Page 129 of Hell and High Water

“My dad left us a base of operations.”

Clicking the key into the lock directly in the center of the door, I watch as a blinking light just inside the paneled windows around it blinks red twice, then green.

A low hum accompanies the click as the door swings open, preceding floor lighting along the entry hall popping to life in sequence, guiding us in.

Everything about the house is stunning, elegant, but simple.

A faint film of dust is the only sign that no one has been here in years. Otherwise, the house is pristine. Almost like Dad never had a chance to use it.

“Where’s the damn light switch?” Gavin grumbles, stumbling over an empty planter.

“Maybe it’s a clapper?” Tell tries it, the sound echoing loudly in the high-ceilinged room. “Nope.”

Evan sighs, giving me a look as he grabs a remote off the long entryway table and presses a button. “Smart house.”

“You know, not all of us have fancy toys like you,” I point out, immediately distracted by the slowly growing illumination.

The main room is enormous, a great room housing a living area, dining room, an open kitchen along the back wall, rustically set against natural rock, blocked off by a long bar with stools. Stairs lead up to another level in the center, overhanging a hallway with several doors, presumably bedrooms.

I lean back against Evan’s chest behind me in wonder, completely stunned by the scope of the house. The fact that it’s… mine.

Evan’s arm loops around my shoulders, squeezing me lightly.

“PDA…” Tell teases, shouldering Evan as he passes.

“I can hug my girl if I want to,” Evan mutters defensively.

“Yeah, I suppose you can hug my girl if you want to,” he retorts, grinning and wagging his eyebrows.

Gavin rolls his eyes, joining us in the middle of the room, acting bored with our antics. “Well, at least it looks like you finally made amends with my girl, Ev.”

His mouth curls in a self-satisfied smile as he leans in and steals a kiss, claiming my lips as I arch my back into Evan.

“HA!” Tell exclaims, looking from Evan to Gavin and back at me and throwing an arm over Gavin’s shoulders. “Our girl, then.”

His fingers find mine, intertwining as we take in the moment.

No one has said it until now, really addressed our situation, and I’ve avoided naming it.

But there it is.

“Our girl.” Gavin nods, letting his gaze linger on mine for another second before drifting back to our surroundings.

“I’m not saying it,” Evan asserts, aloof as usual.

With a sharp elbow into his ribs, I pull away, leaving him huffing a soft gasp and chuckling.

Leaving all three to their own exploration, I set out to check out my new digs. This place is unnerving, despite the sense of home I instantly got when I stepped foot inside.

It’s the fact that my father built it. That someone designed it with me in mind.

That he left it for me, as per the notes in his journal. Even if he wasn’t sure I’d ever make it here or find out about any of this.

“The security is impressive from what I can see so far. High-tech as all get-out,” Gavin muses, inspecting the panel by the door.

“Couches are comfy too!” Tell flops down.

“Independent power supply. Water, too.” Evan flicks on the monitor in the foyer, looking through the specs on the smart controls for the building. It’s all there in impressive detail. He looks incredibly pleased with the level of gadgetry, as expected.

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