I suppressed the groan that wanted to bubble out.
“No, do tell.” She scooted to the edge of her chair.
Looking at the two of them, I felt both incredibly irritated by their conversation and overcome with gratitude that I had the two of them in my life.
* * *
In the morning I picked my way into the kitchen, stepping over Chief’s prone body and heading to the coffee maker. Drew and Steph had both crashed here last night. Eyeing the bottles on the counter, I was both impressed and concerned. We had luckily switched to beer after a glass of the good stuff, but I wasn’t sure how either of them might be feeling this morning. We certainly didn’t drink like we did ten years ago, but it still might be a bit much for them.
As I was grinding the beans, Steph walked in the kitchen and Chief poked his head up. “Chief been out yet?” she asked.
“Nah. But you can just open the door, and he’ll do his thing,” I said.
She moved over to the door, letting my grateful dog have access to freedom. I looked her over. I could see what I was betting Theo had recognized, she was wiped. Even so, she looked great. Her dark hair was piled on top of her head. She was wearing her glasses, so I’m betting her eyes were a bit dry this morning. Her leggings, fuzzy slippers, and long-sleeved T-shirt all stated she might be lounging most of the day. I didn’t blame her. Sounded like a plan.
“What’s on your schedule for the day?” she asked.
I glanced at the clock on the coffee maker in front of me. “I need to run, then head to the brewery for a bit.” Bracing myself for her reaction, I said, “Then I need to pick up Addie at two until Ivy’s off at five. It’s my last day of watching her for Ivy. Mom and Dad thought they’d be down around six. I figured we could have dinner here or the brewery.”
Steph grinned as she pulled down a few coffee mugs. “Don’t think I didn’t notice you slipping in the comment about Addie and Ivy. We’ll get back to that. Why don’t we do dinner at the brewery? I know we’ll be there tomorrow already for the celebration, but maybe tonight could be more low-key?”
I nodded. That had been my instinct as well. Pushing the button for the coffee to begin brewing, I leaned back against the counter and regarded Steph. “Anything else you want to bust my chops about right now?”
She looked at me, then to the closed door to the basement. Then, taking a step closer to me, she spoke. “Drew.”
My gut clenched. She sensed it too. “You think something is wrong.”
“You do too?”
“I couldn’t be sure, but there’s something there he isn’t telling us. Maybe why he’s here or what brought him here. But I can’t get him to share.”
Steph stared out the window at Chief patrolling the yard for a moment. Then she looked back at me. “You know him, Jake. He’s private. Hell, we all are to some extent, but he’s more. He won’t share until he’s ready—”
The door to the basement door opened. Drew stepped into the kitchen in sweats and a T-shirt that advertised some Snowmass ski resort. His hair stuck up in the exact way it had when he was little. I was taken back for a moment to standing in our kitchen growing up, watching him wake up slowly just as he always had. He’d never been a morning person like Steph and I were. He stretched and looked at both of us.
“What are you two talking about?” he said, rubbing his face with a hand.
I looked at Steph and we had a silent nod of agreement to leave this topic for now. I looked at Drew. “Running. I’m going to head out to Highland Woods to hit the trails for a bit this morning. Either of you two want to join me?”
“Sure,” Drew said.
“Leave in thirty?” Steph asked.
I nodded.
“And then this afternoon I get to meet Addie and Ivy? Best. Day. Ever.” Steph grinned. “Think Ivy would mind if I had Theo on FaceTime when we meet? I mean, it’s only fair.” Steph waited a beat, looked between Drew and me, and then said, “Now, let’s get down to the important question of the day. Who wants to tell me why you both have these gorgeous pink nails going on?”
Drew and I looked at each other for a second, then burst into laughter. Steph joined us, wiping away the tears streaming from her eyes. These people. God, I loved them so.
13
Vetting Process
Ivy
It had been a slow day in the store, which was odd for a Friday. I stood behind the counter, mentally running through my to-do list of things needing to be checked off before the party at the brewery tomorrow.
Who was I kidding? I couldn’t get Jake off my mind. That kiss last night. That. Kiss. I knew it couldn’t have gone much further. Even in my addled state, I knew Addie and Drew had been there, but still.
