Page 72 of The Problem with Players

The floor was flooded with no signs of it getting better.

Avery

Really bad flooding. Not sure what to do.

Willow

Maybe take Nathan Pierce up on his offer for the night. Don’t worry about Big Bird. She’ll dry out when I get back home.

The amount of chill my little sister had was enough to give me gray hair. No wonder Daddy was bald.

20

NATHAN

There was a pounding at my door a little after midnight, and I was surprised to find Avery standing there with a suitcase sitting beside her. Her eyes looked exhausted and defeated. I could feel the heaviness resting against her soul as she grimaced.

“I need you,” she said with a weighted sigh. “Is the spare room at 505 West Chipper Lane still available for rent?” she asked shyly, brushing a hand over her soaking wet hair. She then sneezed and shook the rain off her body. “Because I could really use a place to crash for a little while.”

I grabbed the handle of her suitcase and pulled it into my house. She followed me.

“Let me grab you a towel,” I said quickly before darting down the hallway into the bathroom. I came back with two and wrapped one around her shoulders as she took the other and began drying her hair.

“Thanks.”

“Of course. I already have a room set up for you.” I grabbed her suitcase and pulled it down the hallway. I observed hertaking notice of all the family photographs against my wall, but she stayed quiet as she trailed me.

Once we reached her room, I flipped on the light, and she tilted her head. “What’s that on the bed?”

“Oh. It’s a welcome basket. I had it made up when I thought you might stay with me. It has all kinds of stuff in it that you might need, including a few snacks. I tossed some towels into the attached bathroom for you, too.”

She arched an eyebrow. “You had a welcome basket made for me? What if I didn’t show up?”

“I thought of it as a ‘just in case Avery comes over’ basket. I would’ve moved it soon enough, but I guess it worked out.”

She looked perplexed by the idea of it but didn’t argue with me. That was somewhat surprising. Avery’s favorite pastime was arguing with me.

“Thanks,” she murmured. “That’s actually really nice.”

“Don’t thank me too much. My mom did most of the work. Perks of living on a family farm with a welcome-basket-loving mother.”

“Your mom knows you were offering me a spot to stay here?”

“She asked if you were okay after the wedding situation. I told her I offered you a spot if you needed it. She got to work on the basket right away. She also made me straighten up my place, too. I’m not this neat on my own,” I joked.

“I know. I remember sneaking into your place when we were younger. Your room was worse than the pigpens.”

“I’m glad to tell you I’m not that bad anymore. I’ll let you settle in. The fridge in the kitchen is stocked, too—with non-expired food this go-round. Let me know if you need anything. We can check in with one another in the morning.”

“This isn’t going to be a long-term thing,” she expressed. “Willow’s bus had a leakage issue, and the apartment complexin town has no vacancies until the end of the school year, but I’m going to keep looking for something else.”

“You can stay here as long as you need, Ave.”

“I think the last thing you want is to live with a bitter, almost-married woman while you’re single and, well, mingling.” She grimaced and tugged gently on her earlobe. “If you’re mingling, that is.”

“Right.” I smirked. “Of course.”

“Are you?” she asked as she glanced down at the carpet. “Are you currently mingling with anyone?”

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