“I am. Do you want me to walk to you?”
“Of course not, it’s snowing out there!” Kaelee sounded outraged, but at least there was no noise in the background. “Let me grab my stuff and come get you.”
A short while later, Toni and Kaelee trudged into the coffee shop. Greta’s eyes widened in surprise when she saw Toni, but she composedherself quickly as the two approached and stomped off the snow on their legs.
“My car was plowed in,” Kaelee said grumpily. “Andsomeonethought it was better to drive me instead of help me shovel it free.”
“We can take the subway to your apartment a few blocks from here. I pulled up an app,” Greta said, determined to stay calm. She wasn’t doing anything wrong by dating Kaelee, so Toni could take that glare of hers and turn it somewhere else.
“I’ll get you home safely.” Toni nodded. “I’ll drive you and leave you there,oryou could come to my place and use the guest room. Addie’s home, and we’ll all be snowed in within the next forty-eight hours. Might as well have a house party. Board games and reading?”
Greta smiled. She knew Toni well enough to see her offer as fond overprotectiveness. Shealsoknew this wasn’t really her decision. She might be Toni’s editor, but Kaelee was Toni’s friend.
And I’m here as Kaelee’s date.
“I’m sure Greta and I are fine on our own, but thanks.” Kaelee looked like she had been chewing glass. Her teeth were gritted, and her lips were pressed together.
“Everything’s closing. Do you have a generator?” Toni scowled. “You know that super of yours will not clear the sidewalk, and you’ll be out there shoveling and then inside in wet clothes with no heat and—”
“You’re, like, the overbearing older sibling no one really wants,” Kaelee muttered.
“You and Greta will be trapped together in a storm, no power, no water.” Toni shook her head. “That’s one way to see if you’re compatible. It’s like the road-trip test: if you survive it with feelings intact, maybe it’s real.”
Kaelee looked at Greta, a question clear in her eyes.
“As long as I’m with you I’m fine. Whateveryouwant works for me.” Then Greta looked at Toni. “We can be noisy, though, so is your guest room on the same floor?”
Kaelee and Toni both looked mortified.
“Kae can sleep on the sofa,” Toni countered. “Problem solved.”
“I don’t think we ought to have sex on your sofa,” Greta said lightly. “Best she stays in the guest room with me.”
“Greta… my editor doesn’t… you shouldn’t… this is not right,” Toni managed.
“I’m not Kaelee’s editor.” Greta stared at Toni. “I’m your editor. Just yours, but Toni… seriously? I’m not a monk.”
“Fine. Be human.” Toni threw her hand up. “Just leave me out of the drama if you split up.”
“Fine,” Kaelee said quickly.
Greta took Kaelee’s hand and squeezed. “No drama.”
“Kae used my guest room when you sent me to fetch her. It’s ground floor, private bathroom.” Toni let out a slow breath. “Look. I’m not trying to be overbearing. I would offer my guest room to Kae if youweren’there, Greta. They’re slow to clear the roads, and last year, Kaelee got trapped without heat for three days. I worried. I just added a generator at my place that automatically kicks in or something. I don’t know, but it’s supposed to mean that I have heat and lights… and I planned to just force her to stay at my place next storm. You can ask Addie if you doubt me. She knows.”
Kaelee shot Toni a fond look. “That’s sweet of you.”
Toni flipped her off and added, “Staying with me might not give as much privacy for youorfor me, but we’d be on separate floors. Basically, if you come now, I know I wouldn’t have to go out to drag you back if your power is out by tonight.”
Kaelee gave a nod. “Fine. I can stay in your guest room. Greta, do you want to join me or take the Acela back home? Hell, I can take the Acela and come to your place.”
“I’ve never negotiated a book deal with the author sleeping in the same building,” Greta murmured. “On the other hand, Ihavehad sex where other people might overhear, so that—”
“Will not be an issue. I have a stereo on the main floor. It’ll be on twenty-four hours a day.” Toni looked vaguely embarrassed.
“You see? That awkward feeling? That’s how it’ll go if you tryto offer an opinion on Kaelee’s sex life again,” Greta said with a pointed smile. “I’m not her editor anymore, so there is nothing at all untoward here. Take your attitude, fold it up, and tuck it somewhere dark. Clear?”
“Yes.”
