Page 34 of A Little Twist

Clearing my throat, I trot down the short flight of steps to the garage, hitting the button on the way down. The metal double-door rises, and I watch as her sexy legs are exposed first, followed by the cutoff denim overalls she’s always wearing, with a strap over one shoulder so her white tank top is exposed along with her smooth shoulders.

The baggy overalls completely hide her body, which I know from twice exposure is as hot as fuck.

“Hey!” Her voice is a little breathy, but optimistic.

“Hey.” I close the space between us, stopping in front of her older Subaru. “Welcome. Mi casa es su casa.”

“Really?” Her nose wrinkles, and I shrug.

“Sort of. Your apartment is up these stairs.” I gesture to the staircase. “I’ll help you carry your stuff.”

Stepping around to the open hatchback of her car, I grab a large suitcase out of the back. Crates of toiletries and assorted accessories are stacked beside it.

“Oh! You don’t have to—”

“You can’t carry all this up those stairs, and even if you could, my mom would never forgive me if I let you.”

A shaky laugh slips through her lips, and she picks up a crate, her eyes flickering to mine and back again. “Perks of living in the South?”

“Make the most of it.”

She seems a little nervous, which makes me want to put her at ease. I want her to know this arrangement doesn’t have to be so formal.

I walk up the stairs with her large, heavy suitcase, stopping at the door and inserting the key. “You’ll have the only set of these.”

“That’s a terrible idea.” She steps up behind me with the crate in her hand. “We should figure out a good hiding place for at least one. In the drawer at the bottom of the stairs?”

“Too obvious.” I unlock the door, and the musty smell of unused air hits me. “I need to open a window and turn on the air conditioner.”

Why didn’t I do that first thing?

“You forget I’ve lived in Eureka since I was thirteen.” She pushes past me, depositing the crate on the floor inside. “I know all about hot, humid weather and unoccupied houses.”

“It’s a good place.” I don’t want her to think I’ve relegated her to a moldy shit hole. “I wasn’t thinking.”

“After last night, I’m surprised either of us is up and moving around this morning.”

Last night has been on my mind all morning. We probably should make a plan for Drake and what’s happening with our fake engagement. Instead, we continue unloading her car until my phone goes off, and I remember the little princess I left in front of the TV.

“Time to brush our teeth.”

Cass’s eyebrows curve. “Is it a group activity?”

“For Penelope, I mean. She wanted to drink her milk and watchFindingNemo.”

“Oh, I loveFindingNemo! I’ll go with you.” Cass puts the box on the floor. “I can finish later, after she’s asleep. I don’t want to miss anything.”

“You sure?”

“Lead the way!”

We jog down the stairs and into the house, where Pinky is lying on her side, clutching Piglet and watching the orange fish talking to a turtle.

“Oh, it’s Crush—my favorite part!” Cass skips forward and sits by my daughter on the couch, giving her a little bump. “Hey, dude!”

“Dude! You’re here!” Pinky sits up as soon as Cass joins her, and the two of them smile at each other.

“This is the best part of the movie.” Cass bounces slightly on the cushion.

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