Page 63 of Just Business

Ashley gets so tickled at my story, she has to wipe the tears from her eyes.

“That boy might not look at me the same anymore,” she says once she’s composed herself.

About that time, Cassie enters the kitchen, interrupting our laughter. She looks worse for wear with mascara smudges under her eyes and her hair sticking out in every direction.

“I know exactly what I look like,” Cassie says when she sees our expressions. “I was up late reading. Austin took one look at me this morning and told me to stay here. He’s just gonna guess at what’s mine at the apartment.”

Turning to me, she says, “Let me get good and awake, and then if you want, we can lie out by the pool.”

This is how I find myself a couple hours later, lying by the pool with Ashley and Cassie. I can't help but marvel at how easily they’ve accepted me as one of their own. There was an instant connection, without the usual awkward politeness that comes with meeting someone new. They’ve welcomed me into their lives like they’ve known me for years, rather than a day.

All day I’ve quietly observed the way Ashley and Cassie interact, thinking back to the photo on Austin’s nightstand. If I didn’t know they were aunt and niece, I’d think Cassie was her daughter, but after seeing the photo, I know that their mom looks just like Ashley. Something niggles in the back of my mind, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. They all have the same dark hair and unique eyes as Tyler. It feels so familiar, reminding me of someone back home. But before I can even begin to parse this thought apart, it slips through my fingers like sand.

My phone pings beside me and I glance down, already knowing who it’ll be.

Austin

Miss you.

My face splits into a grin when I see what he’s texted.

I miss you too. Have y’all gotten everything?

Austin

Not quite. We’re working as fast as we can.

What are you doing today?

Cassie asked if I wanted to lay out with her. So we’re having a day by the pool.

Austin

Yellow swimsuit?

I hold my phone out to take a selfie that shows that I am indeed wearing his favorite yellow swimsuit and hit send.

Austin

We’re staying at my house tonight. Don’t make plans to be anywhere else.

Bossy.

I don’t even realize I’m grinning until my cheeks begin to ache and I glance over to find Cassie smiling at me. “What?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“You’re grinning like a lovesick fool at that phone in your hand.”

I scoff and wave her off. I’m not a lovesick fool, am I? Maybe I am. Instead of dwelling on that, I pass their moving progress onto her.

“Austin said they’re working as fast as they can, but they’re not quite finished.”

“Nice avoidance tactic there,” Cassie replies, and I laugh, shaking my head. “By the way, you need more sunscreen. You're like a little Precious Moments Doll and that pale skin can’t handle Texas sun. Here,” she says, handing me the bottle.

Between handing over the most locked down parts of my soul and watching Penny come undone with my name on her lips, it’s safe to say focusing on anything today has been nothing short of torture. Then she had to send me that picture of her in that fucking yellow bikini with the perfect amount of cleavage hanging out, and no man has ever packed up an apartment so quickly.

When we hit traffic on the interstate, I groan audibly and my uncle chuckles beside me. What should have been a three-hour drive turns into four, and by the time we pull off the highway toward our plot of land, my leg is bouncing and I’m anxiously tapping my thumb on the door handle.

As soon as Ty puts the moving truck in park in front of my house, I hop out, promising to unload in the morning. We’ll have a few hours to get things squared away before we have to head back to Alabama.

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