Page 89 of Charmed By Destiny

“You failed to mention it’d just happened. The air was full of it,” Gabe countered. “I walked in and had that shit stuck in my nose for three days.”

“As if any cosmetics company gets that kind of coverage,” Maribeth said. “Especially where it’s damp with snot and boogers.”

“Gross, I don’t want to talk about Gabriel’s snot while I’m eating,” Richard responded, bending forward to glare at Maribeth.

Clark glanced at Rosalind. “You promised they’d grow out of bickering at some point. Why hasn’t it happened yet?”

“Because Richard and Maribeth are both pests,” Gabe stated matter-of-factly.

“I swear the only person Gabriel likes is Eric,” Richard muttered.

Maribeth nodded. “Gabriel’s been mooning over that boy for years.”

“This boy is pretty happy about that,” Eric threw in.

“As you should be, baby,” Richard told his brother. “On an entirely different subject, Lucas and I need a bit of help.”

“If you’ve done something wrong, Richard, you need to apologize,” Clark said.

“And Gabriel wonders why we’re pests,” Richard grumbled. “We aren’t having a relationship issue. It’s a storage complaint. My closet isn’t big enough for both of us. Lucas shouldn’t have to keep going down the hall to grab clothes.”

“Since I already know asking you to make space for Lucas is out of the question, we’ll have to think of something else,” Clark replied. “Rosalind?”

“Well, Gabriel’s old room is on the other side of Richard and Lucas’s suite. We could steal some square footage from it and build a closet for Lucas. It’d be on the opposite wall from Richard’s, so hopefully he won’t steal from his soulmate.”

“What are we going to do with Gabriel’s room?” Richard asked. “The rest of it anyway, because I love your idea. We don’t need another guest suite. No one has ever slept in the one where Lucas’s clothes are hanging.”

“Why do you keep calling it my room?” Gabe asked.

“Mom literally decorated it in green for you,” Eric told his husband.

“I used it once a year for two nights,” Gabe argued.

“But I never lost hope that you’d move into the house with us, which is why you had your own room,” Rosalind stated. “Obviously, you don’t need it now because you and Eric have a beautiful suite. Although, I think it should be decorated to suit you both. Richard, you and Lucas should think about that too.”

“Nope,” Luke shot out before he could stop himself. Everyone turned to stare at him, and he worried that he’d said the word a few octaves higher than necessary.

Richard grinned. “Lucas and I love our room.”

“Ours is blue. Like Eric’s eyes. Why would I want it any other color?” Gabriel asked.

“Give it up, Rosalind. Figure out what to do with Gabriel’s bedroom and use it to scratch your need-to-decorate itch,” Clark suggested.

“What if we turned it into an upstairs office?” Eric asked. “Gabriel could use it if I’m talking to ghosts and he needs to get something done. Or maybe Richard, Mari, or Lucas need a place to complete a task.”

“That’s an excellent idea,” Rosalind responded immediately with a smile. “We’ll take a healthy chunk out for Lucas’s closet and put some built-ins for books. Perhaps two or three desks. Keep the bathroom, but maybe remove the shower?”

“I don’t need a desk, I don’t have a job,” Maribeth quipped.

“You don’t need one. Get one if you want, whenever you’re ready,” Clark suggested.

“What if the something I wanted to do isn’t something anyone would approve of?” Maribeth asked quietly without glancing up from her plate.

“What could you possibly want to do that we wouldn’t approve of?” Rosalind asked. “We already ruled out working anywhere outside of Marwood properties.”

“Well, I’m scared you’ll think it’s a job better left to inspirits,” Maribeth said. “Ones like Gabriel. Or Rhonda.”

Richard bent forward to glance around Luke again. “You want to do security? How kick-ass are you, babe?”

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