Page 56 of Dream Girl
I texted Jett.
Me
Do you want me to pick up anything for dinner?
Jett
I’m full from burgers–so are Evan and Ri. But I can make something for you if you don’t want takeout.
Ri? Oh, it was Thursday.
Me
If I pick up a steak, will you share it with me?
Jett
Sure. Get some fancy beer? Love you.
Me
Love you, too.
I finished up my emails, and drove home on my motorcycle, stopping off at the store to get something to make for my dinner.
Bag in hand, I walked into the kitchen and took off my shoes. “I’m home.”
No answer. But Jett and Evan were here–I could feel them through the bond. Riley’s boots were by the rack, ones that weren’t there this morning.
I went up to the second floor, but it was empty. As I went up to the third floor, I heard voices and smelled peaches and vanilla.
Riley’s voice floated down the stairs. “While I get taking off all the tags and washing everything, why do I have to wash some things a bunch of times? Why am I using scenty things in the dryer?”
She sat on the floor of the sunken living room, surrounded by piles of stuff. “Also, what’s with the incense? I feel like you’re teaching me something, but I don’t know what.”
“Hey, Handsome.” Evan’s face broke out into a silly grin as he stood, ran over to me, and gave me a kiss.
That greeting made me feel so much better.
For a moment I just hugged him, needing some rightness in this awful day. His usual lemonade was tinged with the scents of anise, bubble gum, amber, fresh laundry, and peach pie that clung to his clothes. Part of me didn’t like him smelling of Grace.
“Hi, Love. Hi, Ri.” My eyebrows rose. Usually, she didn’t come over on Thursdays, she just did something with Evan.
“Tomorrow’s a day off. She’s helping me get things ready for Grace.” Evan had paint on his face.
“Saturday we’re going to the movies, and Jett said we could go hiking on Sunday.” She picked up an armful of clothes and scampered down the stairs.
Hiking. Okay. Sure. Hopefully the weather would be good. It was the end of February, so you never really knew.
I surveyed all the clothes and things on the floor. There were new pillows and chairsin the living room. Plants and boxes littered the hall.
My nose wrinkled. “Do I smell paint? Where’s Jett?”
“In here,” Jett called from another room.
Evan took my hand, excitement and pride coming through the bond. “Come see.”
He led me past some assembled furniture and a mattressin the hallway. We went through the glass doors to the sunroom, which had been cleared out. Not that there was much in there. One wall had been painted dark green. Some sort of printed mauve and green border ran along the top of the other three walls. Jett sat on the floor, building something as incense burned.
