Page 145 of Against All Odds

“That’s not really my thing.”

“I’m aware.”

I don’t love the hint of exasperation there, but I keep that part to myself.

“I swear, Everett, if you took your dumbass friends’ advice and put an Ultimate Frisbee simulator in that bedroom upstairs, I might kill you.”

Yes, that was the debate during the move, which room he could dedicate to some simulator that Killian is working with a company to create. Since we have extra bedrooms, they thought we should knock down a few walls to really give it a chance.

I threatened homicide.

The conversation stopped.

Until Miles suggested that we use my grandmother’s house, since it’s vacant until we decide what to do with it. Since, you know, the sport is ever growing, we could turn the entire house into a game park.

That was when Everett made up some bullshit about his mother and asked me to check on her.

“I mean, it isn’t fully that.”

I groan. “Everett.”

“Just a few more steps. And stop.” He grabs my shoulders, maneuvering me this way and that. “Okay, come forward.”

I take two steps and inhale. The smell is faint, but instantly recognizable. “Paint?”

“Yes, there is paint.” He chuckles. “All right, I’m going to take the blindfold off, but only if you promise not to kill me.”

Ugh. He did make that damn room.

I feel him behind me, his hand moving up to the tie around my head. Slowly it loosens, and then I gasp. “Oh my God. What? When?” I look around at the room, cream colored with soft hints of pink and purple. There is a crib in the center with a sheer curtain cocooning it. It literally looks like the dream nursery I showed Hazel. “How? How did you do this?”

There is a changing table against the far back wall and the plush, incredibly expensive rocker that I had to be removed from just yesterday.

This makes no sense.

“Do you like it?”

Tears fill my eyes and I blink them away, not wanting to miss a single detail. “Everett ... you ... this is incredible.”

He smiles and pulls me deeper into the room. “Hazel said you weren’t sure on the bedding, so I don’t have that. You can decide when you’re ready.”

“This is exactly like I pictured, but how? I just told her yesterday.”

Everett wraps his arms around me from behind, his head resting on my shoulder. “I was at the store and the guys were here. I had painted this room when you were in California. I got the crib and the dresser. I just didn’t know what you’d want fora theme or whatever. When you showed Hazel that photo, I was able to buy it all and get to work.”

I shake my head, amazement running through me. “You ... I don’t even know what to say.”

He kisses my neck. “Do you like it?”

“I love it,” I say immediately. “This stuff is so expensive.”

Everett chuckles. “Violet, I’m a doctor who does well and saved a shit ton of money because I live in a house that’s paid for. But all the money I have or don’t have doesn’t matter when it comes to us. I wanted you to have the nursery you wanted. Besides, little Brunhilda will need a pretty place to come and hide.”

I snort a laugh. “We are not naming her that.”

“I’m really partial to it.”

“Well, you can visit your cat whenever you need to say it.”

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