“Who votes that I should take twenty-five percent?” Lincoln says.
“Aye!” everyone shouts, except for Doug and Graham.
“Rule ratified,” Lincoln says, making a show of putting Doug’s money in his breast pocket.
“Damn,” Doug hisses under his breath.
I know the guys are just messing with him. Lincoln will place the full bet and Doug will win, because James never loses.
I take a deep breath and head for the stairs.
“Looks like it’s you and me tonight, big guy,” Doug calls after me. “Maybe we cruise around town with the lights on? Mr. April and Mr. May gettingallthe pussy.”
Mason grins. “Yeah, Mr. April and Mr. May-Need-Therapy.”
Lincoln snorts. “Mr. April and Mr. May-Be-Why-HR-Exists.”
They keep ribbing on him as I head up the stairs.
I just need some quiet.
I head up to the roof and take a deep breath of the cool mountain air as I look around at the stunning view. I love it up here. The Greene Mountains can’t be beat. It’s paradise.
The stunning peaks jut up into the sky all around me like they’re keeping us safe from the outside world. This beats any white-sand beach in my opinion.
Bubba—our firehouse pug—is laying in the sun beside my planters, snoring his head off. He whimpers in his sleep as I kneel beside him and sink my hands into the cool soil.
I love that smell. It grounds me instantly.
It always makes me feel like I’m back home in Oregon.
My family are all doctors. My parentsandmy three older sisters.Alldoctors.
I was always the odd one out. Sometimes I thought I must’ve been switched at birth.
But we always shared gardening. We always had that in common. Every weekend, we gardened together as a family.
The gardens back home on my parents’ property aremassive. They’ve been featured in magazines. They’re incredible. My mother’s roses win awards every year.
That’s the one thing I miss about living over here. I miss gardening with them all.
But when I’m working in my garden up here on the roof, it feels like I’m right back there at home with them all, surrounded by all that love.
Bubba wakes himself up with a loud snore and lifts his head, looking confused.
“Good morning,” I say as I pluck a ripe cherry tomato off the plant.
Bubba waddles over and plops his heavy head on my thigh. He sniffs the tomato, then licks it.
I laugh and pet his head. “We’ll save that one for Doug.”
I get my hands dirty, weeding the gardens and planting some seeds. I transfer some seedlings that are starting to sprout into the large garden that’s on the side parallel to the main road.
That’s when I catch sight of another girl approaching the firehouse down below. She’s in a similar sundress, a tomato plant with a bow tied around the pot in her arms.
“Oh no,” I whisper as I watch her cross the street. “Another one.”
She disappears into the building and a few minutes later, I hear Doug’s voice calling out.
