“And Mom wouldn’t want you to spend all your days alone living in the garage.”
“Don’t bring Mom into this, Kris.” I stare at my boots, my tank of patience depleting quickly with her choice of topics.
“It’s true. I think we owe it to her to live out the happily ever after she never got.”
Every muscle in my body constricts to withhold the jab about Mom’s choices, not really being of the kind that leads to fairy tale endings.
I fist my hands, crossing them over my chest. “I was made a fool once. That won’t ever happen again.”
Her eyes meet mine, and she nods. “I know it won’t, so Stone Cold, you need to quit hiding behind the sad, messed-up shit that happened in the past.” She pushes away from the counter, swiping the keys with her hand. “If you don’t, the best, most important things might slip right past you, and your salty, sour grapes ass will miss out on everything I think this life is supposed to be.”
I stare at her back as she walks to the door, surveying the space one more time. I wonder how she got so wise with all that sass consuming her insides.
She stops at the door, turning to wait for me. “Oh, and you’re welcome.”
I meet her at the door. “For what?”
Her shoulders fall again like I’m new to Earth. “Uh, for helping you out with Sarah. I’m pretty sure that woman could serve you your balls on a silver platter, but instead finds your poor attempts to be cold and distant amusing.”
I step outside and run a hand over my face, needing the cool evening air to shock some of the emotions from the last fifteen minutes right out of my body. “Kris, you need help.”
She locks the door and turns to smile at me. “Well, therapy is a privilege I take full advantage of. You should try it. It might finally get you in touch with the feelings part of your soul and help you score with the neighbor lady.”
She raises her eyebrows and skips down the three stairs.
I have no idea how I survived to get to this place where she’s moving out. “Can you sign the lease now?”
She laughs, walking toward the office. “There’s one more I want to look at.”
I groan. “You’re buying me dinner, then.”
“Whatevs. Call the guys. We need to round up the troops to celebrate this momentous occasion.” She spins, walking backward.
“What’s that? Witnessing your last attempts to drive me to an early grave?”
“Ppsssh. No, you finally having an opportunity to actually get. A. Life. And my ability to finally bring guys home without worrying there will be a brigade of prison guards waiting to greet him.”
“Prison guards?”
She turns back around. “Yeah. You guys, with all your tatted muscles, broadening and flexing to see how long it will take to make them tuck and run. You know, I should at least have a chance to find a nice guy and be able to slowly break them into the crew.”
“Well, quit dating spineless jellyfish, then.”
“You’re gonna have to give one of them a chance.”
“Good luck. I don’t like many people.”
“Ha. Don’t worry, Stone Cold.” She reaches up, patting me on the shoulder. “It’s going to take someone pretty special. They’re gonna have to be strong enough to put up with all of my shit.” She grins.
She’s one hundred percent right about that, and I’mdamn proud.
Chapter 10
SARAH
I pull open the oven door and slide the cookie sheet in.
“Is that slimy ferret still sticking his pointy nose in all your business?”
