And that starts with a new workplace. Hence the packing.
“What’re you doing?” I look up and see Domino in front of one of the open bay doors. I opened up everything to see whatI had. Nothing was in the same place as when I was last here, and I need all the light I can get to find things.
“Packing,” I say as I stand to grab another box and start taping it into its true box form.
“Packing?”
I watch him eye my stuff and then look at what I’ve already done. I’ve been at this for a few hours. Like I said, I couldn’t sleep. And Summer was basically sleeping on the floor in the guest room with me. If I was up, so was she.
I think she’s having a minor freak-out that what happened to her sister will happen to me. And it kind of did. But I lived. And she isn’t alone. Which she told me last night was her greatest fear. That probably explains why my brain made some of those weird nightmare jumps last night. Doesn’t really matter how my mind led me to this moment, though. We’re here now, and that’s how life goes. You feel it, then you deal with it.
He puts his hands in his pockets, and my gaze drops between his legs. He’ll probably always be the biggest one I’ve ever been with. I can’t help but look when he draws my eyes down. “Where you going?”
I lick my lips and shake my head to get back on track. “Mack got me a new place. It’s not much, and I’ll only be able to take half of my stuff, but it’s just a temp spot. Rent by the month, if you know what I mean.”
I move around the room, gathering a few things to put into my open box. I mentally calculate how many more I’m going to need to finish this up.
“Where you moving to?”
“Kansas.”
“Why?”
I pause and look up at him. The way he said it seems off. Like he’s honestly confused. And now I am.
“’Cause you’re moving to Kansas?” I say it as a question because I’m not sure anymore. I thought I knew, but maybe I got it wrong. I’m running on like two hours of sleep in the last few days. I’m not about toclassify being drugged as sleeping. Pretty sure my body was in fight or flight mode the entire time. That might explain why I feel more sore today than I do after a weekend fight tournament.
“No, I’m not.” He shakes his head, and I pull back as if I’ve been slapped.
A crash behind me has me turning to see a box of tools on the ground at Summer’s feet.
“Seriously?” She puts her hands on her hips and glares. “Do you two even talk to each other?”
“Jesus, Summer, that shit’s expensive,” I yell at her just as I hear a car pull up and see Mack’s back from getting more boxes.
“And so is my patience,” she mutters as she crosses her arms and doesn’t do a thing to help me pick up the items she dropped.
“Don’t think that’s a thing,” Mack says as he enters, nodding to Domino and setting the empty boxes on one of the tables.
“Yes, it is. Look it up.” Summer raises her nose in the air, and both Mack and I roll our eyes at each other. “And while you do that, talk to each other. I’m not packing another thing till you two talk.” She points at me and then away, and I look at her finger to see her signaling Domino.
I feel Mack’s eyes on me and look back at him. He gives me a hard look and then shakes his head. “You forget to feed her again?”
“I’m not a dog,” Summer mumbles, but doesn’t even deny she’s hungry. Which she is. She’s the type of girl that can run on caffeine, but not in a good way. She needs meals, even if she doesn’t want to stop and eat. You have to keep her fed, especially when she’s doing physical labor. Hell, part of her workout regimen is to make sure she gets food before and after her training. It’s in her contract. Well, it’s what Mack put in there for her. He’s a smart man. A hangry Summer is not a fun one.
“Yeah,” I say sheepishly. I was so busy with my own plans, I forgot to think of others around me.
“I can hear you, you know.” Summer huffs and refolds her arms.
Mack gives her an indulgent smile. “Come on, let’s get you a snack before you become the little destroyer we all know you can be.”
“I’m not a destroyer, and I’m not hungry.” Another huff like she’s five. And she wonders where her kids get it from. She’s more stubborn than a mule some days.
“Sure, you’re not.” Mack places his hand on her back and starts guiding her to his truck. “Let’s get me something to eat, then.”
As he opens the door to his vehicle for her, she finally unfolds her arms and gives in. “Well, if you’re going to eat, I’ll take something. And we’ll get something for Viv too. Viv, don’t go anywhere. We’ll be right back with breakfast tacos. And donuts. Can we get some donuts too?”
Mack just shakes his head, but at least he’s smiling. He doesn’t do donuts, and that’s a must for Summer. So, of course, they’ll get some. The guy’s a sucker when it comes to her. He won’t say it, but I think he feels some sense of responsibility for her more than anyone. Might be because he dated Winter before she died. Summer is basically the little sister he never had in some ways.
