Page 63 of Sycamore Circle

“I noticed you didn’t apologize for calling me sweetheart in front of him.”

“Why would I? We’re all adults and it seems to me like he’s coming and going far too easily. This might be where he used to live but it’s not anymore.”

She thought about that. Probably later, she’d really think on it and wonder if she’d subconsciously kept the door open for Tony just in case he had an epiphany and suddenly decided to come back.

“You’re right.”

Bo blinked. “That’s it? You’re not going to argue with me?”

“I’m not a big fan of arguing just for the sake of arguing. Would you like some coffee?”

“Yeah. Then we need to figure out what you want to do about that letter. Do you want to wait to hear from the detective or go to the station?”

She hadn’t forgotten about the letter, but the drama with Tony had almost put it out of her mind. “Okay. Coffee first, then I think I want to go to the station. I know you trust Lincoln to get ahold of him, but I want to do something, you know? Not just wait here.”

“Sounds good.”

Realizing that she was now taking up even more of his time, she murmured, “If you’re busy today, I can do this on my own. I feel better today. Not as, um, emotionally raw.”

“You’re not going to go to a police station all alone if I can help it. I’m not too busy.”

She smiled at him softly. “I’ll make the coffee. The bathroom’s down the hall, if you need it.”

“Thanks. Oh, and Joy?”

She turned back to him. “Yes?”

“Your Chloe is a doll. Pretty as a picture. She looks just like you too.”

Joy smiled as she walked into the kitchen.

CHAPTER 21

While Joy made coffee, Bo walked down the hall. The house’s main bath was next to her bedroom. It was bigger than he’d thought it would be. There was an antique cast iron tub, a modern walk-in shower, two sinks, and two medicine cabinets. The floor was a glazed brick and the walls were painted a pale pink. It was a pretty place and filled with all things girly. Lotions and perfumes and a basket filled with hair ties.

It smelled like Joy. Feminine and classy. It was obvious she shared it with Chloe and that there wasn’t a man around to tarnish the feminine vibe. Bo was glad about that. It would be a shame to mess up the sweet aesthetic.

He’d been in the room the night before but, because he’d been so tired at the time or because he’d been distracted and stewing on her letter—probably both—he hadn’t noticed the sweet floral scent or the sheer girliness of it at all.

Now Bo was having a hard time not inspecting everything more closely. He realized then that if they ever got to the stage when they were living together, he’d complain if she tried to make the little space more masculine. He wanted to see her hairbrushes and body lotion.

He wanted to see everything of hers that she kept from the outside world.

“You are halfway gone,” he muttered to himself. He’d suspected as much when he’d felt his chest clench when she’d told him about her letter over the phone. That feeling had intensified when he’d held her in his arms.

Now, after seeing the way her ex was acting like she didn’t even deserve a heads-up when he showed up out of the blue, and even acting like she owed him explanations for having a man spend the night? Well, that grated on Bo something fierce.

Yeah, he was more than just halfway gone. His feelings had reached a whole new level.

She’d told him where the spare toothbrushes were. After doing his business, he grabbed a toothbrush and a fresh washcloth and attempted to clean himself up a bit.

The scent of brewing coffee filled the hallway as he walked back to meet her. Needing the jolt of caffeine, he met her in the kitchen. Joy was leaning against the counter and sipping a cup like it was life-sustaining.

“I got out a cup for you. I put out milk and sugar too. I didn’t remember what you took.”

“Thanks.” He filled a cup and put in a spoonful of sugar. “When do you want to go over to the police station?”

“Sooner than later.” She looked down at herself. “I need to shower and get changed though.”