Page 20 of All Mine

The next morning, I opened the door for a scowling Sloane at 4 am. The air outside was already thick with the increasing humidity of summer coming too early. Eden was still asleep upstairs, and so far, she hadn’t robbed me blind. So, good start.

“What on god’s green earth did you drag me out of bed for?” Sloane groaned.

I handed over the vanilla cream latte that she loved. She hesitated before taking the cup. The scent of vanilla and freshly brewed coffee wafting between us. I make the vanilla cream myself.

“What’s up?”

“There’s someone here,” I said, returning to the kitchen with Sloane on my heels.

“A guy?” she asked, hope laced in her voice.

“A woman.”

“Didn’t see that coming, but whatever makes you happy.” She sipped her coffee.

“No, not like that. I found a woman trying to sleep in a car out back last night.”

“What?” Sloane leaned against the island while I popped a tray of muffins into the oven.

“Yeah, she’s hiding from a guy.”

“I hate men,” she muttered.

“Right. Okay, I thought that since I have a studio apartment here with one bed while you have that nice little apartment at your place…” I slid two blueberry donuts in her direction.

Sloane’s eyes widened. “Are you sure?” she whispered. “You just met this person.”

“She needs our help,” I said, staring into Sloane’s eyes for emphasis. “What if she’s running from an abuser and has to go back because she can’t make it? And us doing this will help her succeed?”

“What if we do this and she goes back, anyway?” She bit into a donut.

“I’d rather take that chance than the other one. And you’ve never found a renter.”

“I’ve never found a renter that I trusted to be that close.”

“And she might not even stay that long. She wasn’t sure.”

“She certainly can’t stay here with you. There’s not enough room up there.”

“Lauren?” Eden’s tentative voice called.

“In here,” I replied, moving to the kitchen door, and peered into the hallway. Eden was on the stairs. “In the kitchen,” I said.

When Eden came in, I introduced her to Sloane and offered her a cup of coffee and a donut. But, before we could start talking about the situation, a knock came at the back door. Eden jumped and hid behind Sloane.

“It’s okay,” I said, peering out the window. “It’s just Adrian… and Jonah?” I flipped the locks and let the guys inside. “What are y’all doing here this early?”

They stared at Sloane and Eden.

“Sloane,” Jonah said, his voice an octave higher than usual.

“Didn’t expect you to have a full kitchen this early,” Adrian said. “Who is that?” he asked, eyeing Eden.

I had to think fast and not let on why Eden was there.

“This is my old friend, Eden,” Sloane said before I could come up with something.

“Why are you guys here, together, so early?” I asked.

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