“Whatever.”
I peek my head around her shoulder so I can look into her face. Her cheeks are red. “Are you jealous?”
“No.” She says it quickly. Too quickly.
I let a full-fledged smile scamper across my face. “Keep telling yourself that.”
She shakes her head and wiggles in my lap, turning to face me. “Katherine did reveal a weakness in our plan, though.”
“Oh yeah? What’s that?”
From where I sit, this plan is looking good. Real good. Maybe too good.
“We need to get our stories straight. How did this”—she points between her chest and mine—“come to be?”
“Well, that’s easy. When did you first have feelings for me, honey bun?”
She snorts. “Since there’s a thin line between love and hate, then I’d say I definitely hadfeelingsfor you when you pulled me over on my way into town. Thosefeelingshave only grown every day since…lamb chop,” she adds.
I sit back and let out a chuckle. This woman despises me, but sparring with her is the most alive I’ve felt in ages. “That’s good. That’s really good. It’s like we have the ultimate meet cute.”
“What do you know about meet cutes?”
“I know we have the perfect one.”
She shakes her head. “I’m already regretting this.”
“No, you’re not. I’ll make the best fake boyfriend you’ve ever had.”
8
Welcome Home
Noli ~ January
“You guys really didn’t have to come.” I slam the door of my car and meet my sisters in Collin’s driveway. It’s freezing outside, so I immediately turn and motion them in the direction of the garage, AKA my new place.
The way I see it, moving into Collin’s garage apartment serves two purposes. My sisters and I no longer have to live on top of each other. And if I mark my mail as non-forwardable at the post office, then I can stop getting those cursed letters from Nelson.
That’s my main motivation.
We loaded up all my stuff from The Downer this morning. Collin and Mack have each grabbed a box from Mack’s truck and are walking ahead of us to the loft.
“Are you kidding?” Poppy spreads her arms out wide. “This is a big day for you…and for us.”
“I’m going to miss being roomies.” Rose says it lightly, but I hear the undercurrent of sadness in her words.
“Ditto.” I am, truly. Even though it’ll be nice to have some breathing room, I love my sisters. “But I’m just a couple blocks away.”
Both of my sisters nod in response, but neither meets my gaze.
I pull up short, placing a hand on Poppy’s arm to stop her with me. “What’s going on?” She and Rose exchange glances, and I point at them. “No. Not fair. What’s that all about?”
Poppy sighs and reaches for my hand. “We want what’s best for you, you know that.”
“Of course I do.” I don’t see where she’s going with this.
“The last time you moved in with a guy”—Rose pauses and presses her lips together—“it didn’t end well.”
