Page 30 of In the Pursuit of Haven
No argument I made to myself was compelling enough to go down there. I’d found Haven’s oversized tie-dyed t-shirt to sleep in, and now going through her things, I found overalls, really tacky, baggy overalls.
That little hippy! I threw them on and they immediately slipped off of me they were so big. Our styles were so different. I preferred dresses and heels and… anyway, I didn’t care.
Oversized tie-dye shirt it is!It was good enough for operation grab-my-real-clothes anyway. Jessie would be dead asleep, and opening the door from Haven’s bedroom, I listened to his heavy breathing. I used to fall asleep to that once comforting sound. And I was halfway down the stairs when I heard the front door creak open.
I froze.
Had Jessie really not thought to lock the door last night?
My hands went to my T-shirt and I tugged it down.
“Wakey wakey!” a female voice sang. I recognized Abby’s voice seconds before she moved past the hallway. She carried a box of donuts and a brown paper grocery sack. “Jessie?” She stopped short when she found her brother sleeping on the couch in the living room. She broke out into a bright laugh. “You’ve been a bad boy, huh?”
“Abby?” he groaned. I listened to him readjust his pillow. “What are you doing here?”
“Sustenance! Of course. And I’m going to help you with Haven’s stuff. I figure you need all the help you can get.”
“Oh no, you don’t.” Suddenly he sounded wide awake. “You’re not stepping foot in here.”
Is he joking? Jessie isn’t calling the shots anymore!“She most definitely is invited!” I called down the stairs. I dashed into the living room to confront him.
Jessie twisted to stare at me from where he’d collapsed onto the couch last night. His cheek was red, his dark hair was messy, and his eyes were a little red from the cat.
He looked adorable, of course.
That’s why he shouldn’t be here. “Nice shirt,” he muttered up at me.
I jumped in embarrassment then gave up trying to be socially acceptable. Letting go of the ends, I twisted around to find that duffel bag. “I had to pick up my things,” I explained to anyone who might care. The bag was sitting in the middle of the room next to a blanket. Jessie had kicked his bedding all over the place in his sleep… and the sheets and quilt were from the guest room. Funny he hadn’t slept in the bed after he’d discovered it. Stu and Finn were nestled on either side of him on the couch—they weren’t fighting like cats and dogs do. That was our job. Jessie sat up, bare chested. I saw that he’d tossed his shirt to the side.
Already we were making a mess of Haven’s tidy home.
Trying not to stare at my handsome,willfulhusband, I twisted away. I bobbed my head at Abby, snatching at the duffle bag’s handles. “Good morning.”
“Good afternoon!” she returned with a laugh. “I brought breakfast.”
“You’re an absolute saint.” Dropping my bag, I descended upon the food, seeing my favorite maple frosting in there. “Oh yeah, you can stay as long as you want.” I snatched a donut before heading into the kitchen to get some glasses for the chocolate milk she’d also brought. “Do you want to take the donuts into the breakfast nook?”
“The covered porch”—she pointed—“where the table is?”
“Yeah.” Leaving her brother behind, I showed her into the room. Abby’s mouth dropped open at the view. We were surrounded by glittering water on all sides. It felt so peaceful here, and the scent of musty ocean smells and citrus cleaner met my nostrils.
Memories of Haven consumed me.
The door squealed open when Jessie followed us. He hadn’t bothered with a shirt. Of course he hadn’t. If the cave man could dispose of all need for clothes, he would.
“Man, you look horrible,” Abby informed him as only siblings could. She dug into her purse and handed him a bottle of allergy medicine. “Aren’t you glad I showed up when I did?”
He took it wordlessly, his watering eyes going to my tie-dyed shirt. “That’s hot,” he said.
Now I knew he was teasing me, but I stopped myself from nudging him with my hip in retribution like I would’ve done a month ago. I knew where that went.
He found a glazed donut next. “I prefermyt-shirts on you better.”
Abby let out a nervous giggle. I made a face at him. In what world was it okay to be flirting with me again? “We have a guest,” I reminded him.
He dimpled and poured himself a glass of chocolate milk. “Don’t worry—she doesn’t have to cramp our style.”
“Okay, I’m changing,” I said quickly. I shot him a warning look on my way out. “Don’t eat all the food while I’m gone.”
