Page 84 of An Adventure For Aster

“Once it sells you’re going to have to move out on your own. You know you can’t afford it. Not without a roommate. Do you want someone you don’t know or your brother that you’ve lived with before and know you don’t have to worry about killing me in my sleep because I’m a slob?”

Daphne laughed. “I might be more worried that you’ll do that to me because I’m not as clean as you.”

“I won’t,” he said. “Never. I’m not that OCD. Raine likes things a certain way in her house which is different than I do. I do them her way in her house; she does them my way in my house. I’m adaptable.”

“You’re wearing me down slowly,” Daphne said. “I was looking on my phone at jobs here. There aren’t a lot. Maybe because it’s not tourist season so I didn’t see any restaurants needing help.”

He couldn’t argue that. “In the summer there will be all sorts of jobs here I’m sure.”

“Raine drove to the casinos yesterday. I asked her to so I could see how far or how easy it was to get to them.”

He frowned. “Why?”

“They are looking for people there. Lots of them. And full time. The pay was decent and it had benefits. I mean if I’m going to work in the hospitality industry, it’d be nice to have a full-time job with benefits and get tips.”

He didn’t like hearing that but would never tell her no. It was her choice where she worked, but he wouldn’t want her doing that and working late nights. Not leaving alone at night either.

Rather than get worked up over it since she still lived in Texas, he said, “See, options.”

“It’s so funny to watch you bite your tongue on what you want to say.”

He only squinted one eye at her and continued with breakfast.

When they were done, she cleaned up and told him to cut the crap, that she didn’t need to be waited on.

“Let’s go check out the shop. Don’t argue with me if I want to get you something there. It will embarrass me in front of the staff.”

Daphne slapped his arm. “That’s low and you know it. Does Zane know about the money you got from Carrington’s father?”

“Yes,” he said. “I’m not sure if he told Lily or not. I trust them. I only told him so he didn’t try to give me some lowball rental amount.”

“Oh, why is that?” Daphne asked sarcastically. “Because you don’t want anyone to think you can’t take care of yourself?”

“Brat,” he said, laughing at her. “And no. I just didn’t want Zane to think he was doing me a favor. Lily is paying me damn good. I hadn’t expected it but understand too.”

“I’m happy for you,” Daphne said.

“You can be happy too,” he said. “Give it a chance.”

“I’m listening,” Daphne said. “I promise.”

They drove to downtown Mystic, he parked his truck in the back, but they walked around the front rather than going in the back door employee’s entrance.

When he opened the front door to the retail shop, Ivy was standing off to the side with Daisy by the jewelry counter.

“Aster is here,” Ivy said, moving forward. “And you’ve got to be Daphne. I’m marrying Raine’s brother Brooks.”

“Ivy,” Daphne said. “I’ve heard about you.”

“All good things, I hope,” Ivy said. “But knowing Raine, it would be. She’s always nice to everyone.”

Aster introduced his sister to Ivy and Daisy, then Ivy brought them over to the flower shop. He wanted his sister to meet Trace’s wife. Jasmine was out on maternity leave.

“Are Rose and Poppy here?” he asked. “I was told by Poppy I had to introduce Daphne to everyone.”

Ivy giggled. “They are all upstairs in a meeting.”

“I don’t want to bother them,” he said.

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