“I hope so too.” She wiggled out of her jeans, leaving them in the middle of the room. She tossed her sweater on the sofa.
“If we’re going to live together, you really need to stop being such a slob.” The words tumbled out of his mouth while his heart lurched to the center of his throat. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t thought about the prospect of having Tamsyn in his life permanently. But that was a shitty way to ask someone to move in. His dad would be so disappointed and his mother would wring his neck.
“Excuse me?” She turned, staring at him in her lacy boy shorts and matching bra that barely kept the girls in. “What did you say?”
He groaned. It was impossible to take his eyes off her when she stood there with her hands firmly planted on her sexy, round hips. “I might have suggested we live together.”
“No. You implied I’m messy.”
He chuckled. “There’s no implication in that. Why do you think we’ve almost always spent the night at my place? You never pick up after yourself.”
“My kitchen is always clean.”
He shouldn’t laugh, but it was impossible not to. “Because you don’t cook and when you do, I need to come over and sterilize.”
“You’re just being mean now.”
“And you’re avoiding my proposition.”
“Moving in here would really piss off Anna and certainly give this town more to gossip about.” She turned and pulled back the covers. “But my landlord wants to raise my rates. What would our rent be?”
“You’ve got to be joking? My parents don’t make me pay for this place. And they won’t be charging you rent either. Not if you’re living here with me.”
“I guess I’m moving in.” She tossed her bra in his direction. “I think the dishes can wait until morning.”
“You know how much I hate letting food dry on the plates.”
She dangled her panties on her index finger.
“They can wait.” He ripped off his shirt, raced across the room, and dove into bed, laughing. He took her into his arms and kissed her hard. His heart filled with more love than he’d ever experienced before.
Even though there was so much chaos that swarmed around them like bees, he knew without doubt, Tamsyn was the person he was meant to love.
11
TAMSYN
Tamsyn pulled down a box from the closet in what used to be Noir and Nebbiolo’s bedroom. Carefully, she dumped the contents on the mattress. It had been filled with memorabilia from Noir’s days at Candlewood Falls High School.
“I was told you were in here.” Zinny came barreling into the room. “Mind if I hide out here with you for a bit?”
“Not at all, but what are we hiding from?”
“Taking a break from my baby.” Zinny dropped onto the corner of the bed and sighed. “Don’t get me wrong. I love being a mom and Crystal is such a good baby most days, but my teenage son is easier to deal with than the reincarnation of me, Reisling, Ashling, and my mother.”
“Do you have any idea how weird it is to hear you sayteenage son?”
“I am adopting him.” Zinny lifted a notebook. “Serena has signed the papers. It’s all but a done deal. We just need the courts to sign off on it.”
“I never really knew Serena. Or Toby growing up. I understand Serena’s in prison for a few years, but I struggle with why any woman would give up parental rights when she’s going to get out.”
“To be totally transparent, we didn’t think she’d agree to it. But her father talked her into it by telling her the only way he’d help her financially when she got out was if she did the right thing and let TJ have a normal life. He’s happy with Toby and me and he’s thriving at CWF Prep. Having Serena back in his life would only cause that poor boy more pain. I wish I believed deep down Serena believed that, but all she cares about is money.” Zinny flipped open the notebook.
“Are you sure about that?”
“Oh yeah. Her father told Toby she asked what kind of support he offered. As in, what kind of car he’d give her, the amount of monthly allowance, and if he would make her have a job.”
“Shit. That’s cold.”
