Girdy joined us outside, her hair like an auburn halo as she approached. “Grumpy seems to love the yard.”
“He does. I just worry about him falling in the pool.”
“They make stairs that help the dogs climb out.” She glanced at Grumpy. “Does he know how to swim?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’ll have to teach him.”
“Me?” I lifted my brows. “Shouldn’t Royce do that?”
“One of you needs to.” She knelt down, and Grumpy ran to her. She kissed his nose, and he tried frantically to lick her face. “Someone has to teach this little silly pup how to swim. Isn’t that right?”
I laughed, and she looked up.
“What’s so funny?” She smiled.
I lifted one shoulder. “I don’t know. You two look cute.”
She grinned. “What a positively un-Dr. Thornton-ish thing to say, Max.”
My face warmed. “I suppose that’s true. It won’t happen again.”
She smiled and stood. “Shall we get to work?”
“Yes. We’ll bring Grumpy inside for safekeeping.”
Girdy skipped toward the doors. “Come on, Grumpy,” she called out merrily.
That silly smile returned as I watched them. I was becoming such a sentimental fool. I didn’t want to live alone anymore, and I was grinning like an idiot at Girdy. My father would have despised the person I was turning into. I rather liked it. Exploring all these new emotions was an adventure.
Once inside, Girdy and I went to work organizing the upstairs. She was a dynamo compared to me, and by midafternoon, the bedroom was done. The bonusroom needed more furniture. I had a couch on order, and a flat-screen TV and armoire were supposed to arrive any day now. If Royce moved in, we’d have to decide whose furniture we preferred. Royce wasn’t very materialistic, so he probably wouldn’t care that much.
Without thinking, I mumbled, “I really hope Royce likes the furniture I bought.”
Girdy turned slowly, her eyes wide. “Why does that matter?”
I winced inwardly. “Oh, um…”
“Maxwell, did you officially ask Royce to move in here with you?” She sounded so excited it flustered me.
“No.”
“No?” Her face fell.
“I mean, yes.” I scowled. “Yes, I asked him, but he hasn’t given me his answer yet.”
She grinned, looking thrilled. “Wow. That ishuge, Maxwell.”
I shifted uneasily. “He hasn’t said yes yet,” I repeated weakly.
“Oh, God,” she cackled. “Of course he’ll say yes. Are you kidding me?”
“You don’t know that.”
“Ha. Everyone knows that.”
I turned away from her because her intensity was too much. “I guess we’ll see.”
