Page 41 of Runaway
“Besides,” I said, “you said you were my friend and friends don't just abandon each other when they most need saving. Adventura still definitely needs saving, so there's that. You're a cold-hearted woman if you leave me to handle this myself.”
If possible, the smallest crack formed in her stubbornness. Maybe she felt awkward about being at Adventura or something. I'd always had family and friends to crash back on. I spent ten years of my life flopping around like a dying fish without any apology. To ask others for help bailing us out of a bad streak had sort of been . . . a Bailey-twinsthing.
But not for her, obviously.
“Stell, I want you at Adventura. We have so many 007 movies to go through that I don't even want to number them. We haven't even gotten to Moore yet. I can't watch those alone now. Who's going to spit stupid movie-making accounting figures at me if you aren't there? They totally ruin the movie and it's way more fun that way. And who's going to stop me from renting land to horse owners? Because yes, that isstillon my mind.”
This time, she chuckled. She opened her mouth, then closed it again. Finally, her shoulders drooped.
“Plus,” I added, just to frost the cake. “Justin just called me before I came back in and found Seiko.”
“Does your phoneeverstop ringing?”
“No.”
She laughed again, but I had been totally serious.
“He's on his way back. Was helping Meg do some home improvement things and went to visit his Mom or something. I don't know. That means Atticus will be back too. Not only will Atticus be helpful for the little kitty we've adopted, but also for any strangers. Atticus is a tank. He'll keep you safe too. If anyone comes to Adventura, we'll know. Justin is the gladiator and a stud. Nothing could get through him. He can't out-lift me, but he tries,” I tacked on, just to be gracious.
Not to my surprise, she did seem a little more relieved. More trusted eyes—and canine ears—were only a good thing. I leaned forward, ready for the grand finale now.
“Besides,” I added smoothly. “Justin will let Atticus sleep in the cabin with us.”
Her eyebrow rose. Enough that I could tell the tension had gone out of her face. I grinned my biggest smile.
“Us?” she asked.
“Because Seiko just rented your cabin for the next three daysandshe wanted the dining hall.”
“What?”
“She's going to stay at Adventura for a few days in the quiet to get ready for her tour, then bring the band in for two days of rock metal jamming.” I leaned back to pretend an electric guitar solo, smug that I hadn't spent a single dollar in advertising but still landed a booking.
“Take that rock music, big kitty,” I said as I leaned back.
Stella managed a real smile this time.
I motioned for the waitress to bring the check. “We're going to head to the cell phone store, then head back. I think it's time you had a phone again.”
“But—”
“No buts. It won't be that expensive to add to our family plan. Justin's on it too, for what it's worth. Which he thinks gives him the rights to date my sister, but we’re still debating that point. Besides, Joshua won't be able to track you through my family, right?”
A look of relief crossed her face when she nodded.
“Thanks, Mark.”
I winked at her. “You save me, I save you.”
17
Stella
Ablue-eyed, brown-haired man with broad shoulders and a quick smile met us when we returned to Adventura. Laugh lines framed his tanned face when he smiled. I felt a little swoony under his masculine mein.
“Justin,” he said as he shook my hand with a firm grip. “It's good to meet you.”
At his feet sat a muscled black dog with a charming quirk of his ears. He looked like a German Shepherd without the brown coloring. Big dogs had never really been my thing. Grandma preferred the little yappers. But the moment Atticus licked my hand, I adored him. He whined and shifted, as if he wanted to move closer, but didn't budge.
