“You three are as bad as the Captain,” Knox accuses and then dives out the door to avoid the hiking boot Adelaide throws at him with a laugh.
“These packs are ready to go,” Birdie announces, pointing to four packs lined up against the wall by the door. “Would you boys use those strong muscles Vinna is always going on about, and carry those up to the vehicles?” Birdie bats her eyelashes at Torrez and Bastien, and they fold like cardboard.
“Thedibsstill counts!” Bastien declares as he picks up two packs and walks over to me. He kisses me soundly and then bends down a little to look me in the eyes. “Paused only,” he imparts as he turns and heads for the door.
“Just paused,” I shout at his back as he disappears out of the room.
Torrez chuckles and shakes his head. “Greedy, greedy, greedy,” he heckles as he grabs the two other packs and turns to follow Bastien out the door.
“TGV forevaaaahhh,” I call behind him and then laugh when I hear his guffaw echo back down the hallway and into the room.
“You have excellent taste, I must say,” Adelaide tells me and then snaps a shirt at my butt. I squeak in protest and scramble away from her when it looks like she’s going to do it again. “That Torrez and Siah are just the sweetest, and you know how we feel aboutthe boys,” she tells me as she adds her shirt weapon into the kind of pack hard-core backpackers wear.
“Is it their sweet personalities that you’re a fan of or their sweet heinies that have been catching your eye?” I tease and chuck a sock at Adelaide. “Don’t think I haven’t seen that dreamy look in your eye as you ogle Siah.”
She gasps in faux outrage.
“Oh yes, I know the one, it’s that look that’s normally only reserved for a delicious cinnamon roll and a cup of creamy chai,” Lila calls her sister out, and I crack up.
“Like I said, I was simply admiring Vinna’sexcellenttaste,” Adelaide defends, her giggle ruining the innocent look she’s going for. “And it wasn’t me making goo-goo eyes at that shifter fellow who carried supplies into the kitchen the other day, was it?” Adelaide casually throws out there, knowing I’ll embrace my inner Mave and pounce on it like a piranha.
“Ooohhh, who was it?” I press, taking the bait with not an ounce of shame.
“I believe his name is Artemi,” Birdie offers, getting in on the action.
Lila full on blushes, and I have to fight to keep from cracking up. “Hold on,” I order as I dive onto the bed and get myself situated comfortably. I lean back against the headboard and then adjust the pillow at the small of my back. “Okay, ready,” I announce and fix my excited smile on Lila. “Tell me everything!”
2
Iknock on the door lightly, a heaviness in my chest doing its best to chase off the light and happy the sisters just deposited there. I know the circumstances suck behind their arrival, but I’m so glad the sisters are here. They ground and lighten everyone in a way that only they are capable of doing. I listen for an answer and then knock harder when one doesn’t come.
“Come in,” Sorik finally calls from the other side of the closed door.
I turn the knob and attempt to calm the whirling of my insides as I walk in to find Sorik sitting next to Vaughn.
“Am I interrupting?” I ask hesitantly, taking in the book Sorik has in his hands and then studying Sorik himself. His long blond hair is pulled back, and he has a hint of stubble on his face. He’s still rocking that Viking vibe, but I can tell things are weighing heavily on him.
“Not at all,” Sorik reassures me as he closes the novel and offers me a warm smile.
I give him one back and pull up a seat next to Vaughn.
“No chaperones today?” Sorik teases, and I chuckle. “I’m aghast that they’ve let you out of their sight.”
“The sisters chased them all away so we could pack and girl talk,” I offer.
“Ah yes, the sisters are formidable opponents,” Sorik proclaims, his eyes filled with respect and humor.
“That they are,” I agree with a laugh. “What are you guys reading today?”
“We were just diving intoIntensityby Dean Koontz,” Sorik tells me as he holds up the book so I can examine the cover.
“I haven’t read that one yet, is it good?” I ask awkwardly, avoiding the deeper topics that are sitting in my throat as though I’ve taken too big of a bite of them and I now need water to help me swallow everything down.
“It’s excellent, one of my favorite reads and one I come back to time and time again,” Sorik declares, as he looks down at the book in his lap fondly. “I’ll lend it to you as soon as we’re done with it.”
I widen my eyes in exaggerated surprise. “I’m honored you would trust me with such a treasure.”
He grins. “Obviously, if anything happens to it, I’ll come for you.”
