I turned to say as much when Aunt Wendy bustled out of the doorway and stepped past me to put an arm around Indy. “It would be a crime to cut your hair. Like Samson. Is that wave natural?”
Indy nodded uncertainly.
“Gah, what I’d give to have that. It falls so prettily. Mine goes frizzy with the slightest amount of humidity. Like Monica fromFriends. Once I went to Orlando, and by the end of the trip, my hair was out to here.” She gestured an absurd distance from her head.
Indy giggled.
Shegiggled.
And I could only stare in amazement.
I’d never heard her make that noise before. In seconds, my aunt had gotten Indy to lower her walls and let her in.
But I vowed it wouldn’t be the last time.
Aunt Wendy and Indy walked inside while I gaped after them. They were a good ten feet inside the house before Aunt Wendy turned and barked at me, “Well, come in if you’re coming. You’re letting the bugs inside.”
I blinked and jumped, stepping inside the house and closing the door behind me.
Immediately, the scent of Italian spices and tomato sauce welcomed me, and I smiled. We weren’t an Italian family or anything, but something about this meal always made me think of home. And Aunt Wendy.
Which in turn now made me feel even more guilty.
Shit.
Aunt Wendy pulled Indy into the living room and introduced her to everyone like she was an important and welcome guest. Indy smiled at Fliss, her eyebrows raising in surprise when Fliss flung herself into Indy’s arms. Indy caught her and laughed with everyone while Fliss rested her head on Indy’s shoulder and twined Indy’s hair around her finger. At almost one, Felicity had a good amount of blonde hair herself, but like Aunt Wendy, she was clearly fascinated by Indy’s long, wavy brown hair.
Hope came up to her side, clearly offering to take Fliss off her hands, but Indy shook her head and said something. And then they were deep in conversation.
“Long time, no see, asshole.” My brother, Ryan, sidled up to me and held out a beer.
I hesitantly reached out for it, almost certain he’d yank it back at the last second. But he didn’t, and I accepted the beer with a slight smile I definitely wasn’t feeling. “Thanks.”
He nodded. “I hear we’ve hired a new Girl Friday.”
“If you mean receptionist, then yes.” I cracked open the beer and took a pull. Some of the tension released from my shoulders at the familiar hoppy taste.
“And the new mural on the paint shed? Any comment on that?”
I choked on my beer for a second and coughed. Shit, I’d forgotten about that. “I, uh, didn’t think anyone had seen it yet.”
And there went my plan to paint over it tonight in hopes of avoiding this awkward conversion.
“Had to go in today to accept a delivery.” Ryan lifted his eyebrows. “I think I’m the only one who’s seen it so far.”
I unconsciously sought out Indy who was now sitting on the couch between Maddie and Hope while she held a sleepy Fliss on her chest.
“I kinda doubt Austin will be into it. Kinda seems like he’s the one pissing on the mountain of poor kitties.”
I winced. “It’s me, okay? I’m the one in the jacket. I’m the one pissing on everyone. It’s got nothing to do with Austin or you or anyone else. I’m the asshole, okay? It’s about me.”
Ryan froze with his beer a full foot away from his mouth as he stared at me. After a long beat, his arm fell to his side, and he shook his head. “Have you thought about going back to see the therapist again?”
“The one we all saw for anger management?”
He nodded. “Sounds like you have some stuff to work out.”
I sighed. “Maybe.”
