Page 94 of S.O.S. Mizzay

Cobble broke out into a huge smile. He couldn’t believe his years of isolation were finally about to be over. “Exactly,” he told her. “I’ll also look forward to finally meeting Rory and the rest of your SOS team. Then, eventually, I’ll find a few more classes to take.”

Andy snorted. “Of that, I have no doubt.”

“Now, about our living arrangements…” Cobble began.

“Don’t worry. If you want, you can stay with me and Rory until we figure something else out. I told her all about you, and she thinks our covert relationship has been verydreamy; like a dark, romantic movie—tragic but hopeful—where two lovers are kept apart until their stars finally align and they live happily ever after.”

“I like the sound of the happily ever after,” Cobble chuckled. “However, I could have done without the tragedy part. And as much as I like the thought of sharing your apartment with you, I’m not a city person, Andy. It might be good, short term, but I like the discussion we had about getting your friend Tucker to build us an end-unit townhouse right here.”

“So…you don’t like this bungalow?” she asked with a cheeky look on her face.

“Of course I do, but it’s slated for demolition.”

“What would you say if I told you I’d talked to Tuck, and because this house is on the far end of his planned development,he’s…open to working with us. If we allow him to update the outside of this place to meet his aesthetic requirements, he’d leave a nice sized lot carved out, let us buy it, and stay.”

“He…? You did that for us?” Cobble could barely get words out.

“Uh, huh,” she returned smugly.

Damn. He loved this house; the seaside location, the historic details, the cozy—

Shit. Toocozy. There were two small bedrooms and one bath. Barely adequate for him, Andy, and Rory in the short term, but not very private for a newly married couple and a teenage girl. And what about future children? Dogs? Cobble didn’t want to naysay the offer, but he was torn.

“It’s too small,” he told her with some regret in his voice.

Andy grinned again. Or had she never stopped? “Did I mention that the lot size he’s proposing would allow for expansion? Tuck says he wouldn’t be averse to putting on a primary suite wing.”

“I could draw up plans, and help with the build,” Cobble speculated, getting excited; feeling like he was in some kind of dream.

“Yeah.” Andy’s voice grew more and more animated. “We could also update things like the kitchen and baths ourselves, and if you want, we could even put on a second story.”

“Holy shit, Andy. I never expected this. Does that really mean we can stay? Like, forever, and starting…now?”

“Uh, huh,” she nodded, her smile growing bigger.

Cobble’s mind started going a million miles an hour.

“We can get rid of the crap furniture—not my bed or my TV’s of course—but everything else. Next weekend we can move the stuff from your apartment, here. Or at least as much as will fit right now. We can put the rest in storage until the additions are done, and Rory… Wait. How will Rory feel about all this?”

Andy laughed. Maybe that was their new norm, to be constantly giddy.

“I’ve shown her pictures, and Rory’s ready to move here immediately. As much as she loves Prez, Maygan, and their girls, she says she’s a little tired of being shuffled around, and she can’t wait to live someplace again that’s full-time. If it’s okay with you, I’ll pick her up tomorrow after school, and with a little help from friends with trucks, we’ll pack up my and her essentials and bring them back here. Most everything else can wait until the weekend.”

Cobble felt a warmth swell in his chest. He didn’t know Rory, but from all he’d heard via Andy, he already loved her. “I can’t wait,” he responded. “But…What if she doesn’t like me?” he blurted out.

Andy scoffed. “Are you kidding? Tall, blond, and handsome? Rory’s going to be immediately in awe of you; probably crush on you for a few months. Then once she’s comfortable, she’ll start treating you like the stupid adult youreallyare and ignore the hell out of you. So, embrace the over-the-top adoration while you can.”

That all sounded awesome to Cobble.

They finished their food in contented, companionable silence, then cleared the table together. When Cobble began running water in the sink to wash the dishes, Andy came over and hip-checked him aside.

“I’ve got this,” she said. “Go call your parents.”

Cobble didn’t think he could get any happier than he already was, but picturing himself delivering the good news to his mom and dad, had him over the moon.

He didn’t argue with Andy, but headed right for the saggy sofa in the living room.

His hands were shaking as he dialed the decades old number he’d long ago committed to memory.

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