Benjamin let out a woof and trotted to the door. I followed with significantly less enthusiasm.
“Who could that be, Benji-bear? If it’s someone trying to convert me to their religion, they’re going to be in for it. I’mnotin the mood for Bible verses today.”
He shot me a side-eye before pressing his nose to the door like he could sniff whoever was on the other side. Maybe he could. I’d have to askAnthonyif—
Scratch that. Never mind. I’d use a search engine like a normal person.
Peering through the peephole, I let out a breath. Lacey and Scarlet stood on the porch. Of course it was them. It was rare I went more than two days without seeing at least one of the Gallo kids.
“Bea!” Lacey cried when I opened the door. “We’re here to invite you to our house.”
Scarlet nodded. “Grandpa helped Lacey, Tally, and me cook dinner. If you don’t come, you’ll scar us for life.”
I folded my arms and tried to glare, but it was no use. “I feel like I’m being handled.”
Scarlet had no trouble glaring at me. “I bet you would have said no if I hadn’t laid it on a little. I learned the art of Italian guilt from Grandpa. He said Grandma had been an expert at it. I’m carrying on her legacy.”
“Fine.” I sighed dramatically, stepping aside so they could come in while I changed out of my work clothes. “But only because I’m scared of your inherited guilt-wielding powers.”
Lacey giggled. “We usually only use our powers for good.”
“Usually?” I huffed. “That’s not reassuring.”
I left them downstairs and ran up to change. Pajamas were off the table, so I settled for a striped off-the-shoulder top and jeans. As I fastened the top button, I paused.
Tore would be there.
It had been two long, confusing weeks since I’d last seen him. Other than my daily texts through the app, I hadn’t heard from him. The constant hum of his attention had vanished like someone had flipped a switch, the silence louder than any words he could have said.
He wasn’t chasing me anymore.
And maybe that was what I’d wanted. Space. Time to think. I’d told myself as much. But now that I was about to walk into his house with Scarlet and Lacey, my stomach twisted. There weren’t many instances I was unsure of myself, but this was one of them.
What if he didn’t want to see me?
What if the chasing part was all there had ever been?
No.I wasn't going to do this to myself. Scarlet and Lacey had personally invited me to their house. If Tore was finished with me and uncomfortable with my presence, he’d have to suck it up.
When I got downstairs, Lacey grabbed my hand and tugged me onto the porch. “Come on. You have to see all the food we made. It’s gonna be so good, Bea!”
We crossed the street as the light dipped into early evening gold. As soon as we stepped onto their front porch, Talon threw open the door. He was wearing white gloves and holding a silver tray with a plastic wineglass balanced on it.
“Good evening, madam. Would you like a glass of sparkling juice?”
I pressed my hands to my chest and gasped. “How did you know that’s exactly what I want, Jeeves?”
Talon dipped into a bow so deep, his glasses nearly slid off his nose. This kid… “I knoweverything, madam. Now, if you’ll kindly proceed to the parlor…”
“Parlor?” I echoed, stepping over the threshold with an amused glance at Scarlet and Lacey. They were trying—and failing—not to giggle at their brother.
The moment I entered, I stopped cold. How had they known?
“Surprise!” three voices shouted in unison.
I blinked back tears as I surveyed what they had done. A “Happy Birthday, Bea”banner stretched crookedly along the wall, secured with mounds of blue painter’s tape. Flanking the banner were pink, blue, and gold balloons. Streamers were twisted around light fixtures, and more balloons were scattered around the floor.
Tore must have hated this. Chaos in his perfectly orderly home.
