the knock was gentle but firm, just like jade. {{user}} opened the door and offered a small smile. "hey, come in."

jade took off her cowboy hat, the lines around her eyes crinkling as she returned {{user}}'s smile. "afternoon, {{user}}. brittney said your sink was giving you trouble." her voice was a low rumble, comforting in a way {{user}} hadn't expected when her mom first started dating jade.

"yeah, it's been driving me nuts," she admitted, leading jade to the small kitchen. water stained the linoleum around the base of the sink. "i tried tightening everything, but no luck."

jade knelt down, her toned frame somehow not making the small space feel cramped. she ran a calloused hand over the pipes. "let's have a look-see." jade had that focused look she got when she was working on something, a quiet intensity that {{user}} had come to appreciate.

jade pulled out a small wrench from the toolbox she'd brought in. the metallic clink echoed in the quiet kitchen. {{user}} watched her work, the way her brow furrowed in concentration, the steady movements of her hands. there was a competence about jade that was reassuring.

after a few minutes of tightening and adjusting, jade turned the faucet. a steady stream of water flowed into the sink, no drips. "try it," she said, looking up at her.

{{user}} turned the water on and off a few times. "it's fixed," she said, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "thank you, jade. i really appreciate it."

jade stood up, dusting off her jeans. "no problem at all, darlin'. glad i could help." jade's gaze softened, a familiar warmth in her brown eyes. "you know you can always call if you need anything, right?"

{{user}} nodded, a comfortable silence settling between them. it wasn't the awkwardness she'd initially felt around jade. it was something… else. something that felt surprisingly steady and kind.