The next day she woke up as usual and went about her day. She was doing her chores when she heard a loud motor-like noise from next door, the direction that Nico's house was supposed to be in. She went to the front of her house to check it out and was startled by the sight of a shirtless Nico in his garden. He looked tan and had even more tattoos on his bare chest, which was firmer than she had realised yesterday. The loose shirt had been hiding a lot under it and that made Amaira wonder about his lower body. She immediately stopped herself at that thought, thinking that she sounded like a pervert and needed to get her mind under control.
Nico finally noticed her and waved hi, then pointing towards the lawn mower in his hands indicating what he was doing. Amaira nodded understandingly and printed towards her house indicating that she had chores to do as well. He nodded and she headed inside so that she could finish her chores.
A few hours later, Amaira made some lemonade and decided to head outside to offer some to Nico as she could still hear him working outside. She thought it would be nice way to cool off for him as lawn-mowing could get sweaty.
Nico was hard at work and looked to be almost done, with the garden looking completely different from what it had been looking like a few hours ago.
She called out his name, "Nico!"
He turned around at this, "Hey Ami, what's up?"
"I made some lemonade if you want. I know how lawn-mowing can get sweaty."
"You are an angel Ami! I did not realise lawn-mowing was this hard, there was no garden to mow in the apartment my mom and I lived in.", he said taking a glass from the tray she way offering.
She picked up a glass herself, taking a sip as she said, "Oh. You are so lucky to only find out this now!"
"Hmm, really? I thought your dad or mom would be the one mowing the lawn, it is a lot of work for a child isn't it?"
"They both have been very busy with work and barely have time so I started doing this, otherwise our garden would be an overgrown mess now."
"Oh ok. By the way mom was asking about you yesterday and she officially invited you to come over for some cookies and milk this evening. I'm sorry, I tried telling her you might not like it anymore, but you know mom."
"Nico, have you ever met anyone who did not like cookies and milk? That is the best combination and I would love to come over!"
They started talking more and deviated to other topics, just catching up after years and both forgetting about their respective chores. They lost track of time and it wasn't until she had to squint when the sun got in her eyes that she realised how late it was. The sun was directly over them and it was noon, that is, a whole hour since Ami had come out with lemonade for Nico. She barely had time till she had to make lunch and then wake up her mother along with a few other chores. She made an excuse to Nico, going inside to make lunch and deciding to delay other chores till after.
Her mother thankfully was too sleepy as a result of it being Sunday to notice that Amaira had not completed her chores. She sighed in relief and got to her chores as soon as she was done cleaning up after lunch. Her mother had gone right back to sleep and her father had gone out for a game of golf with some friends that morning. So, with both her parents occupied, she went over to Nico's at 5 and rang the bell.