she'd still had following the party. Even though she's not young anymore, Rosie still likes to have fun, get out and drink whenever she knows she's not working the next day. "It would have looked great, of course! The whole point of bright pink is that it works as an amazing accent color. Not everyone can pull off the full monochromatic look like me, but we have to start somewhere, Drew."

[andrewdyer]

"What's the title of your last book?" He's curious if he's heard of it, but odds are he hasn't, mainly because he's not big on reading novels. He nods at her words, listening as she explains where she's at now. "Sounds like it's going smoothly, then. That sounds like a big part of the process, well save for the actual writing." He smiles. "How long on average does it take you? From start to finish."

andrewdyer​:

“You probably wouldn’t like mine either,” he jokes with a smile, leaning back in his seat as he sips on his coffee. “I mean, it’s your book, so you decide the creative process you want to follow. It’s not up to anyone else,” he points out with a smile. “Is it coming along nicely? Do I get a sneak peak about what the book is about or would that be cheating?”

Jade couldn’t help but give a small laugh. “I’m pretty sure my last book started off just as messy, so this process just has to be my thing,” she explained, before taking a long sip of her coffee. “It’s pretty good so far, I am starting to wrap up the character part. Where I figure out who I’m writing about, who has what purpose to the story... yadda yadda,” she said, with a small shrug. 

[andrewdyer]

"You don't need to apologize." To be fair, Eden has a lot to apologize for, but this is not one of them. Now that they're living in the same town and the odds of running into each other is pretty high, the questions that have plagued his mind two years ago are making their way back, finding a spot and settling there. Two years ago, he had accepted the fact that he wouldn't get answers or the closure he needed, that not everything has an answer and sometimes things just happen—as shitty as they may be. It's not fun being in this headspace again. Even though he would love answers, he's not expecting them. If she hadn't talked to him back then, why would she right now? He clears his throat, nodding to himself. "Yeah, I can help out. Let me know when it's not busy around here and I can pass by and help out. What kind of handiwork?" he asks. That way he can manage his own day with his own work at the yacht club too. Everything in him is telling him to stay away from Eden, that he should've said no, because nothing good is going to come out of this and because she was the one that left him in the cruelest way possible, and yet, he's the one that showed up to her store and agreed to help her out. It's clouding his judgment. It takes him back to those seven years with her where his heart had always won when it came to her. "It's good the hours are flexible. You can manage your own time as you figure things out." He's noticed there are some outdated and old things in the shop when he walked in, and there's the urge to upgrade and renovate the entire shop. He has the means, but it's no longer his place to offer such things to Eden, and it's her shop, so it would feel like he's intruding. "You're upstairs now. Okay. Have you been living here the entire time?" He's wondering if she moved to Nightrest right she left him. He frowns. "I'm sorry about your grandmother."

"I'm sorry -" Eden repeats, feeling guilty this time; after all that she's done to him - Drew still wants to be around her, still wants to offer his help like it's nothing, like everything's okay. It's selfish, and feels illogical, unreasonable - but as much as Eden wants to escape this situation, wants him to leave so that she can continue to pretend that nothing's happened; she wants him to stay. Wants to be in his presence, even if it leaves knots in her stomach and a heightened sense of anxiety in her chest. " - I have some handiwork around the house I haven't gotten to yet. Some of it's a two-person job... if you do want to help, I wouldn't - mind it. If you want to." She keeps her back turned - because even the request feels unfair to ask, despite it all - fiddling with the outdated coffee maker until it finally blinks awake and starts up. When she moved back to Nightrest - Eden had nothing practical of her own, just a few suitcases filled with her clothes and a few sentimental items from home; wherever that was. Even now - she didn't find it worth it to invest in anything new; materialism slipping off her shoulders with relative ease. If it wasn't broke - don't fix it. "It depends," Eden pours them both a cup once the pot's filled, slipping past him to open the fridge. "The hours are - flexible, right now. I'm usually around, though - too much shit to fix. Plus -" She hesitates, pulling out the creamer. "- I live right upstairs, so in a way I don't really leave." After a few more moments of fiddling with the coffees - Eden presents the mug towards Drew. "It's my grandmother's house - it really just feels like a constant... estate sale, living here."

[andrewdyer]

"Really good, huh? Good to know," he muses, grinning lightly to himself with a knowing glance at Analu before he puts on his boxers, followed by his pants and getting up to follow her. "I'm a sucker for French toast, so that's my vote." He leans back against one of the counters, reaching for the mug. "Thanks. Then let's get some food into your system, don't want anything to happen on my watch," he jokes lightly. "I can make you eggs and bacon if you're in the mood for that."

"Really good," she smiles at him before she gets out of bed to throw on an oversized shirt. "I was thinking french toast or waffles. What sounds better?" The first thing on her list is to get a fresh brew going while she rummages through the kitchen. "Classic eggs and bacon also sounds good right now. Does it show how hungry I am?" she laughs as she pours coffee for both of them, handing him one while already bringing hers up for a sip.

[andrewdyer]

"A hangover is expected after two consecutive parties, no? I hope it wasn't a lot to nurse it the next morning?" He chuckles lightly, reaching for his drink to take a sip. Drew hadn't been planning to overdo it with the drinking, he wasn't young anymore, so although he had a few drinks, he kept them balanced and didn't go overboard and thus didn't suffer with a hangover the next day. "Would have looked good with what I'm wearing now, right?" he jokes, looking down at his neutral attire.

