Page 149 of Wild Love
She nods. “Just came from the office. Listened to a bunch of new stuff.”
A slow smile spreads across my face. That has become a favorite pastime for them. They sit on that leather couch, drink root beer, listen to music, and talk about it.In depth.
Upcoming tours.
Synthesizers.
Auto-tune.
Guitar pedals.
I once walked in and found them watching a video where Jack White—who I was told is in factnotEdward Scissorhands—builds a guitar with an old board, a few nails, a piece of string, and an old Coke bottle.
“Well, that sounds exactly like the type of storm cloud conversation the two of you would have.”
I get a petulant eye roll for that one, but it doesn’t bother me at all. This week, Marilyn closed on a house in town. Ford didn’t buy it, but he made the entire process his business. Dickering on price, organizing movers—I even overheard him tell Marilyn that he knows a good painter named Scotty that he could connect her with.
The same Scotty he fired for talking to me.
Petty bastard.
Either way, knowing Cora will be close is the cherry ontop. I foresee plenty of music sessions in the office for these two. The odd weekend at our place. A come-and-go-as-you-please arrangement is what it’s looking like.
“Speaking of conversations I like to have?—”
I snort. “Oh, this should be good.”
“Have you ever done Bloody Mary?”
“What?”
Cora rolls her eyes like I’m dumb. “You know… Bloody Mary. Where you say it while you’re turning and then see her in the mirror?”
“This is so on brand for you.” I slap a hand over my mouth as the sentiment slips out, and Cora’s eyes roll again. But she also chuckles.
“I want to try it. But not alone.”
I nibble at my bottom lip. “Like, on Halloween?”
“No. Right now.”
“Right now?”
She shoves me farther into the bathroom, facing the mirror. “Right now.”
“You know ghosts aren’t real, right?”
All Cora does is quirk a brow as my eyes drop to the one pop of pink over her shoulder. My velvet scrunchie. I’m gonna have to pack her stocking full of those at Christmas.
“Let’s go, Rosalie. You chicken?”
I step up beside her, my jaw dropping. “Kid, did you just call me Rosalie and a chicken in one breath?”
She just forges ahead. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
I shake my head. “You need to get back to school. Some structure is good for hellions like you.”
Our eyes catch in the mirror and we both giggle. That was a lie and we both know it. Summer has been the most fun. Cooking over the fire. Boating when it’s hot. Cora has even learned to water-ski.
