Who the hell was at Paxton’s place at seven thirty in the morning?
Ida Jane poked her head around the corner, her blond hair nearly as shiny as her smile. “Good! You’re up. Maxim left me the hulking beast of a vehicle so we can go shopping. Tell me, what’s your budget?”
I blinked at her, my mouth slightly parted. These people didn’t communicate on my plane.Budget? Shopping?“What?”
“Paxton said he’d invited you to move in here, and I’m sure you plan to make it look less like a…”
“College dorm room?” I asked with a wrinkle of my nose. I turned toward the sparse living room furnishings, all facing the nearly cinema-sized flat-screen TV.
“I think it’s crazy because he made such an effort in the kitchen, and then he refused to let me use that gorgeous machine.” Ida Jane looked longingly at the French range I’d just freaked out over. “At least he has a nice bedroom,” she added.
If I believed what Paxton said—and I did; so help me, I did. Still…this was all moving too quickly. My head spun, and I couldn’t gain firm emotional footing. I needed more time to process, to consider my options.
“I’m not sure moving in with Paxton is a good idea, even if I were to get the job with NASA. And, well, Paxton built out the kitchen based on a silly scrapbook I put together in college.”
Ida Jane shook her head. “That isterriblyromantic. Damn these huge, burly specimens of athletic prowess for being so sensitive.” She shot me a sly glance. “Want to start up that range? We could make a feast.”
I smiled as I shook my head. “The first time it’s used, Paxton needs to be here.”
“Ah! I knew it,” she crowed. “You plan to come back.”
“I…” I twisted my fingers together.
“Tea,” Ida Jane mused. “It’s more soothing than coffee, and Paxton said you prefer it. Then I think I need to gather the troops. Millie, Naomi, and Keelie will want to be here for this big reveal you’re just dying to share. Don’t worry, they’ve all been through something similar.” Ida Jane moved through the kitchen like she’d been here before, and I swallowed the stab of jealousy.
Paxton had spent multiple years living his life without me, just as I… “I always expected him to come back,” I said. I blinked in shock at those words I’d never let myself dwell on. I slammed my mouth shut, unwilling to say more.
Ida Jane looked up at me as she set the mugs on the counter. “What kind of tea do you want?”
“I’m not sure.” I moved closer and looked around. With faint annoyance, I asked, “Where are the options?”
Ida Jane’s eyes sparkled as she led me to a pantry-style set of cabinets. She opened the top two doors, and I gasped in dismayed delight.
“He went to the tea store when he found out you were coming to town.”
“And bought every single tea they had?—”
“Except Earl Grey because, and I quote, ‘Hana doesn’t like it. She thinks it tastes like a dirty sock and moldy orange’,” Ida Jane noted.
I giggled as I shook my head, my eyes never leaving the treasure trove of teas. There were boxes and boxes of them lined up neatly.
“This must have cost a fortune,” I murmured.
“It sure did,” Ida Jane chirped. “Pick something yummy for me, too. I’ll get the CATS over. We have some deep emotional work to do before the retail therapy.”
I looked over my shoulder. “I don’t really have the budget?—”
Ida Jane’s scoff cut me off. “Paxton gave me his card. We’re going to smoke that sucker.” She grinned brightly as she clicked on the electric kettle. “Tea. CATS. We got stuff to do, my friend.”
* * *
Once they wereall gathered around Paxton’s saw-milled maple kitchen table—also something I’d added to my dream-house scrapbook—I told the women the story of me and Paxton, mainly because I was tired of trying to shoulder the burden by myself. When I got to him breaking up with me, all four of them sat forward, eyes wide.
“Asshole,” Keelie muttered.
“Shh!” Naomi said, waving her hand.
“You’re right, Kee,” Millie said, bumping her friend’s shoulder. “That was a douche move.”
