24
Easton
I was just at the door to the guest room, which was a bit of a stretch. Maggie was just being fancy when she said that. It was really Sage’s old bedroom that she used to keep her plants. That was when I heard the quiet sobs coming from behind the door, and I realized what an idiot I had been.
Of course, Lila had been holding back downstairs and keeping it together until she was alone. I knocked softly on the door. “Can I come in?”
There was a sniffle and some rustling before she appeared at the door, wiping her red-rimmed eyes. She looked so sad, I couldn’t stand it. “Aww, sugar.”
Her face tipped up to mine, those eyes filled with tears. “I just can’t believe that someone set fire to Grams’ house. A house shouldn’t matter to me so much.” She wrapped her arms around herself as if she might hold herselftogether. “There were pictures in there of me growing up. Things she’d saved. It’s stupid.”
“Come here.” I stepped inside and pulled her into my arms. “It isn’t stupid to be sad about things that you could have lost. It’s going to be okay.” Drawing her against me, I held her as sobs wracked her body. “Just let it all out.”
“Will you lie down with me for a minute?” she asked, her voice muffled against my chest.
“If you thought I would be lying anywhere else tonight, you’re out of your mind.”
The bed was too small, but I was such a bastard that I liked it because it meant she was pressed tight against me, just like we’d been earlier. I pulled her close and covered us with the blanket, enjoying the feeling of her beside me, her tears on my shirt. “Tomorrow we’ll take care of the house, okay? I’ll rebuild the whole thing if you want me to. I know that doesn’t fix it or make it any better.” I was rambling. “Of course, it doesn’t make anything better, I know that. It wouldn’t be the same, but maybe …”
A small snore escaped her as she snuggled against my chest. Looking down, I saw that she was literally passed out. She’d been asleep at home when the fire started, but the stress and the crying probably took her over the edge. Hauling her incrementally closer, I relaxed my head back onto the pillow. She had angels watching over her, keeping her safe tonight from that fire, that was for sure.
There had been a time when I had lost all my faith in a higher power. A time when I’d been lost and alone in an apartment with my biological mother, who seemed moreconcerned with chasing her high than remembering that her kid needed her.
I’d prayed then, for someone to save me, but nobody had answered. Then I was lost to the system. For a while, I couldn’t figure out which was worse. If you’d asked me then whether there was a higher power, I would have laughed or spat in your face. It had taken me years at the Holt’s to believe that maybe someone was looking out for me after all, to give me a second chance. I still harbored doubts that I deserved it, but as I held Lila in my arms, I started to believe that maybe, for the first time, someone had answered my prayers after all. It could be that it just took a while.
I fell asleep trying to avoid the spider plant that Sage had dangling in the window.
25
Lila
I woke up to the soft glow of the spare bedroom, staring at the ceiling fan that squeaked faintly every other rotation, and it was also to the realization that East had already slipped away. The room smelled faintly of loam, which made sense because it used to be Sage’s, but there was also that unmistakable hint of sawdust that I would forever associate with East. Rolling a little so I could inhale the pillowcase next to me (shamelessly), I hugged it to my chest and stared out over the orchard. It was a beautiful view, especially with the mist that spread through the trees.
Blowing out a breath, I steeled myself to deal with the day and moved a plant tendril out of my way. There were plants in here that had lived here since Sage’s girlhood at the Holt’s. She had always claimed they couldn’t bemoved because they’d miss the view. She was a bit wacky, but my bestie was pretty awesome.
I was surprised at how well I’d slept, but it must have been the fact that I’d coerced East into bed with me. Maybe that should embarrass me, but I couldn’t find it in me to worry about it. I’d been so worried that every time I closed my eyes, I would wake up panicked with the memory of smoke choking my lungs and the heat of the fire as it ate at the wood of the cottage. I still couldn’t believe that someone had set it on fire on purpose. Luckily, it was still January, so the wood was wet. Maybe I’d gotten lucky and it wasn’t that bad. Or, maybe Wade would have looked at everything, and that initial thought he had that it was deliberate was wrong. I hoped so.
Tears prickled my eyes, but I tried to distract myself by remembering how East’s mouth had felt on mine. How good we’d been together. It had been reckless, messy, and… God help me, I wanted more. I’d gone to bed on such a high, thinking about him and our upcoming date. After my talk with Sage, I’d figured that maybe it would be a good night to stay back at my place.
Ugh.
There was a duffel on the chair by the door that I recognized as Sage’s. She must have brought me some things. I scrubbed a hand over my face. It was still early —the sun wasn’t even up —but I needed to get going and figure out some things. I’d texted Mia last night and she’d promised to open up this morning, but I still needed to go in. Chapter & Crumb never really slept. We opened late once a week and had abbreviated baking days twice aweek to give us a break. But I should consider hiring another part-time pastry person for mornings. I had already started to run a little ragged even before all this started, and now, with the drama of the break-in and the fire, it was just showing me that it was time to have a backup in place.
The smell of coffee led me downstairs. Voices murmured from the kitchen, low and male. I slowed at the doorway.
East sat at the table, his shoulders hunched, a mug in his big hand. His flannel was rumpled, his hair damp and curled over his collar like he’d already showered. Kipp leaned against the counter, arms crossed, every inch the younger brother with that half-cocky grin.
“You could have let me know,” Kipp was saying, though not unkindly. “Whole damn house goes up, and I find out this morning?”
East’s jaw flexed. “I wasn’t about to drag you into it when you were all the way out at your property.”
“Still.” Kipp shook his head. “Hell of a thing.” His eyes slid past his brother and landed on me. “Speak of the devil. Sorry to hear about the fire. That’s terrible.”
East’s gaze hit me like a physical touch, hot and assessing. For once, he didn’t try to hide it. I’d been disappointed that he hadn’t been beside me when I woke up, but grateful for the space at the same time. It was easier to start off after a shower. I felt more level-headed now that I was up and dressed.
“Morning,” I said, trying not to feel awkward. I pushed my hands further into the hoodie. “Yeah, hell of a thing to wake up to. I was having a hot dream about something,and it turned out my house was on fire.” East choked on his coffee.
Kipp chuckled. “Yeah, that must have been something. Coffee?” Kipp offered. “Or do you want something stronger? Maggie’s got a stash of brandy in the pantry. Medicinal purposes, she claims.”
