Page 73 of January

“You may be older, but I am definitely wiser,” Jolie teased back. “Now, listen to me and go get your girl.”

They hung up, and Kyle put her phone on silent, wanting no further interruptions to their night. When they’d arrived, she’d shown Melinda around the now somewhat bare house. It was amazing how different the place looked without the furniture, but walking through it with Melinda had been fun. She’d shown her the few things they were going to be working on soon and that the floors would be changed but would be as close to original as they could get, and when Melinda had started pointing around rooms and making suggestions, Kyle had joined in.

“Oh, the bed should go over there. It would get great light from that spot,” Melinda had said.

“I was thinking that, too. The dresser could go over there, and the TV could be mounted to the wall.”

“You’re a TV-in-the-bedroom fan?” Melinda had said, lifting an accusing eyebrow up at her. “I don’t know if we can keep dating…”

Kyle had laughed and replied, “I can be persuaded to live without it.”

“What if you got one of those hidden TV-display… thingies?”

“Thingies?” Kyle had laughed.

“Yeah, where it’s there, but it rises up from somewhere, so it’s notalwaysthere. That way, you’d still have it, and it wouldn’t be the centerpiece of the room but hidden away.”

“I guess I could look into something like that,” she’d said.

“What are they doing to the bathroom?” Melinda had asked.

“Plumbing updating, mostly. The rest of the stuff was put in about ten years ago, and Myra said it was fine.”

“That’s good. I love the claw tub in here. It’s so old-school and classy somehow.”

“You know what I’ve always wanted, though?” Kyle had asked, wrapping her arms around Melinda from behind.

“What’s that?”

“A jacuzzi tub with those bubbles. Is that lame?”

“No. That’s a great idea. You should have them move this one to the guest bathroom and put one of those in.”

“I guess I could,” she’d replied, realizing at the same time that she could afford to do that and that it would be a great addition to the overly large bathroom.

“Those things are great when you have tired muscles,” Melinda had said, leaning back against Kyle. “God, coming home after a long day of walking around and climbing into one of those things sounds amazing.”

Kyle had kissed the side of Melinda’s neck as she smiledat the thought. They had somehow started planning a home that neither of them lived in, and it had been nice; planning a home with Melinda had been nice. It was years ahead of schedule for a couple only on their second date, but she’d never had this with anyone, and holding Melinda while they’d talked about the house had Kyle feeling like this was the best way they could’ve spent part of their second date.

After their tour, they’d gone out to the garden, where Melinda had no sooner sat down than Kyle’s phone had rung, so Kyle had excused herself because it was her sister, and she hadn’t called to check in with her about the house or the first date she and Melinda had had. Now, she was opening the back door and walking outside. Melinda didn’t move as she approached, so Kyle sat on the blanket next to her and took in the sounds of the crickets and other insects around them.

“It’s a beautiful night,” Melinda noted after a moment.

“Are you cold?” Kyle asked.

“I’m chilly, but I’m okay. How is Jolie?”

“She’s good. She was calling to ask about our date last night. I was supposed to tell her how it went, and I didn’t report in on time,” Kyle replied, smiling down at her.

“And what did you report in just now?”

“That it was perfect. Tonight, too,” Kyle shared.

“Perfect would be you lying down next to me and me snuggling into your side,” Melinda replied.

“I can arrange that,” she said.

Kyle knew Melinda wasn’t cold yet, but she probably would be soon, so she reached for one of the extra blankets they’d brought out with them and laid down next to her, pulling it over both of them as Melinda rested her head on Kyle’s chest and her arm over her stomach.

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