I nodded as the knock at the door sounded a second time. I raised a brow as James moved for the window. “You know there’s a back door if you don’t want her to see you.”
He shrugged and gave me a childlike smile. “This is more fun. See you tonight, Ryder.”
I blinked, and he was gone.
Chapter 20
“Hold on, I’m coming!”
I saw that Erin hadn’t acquired any patience over the last twenty years. She continued to pound at the door—which is why she found me half naked when I finally opened it. I’d managed underwear and sweats, at least. Her hand fell away as she took in my appearance.
“Couldn’t you have put some clothes on?” She nudged me aside and stepped into the house, looking around the living room as she advanced farther into my place.
“Good morning, Erin. Please, won’t you come in?” I closed the door and turned, crossing my arms over my chest. “It’s eight in the morning. I was sleeping, and you didn’t exactly give me time to get dressed with the way you were banging on the door.”
Erin regarded me from the middle of the room, her hands shoved into the pockets of her beige peacoat. Her eyes flitted to my neck. “Funny, I’ve never gotten hickeys in my sleep.”
My hand flew up to cover the mark. I guess James got to pick which ones he healed. “You and I remember high school quite differently, then.”
She pursed her lips. “If Hannah is going to start staying here, you should invest in some pajamas.”
My stomach leapt into my throat. “Wait. Run that by me again?”
She eyed the couch suspiciously. “Can we sit down?”
“Be my guest,” I said, gesturing toward the furniture. I remained standing, the burst of adrenaline making it impossible for me to stay still.
Erin sat and dropped her handbag to the floor, then shrugged out of her coat to reveal a deep red sweater underneath. She cleared her throat. “Last night, Hannah came to Ben and I and asked if she could spend more time here. She said you had a bedroom set up for her and everything. Did you really tell her she was welcome here?”
I nodded, suddenly feeling exposed. I crossed my arms again. “Yeah, I hope that was okay.”
Erin didn’t answer directly, instead asking, “Can I see her room?”
“Sure.”
I led Erin down the hallway, stopping long enough to shut my bedroom door before opening Hannah’s up. I’d washed the bedsheets and folded away the clothes she’d worn after the night she’d slept over. Luckily, her bedroom bore no resemblance to mine, which was an absolute disaster after last night.
Fuck, I hope she doesn’t ask to see the kitchen.
Erin entered the room ahead of me, missing the panicked look on my face as I imagined her walking in to find the come-covered barstool and my discarded underwear.
Erin took in the space while I composed myself. I waited anxiously for her verdict. Call me hopeful, but I swore I saw the faint hint of satisfaction on her face. She ran a hand over the cream-colored bedspread, smoothing out the wrinkles. She walked over to the dresser and opened the top two drawers, hersmile widening when she noted the pajamas there. “Will you be sharing a bathroom?”
“No, she’s got her own.” I crossed the room, pushed the door open, and turned on the light. It wasn’t the biggest space in the world, but it was enough to give Hannah privacy when she was over.
Erin pulled back the shower curtain, then opened the cabinets under the sink, rearing back in surprise. “Wow, you really thought of everything.”
With Erin’s eyes back on me, I shrugged. I’d thank Raleigh later. “What do you think?”
She leaned against the bathroom doorway. “I’m really impressed, Ryder.”
Another one-shouldered shrug. “I’m not the same stupid kid I was twenty years ago.”
“I can see that. You’ve really gotten your shit together.”
“Does that mean Hannah can stay over here occasionally? When she wants to, of course.”
To my relief, Erin nodded. “Maybe we can start with just a weekend. Let Hannah bring the idea up to you first. I didn’t tell her I was coming over here. I wouldn’t want her to think I’m being overprotective.”