Rosie vaguely feels like she's had this conversation before, which only further proved that her two friends totally had to get back together. "I had a blast! I was worried about waking up with a hangover, but I actually did feel so bad in the morning," she answers, taking a small sip of her drink. Rosie liked to think even though she wasn't super young anymore, that she could still have fun going out to parties when the occasion called for it. "What, you don't want to keep it? I bet it pairs great with the rest of your clothes in there," she jests, fully knowing her style was perhaps a bit too bright for him.

[andrewdyer]

None of this feels natural. It feels forced. It's not lost on him that Eden's uncomfortable with his presence, and maybe he should take that as a sign and leave her alone. However, they can't avoid each other for long. Nightrest isn't a big town. The odds of running into each other are not small. Now that the initial shock of seeing her has worn off, Drew feels like a stranger stands before him. She's not the one who got left at the altar after all. She's the one who ran away and embarrassed him, throwing seven years down the drain, just like that. Like they meant nothing, like he meant nothing. Eden's usually carefree and outspoken, and what he sees right now is so far from that. Two years ago, he came to the conclusion that he never knew her at all, hoping it would delude him into moving on and help his aching heart. "Oh, yeah I saw the sign. It's part of the shop's charm," he notes, shrugging lightly. The reaction she makes to his offer is the most she's reacted to him since reuniting. "This isn't what I meant, Eden." He's quick to clarify. He knows she's more than capable, but it was a natural reaction to offer, to do something with her like it's normal, except nothing about this is normal. Now, he's contemplating just leaving. "Never mind, forget I asked." He gives her a smile for good measure. He follows her into the kitchen, looking around the room. "Yeah, I still like it the same," he answers, leaning back against one of the counters. "Till what time do you usually stay in the shop?"

Part of Eden thinks she's in purgatory - because this is what her hell looks like; forced to be confronted with her wrongdoing - with the pain she's caused, acting so normal in front of her. Like nothing even happened - but the air feels thick just having him in the store; stuffier than usual, fingers brushing the outline of the inhaler in her pocket as she stands. Just in case. "Yeah - I mean - I get customers sometimes, but I still have to repaint the sign outside so people stop mistaking it for a regular house." Even speaking casually - feels wrong, feels forced; she feels like she's about to have an out of body experience just to cope with their conversation. Usually outspoken - her guilt only leaves her languid. "Help?" Eden can't help but laugh at that, caught off guard, "Drew - I am an engineer, you know. I'd be damn surprised if I couldn't manage to keep track of this." She pauses, cheeks burning, "Sorry - I appreciate the offer." Unable to linger in the silence that follows - Eden beckons Drew to follow her into the kitchen, squeezing past some boxes she'd moved that morning and making way towards the coffee pot. Everything in the room's outdated - old gas stove, a fridge that looks like it's from the '50s, splintering wood for cabinet doors; although she's in the process of adding new backsplash, tiles still littered across one of the counters. "Do - do you still like it the same?" She asks, after a moment - fetching a pair of mismatched mugs.

[andrewdyer]

"You probably wouldn't like mine either," he jokes with a smile, leaning back in his seat as he sips on his coffee. "I mean, it's your book, so you decide the creative process you want to follow. It's not up to anyone else," he points out with a smile. "Is it coming along nicely? Do I get a sneak peak about what the book is about or would that be cheating?"

[andrewdyer]

Drew's always been a practical guy, the type to use his brain over his heart. However, Eden had been the exception to that, time and time again and since the start. There was a whimsical energy about Eden that had caught his attention from the start and would continuously grip him. Their relationship had its ups and downs, but somehow they always made it work, finding their way back to each other. Till their wedding day. When it came to her, his heart always won over his head. Till their wedding day. Their wedding day had changed it all. Even during the first few months where he was plagued with all different variations of why and if questions, Drew knew the reality: she was not coming back and he was not going to hear from her again. Hence, he needed to move on for his own sake, because if she loved him at all, she would've stayed. If she loved him at all, she would've confided in him. He would've called off the wedding if it meant still having her in his life. He still needs to remind himself that he needs to keep his cool, but he notices she's wearing one of his t-shirts and that alone catches him off guard. It makes zero sense to him as he attempts to make sense of it. It takes an immense amount of strength for him to keep collected. "That's good, I wouldn't want to disturb you if it was busy." Except Drew wasn't actually thinking about this when he came here. "I'm okay. How are you doing? Do you want help with the calculations or?" He finds himself asking before thinking it over. He's done a lot of finance work over the years, so he convinces himself that's what prompted him to ask. "Yeah, sure, I'd like that."

There's no bell attached to the front door yet - mostly because Eden comes and goes far too often for the sound to not drive her insane; and secondly because it's at the very bottom of her list of priorities for the store. Her home. She's never lived alone, before; always surrounded by people back up in the commune, or living with her grandmother - or with Drew, once upon a time. Now Eden was alone - by her own design, no - maybe by her own nature. She was never committal in high school; a reputation that followed her until the day she left for Boston. Maybe Eden's suppose to be alone. Her head's lost to her thoughts when Drew wanders up to her makeshift counter; an old desk repurposed - not looking up at his first word, eyes too focused in on the laptop in front of her. "Hm?" She looks up - then pales, a hand reaching to shut her computer. "Oh - Drew. Hey." Eden's determined to remain - collected, this time. Casual; not frantic. "Um - oh, yeah - slow day," Her head nods automatically, legs tucking further beneath her on her little office chair, hands nestling in her lap; a part of her becomes conscious that she's wearing one of his old t-shirts - her usual loungewear. "I was just going over next month's finances. Making sure everything's in - order. How... are you? Do - do you want a cup of coffee?"