Page 96 of Edge

“Edge,” she groaned.

“Okay, okay. You decide on a movie franchise while I get some snacks. Bedroom or living room?”

“Can we get someone to push the ottoman in to make the sofa a huge bed so other people can watch with us if they want?”

“I’m sure that can be arranged.”

“Then I choose the living room,” she said and started working her way out of bed. “Go ahead and get the snacks. I can make it to the couch by myself.”

I knew she could, but I wanted her to have help if she needed it. Since I was on the same weight and activity restrictions as her, there wasn’t much I could do to assist her. As luck would have it, I ran into Dice in the hallway. “Can you help Evie get to the couch? She wants to have a movie marathon in the living room.”

“Sure, man. Is she ready now?”

“She is,” Evie said from the doorway.

“She’ll need her blankets, too,” I said before I continued down the hallway, wishing I was able to walk faster. Evie didn’t like asking for help, and she didn’t like me asking for her, but she was always gracious about accepting it.

So that’s how we spent the rest of the day—snuggled on the sofa, watching back-to-backPirates of the Caribbeanmovies, snacking on junk food, and intermittently napping alongside our friends.

27

EVIE

The next few days were filled with a whole bunch of nothing and dragged by slowly. I was itching to know what Irene was going to do with the diner, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask her. She was facing a big decision, and I didn’t want to pressure her in any way, but I also didn’t want her to think I didn’t care. I cared a lot. Maybe too much.

Edge moved closer to me on the couch and placed his hand on my thigh. “What are you over here thinking about?”

I nodded at the book in my hand. “I’m reading.”

“Try again. You haven’t turned a page in over thirty minutes.”

Sighing, I placed the book in my lap and glanced at Byte, who was resting comfortably on one of the recliners.

“Should I go?” he asked.

“No,” I rushed out. He was doing well with his leg injury, but I would have been an asshole to ask him to leave. “It’s nothing you can’t hear. I was just thinking about the diner and wondering what Irene is going to do.”

“Have you asked her?”

I shook my head. “No. I didn’t want to pressure her.”

Byte snorted. “You can’t pressure Irene.”

“That’s true,” I admitted.

“I haven’t talked to her about it since I suggested she open the diner in Croftridge instead of Cedar Valley. I figured I’d give her a few days to think about it before I brought it up again. It’s been a few days, so we’ll ask her about it when she gets back from her appointment.”

“Ask me about what?” Irene asked as she entered the living room.

“How was your appointment?” I asked.

“Nice try. I’ll tell you about it after you tell me what y’all were talking about.”

“We were wondering if you’d made any decisions regarding the diner,” Byte said.

She walked to the sofa and took a seat. “I’ve given it a lot of thought, but I haven’t made a final decision yet.”

“What have you been thinking?” I asked.

---