Page 59 of High Side
They hauled the groceries inside, along with Lana’s bags, and they were greeted by Sadie getting a belly rub on the couch, three glasses of iced tea sitting on the little coffee table on coasters. She didn’t even remember she had coasters.
“Thank you. I’ll put your bags in your room.”
“You’re a sweetheart, Kylie. I love your house. It’s so bright and open.”
“Thanks so much. I scrimped and saved for it, and I think Brit likes it too, huh?”
“Oh God, yes. I’m in love.” The look Brittany gave her made Kylie’s breath catch.
Wow.
She was too, but all she could do was stand there and stare, caught in Brit’s eyes.
Lana cleared her throat, and Kylie turned, then stumbled over a suitcase. “Dammit!”
Brittany snorted, and that sound turned into a laugh, Brit not able to hold it in.
She lost it, giggling like mad, her whole body shaking with it. God, what a mess she was. “Sorry, Lana,” she gasped out. “I’m just nervous.”
“Oh God. I am too. I want you to like me, so much. Brit and I are close, and I’d hate for you to think I was evil!”
“No. No of course not! But I’m clumsy. Be right back.” She took the suitcase to the little second bedroom. She wanted to keep room for guests, but she also wanted Brittany to have an office or a workout room or whatever she wanted to make the space. It was pretty plain now.
Maybe they could redo the basement. It was a big space, with room for them both. She liked that idea. It was finished, but not polished and it was unused except for storage…
She stowed the bag, checked to make sure Sadie hadn’t puked or pooped on the bed, then went back out to charm Lana, she hoped. She had a feeling she would get along well.
The other option was for Brit’s mom to hate her, which didn’t work for her. Not one little bit.
Twenty-One
The sun was barely up when Brittany slipped out of bed to go let Sadie out. The silly mutt wasn’t in bed with them anymore, and Brittany really didn’t want her waking up her mom, so…
So, of course her mom was sitting out on the patio with her coffee, rubbing Sadie’s ears.
“Morning, kiddo.”
“Morning, Mom. You ready to go out and about and buy shit to take home today?”
“Are you kidding? I’ve been promised wine, goat cheese, and grizzly bear carvings from logs.” Her mom grinned. “I made coffee.”
“I’ll grab a cup. You need a refill?”
“I do.” Mom handed over her cup. “Thank you, baby.”
“You got it.” She poured her mom another cup once she got to the kitchen, adding a Sweet’N Low and a dollop of milk. Hers she made almost white with milk but skipped the sweet. “Here you go.” She’d slipped a Milk-Bone into her robe pocket while she was in there too, so she gave it to Sadie after handing over the coffee.
“Thank you.” Mom lifted her face to the sun. “This is a lovely deck. I’d be out here every morning.”
“I’m on the river most mornings, Mom.”
“I know. But you won’t be after rafting season.” Her mom winked. “This is great, honey. Really. The condo is sweet. The dog is amazing. And I really like Kylie. Like, seriously.”
“Yeah?” Oh man, that felt good to hear. She needed to know that. “I’m in deep with her. I love how we vibe, how she has my back.”
“She’s very level-headed. Obviously into you. Likes a lot of the same things, but not afraid to give us alone time. I approve.”
Wow. Now, she’d never introduced her mom to anyone serious, but she’d met several of Brittany’s on again-off again dating friends, and she’d never been so positive.
