“Holy crap!” I exclaimed. “The handle just broke.” I put it on the counter, inspecting the refrigerator door.
“Oh shit! Are you hurt?”
“No.”
She ran a hand through her hair. “I’ll buy superglue tomorrow and fix it. I’ve already done it three times.”
“That would explain why it came off so easily.”
“You can still open it like this.” She put both her hands at the edge of the door and pulled with force, then took out the bottle of wine.
“Phoebe,” I said slowly as we headed back to the table.
“Don’t say it.”
“You don’t even know what I was about to say.”
“That I should buy another fridge.”
I moved up behind her, looking over her shoulder as she poured the wine. “You can’t live like this.”
She turned around so quickly that I nearly got whiplash. “This is my house, for better or for worse. At this point, I’m glad I have a place to live and don’t have to beg my friends to take me in.”
“One of my brothers invested in a block of condos. I’m sure he can put in a word for you.”
She shook her head. “Griffin, don’t ask, please. I know this house isn’t what you’re used to, but it’s mine. Are you uncomfortable being here?”
I stepped closer. “It’s not about me. It’s uncomfortable for you. The front steps are a death trap, and the furniture is falling apart.”
“It’s just old.”
“I’m not sure this house is safe for you.”
“It doesn’t have mold,” she said proudly. “The inspector checked that before we bought it.”
Mold. That was rock bottom when it came to requirements for a house as far as I was concerned. But Phoebe was clinging to that like it was her salvation.
“I know our lives are very different?—”
“It’s not about that, Phoebe,” I countered.
“Yes, it is. You look around and see a fucking disaster,” she said. I’d clearly pissed her off unintentionally. “I see it as a way for me to start over, okay? I don’t need you to make me feel even worse about this place than I already do.”
“I’m sorry. That was not my intention. I apologize. I didn’t want to upset you.”
“Apology accepted.” She held up one glass. I took the other one. “As long asyoudon’t bring it up again.” She jabbed her finger at me for emphasis.
“Fine,” I said. “I’ll do my best, but I can’t promise.”
She gave me a strange look, licking her lips. “But there’s one thing we should talk about.” Her cheeks turned red.
“Anything.”
“Sleeping arrangements.”
I grinned. “That’s got you blushing, huh?”
She pressed her lips together. “Griffin…”
