Holy hell.
Hopefully the kids didn’t catch on to what was happening in the attic, but it doesn’t make it any less cringey for me. Or clinically insane. Or—
Yeah, no.
Time to stop thinking about it.
My phone buzzes, and I grab it, relief flooding through me.
“Oh, thank God,” I mutter as I pick up. “Hattie? Has Ethan had you chained up?”
She laughs so loud I have to hold the phone away.
“Oh my God, no. But I need to hear everything right now. What guy did you kiss? When? How hot is he on the Dornan to Hemsworth scale?”
“Take a breath, girl.”
“Not a chance! You were on a dating fast. What happened?”
Great question.
“…I’m still figuring that out,” I admit. “You know the family I mentioned who turned into surprise roommates? Well, Renter Daddy wanted to help me out. We were up in the attic looking for whatever Gramps left—we didn’t find it—but then I tripped on a broken board and he caught me and there was justso muchthirst.”
“The dream.” She sighs fondly.
“Holy shit, if you’re about to mention my brother andthirst—”
“You’re getting distracted, Gigi,” she interrupts. “Back to the deets.”
“Fine. So he’s hot. Like so hot it’s scary. Horrible attitude, of course.”
“See? You’re living a rom-com dream.”
“I don’thaverom-com dreams,” I remind her.
But her banter makes me feel better. Like maybe I can finally walk into the house without turning into stone the second Dadzilla lays his eyes on me.
“Okay, fine, you’re livingmyrom-com dream. What are you going to do now? Have you seen him since?”
“Nope. I kinda ran away and he didn’t stop me.”
“You mean you’ve been avoiding him?”
“Did you miss the part where I mentioned he has kids? And they basically walked in on us?”
“Minor detail.”
Despite myself, I laugh.
My shoulders relax.
“Not minor, Hattie. But what am I supposed to do now? We’re stuck under the same roof.”
“The only thing you can—let him make the next move,” she says immediately.
Brutally good advice.
Ever since she tied the knot with Ethan, it’s clear her confidence has improved dramatically.
