CHAPTER ONE
BECCA
HGTV had to be created with magic—it sucked me in within the first second, and I hadn’t moved in three hours.Love It or List Itwas my catnip. Three entire hours of sprawling out on the massive leather couch when I had shit to do. Lots of shit. As the house mom for Betas, I had to make sure the chef was paid, and since the cleaning service had two weeks off for the holidays, that had become my responsibility, too. And considering the fun fact that there was a blizzard coming, I had to make sure I had enough food to shelter in place for a week. If I wanted to get into specifics, I needed to make sure I had enough sugar, chocolate, and wine to survive the holidays alone.Again.
“Becs? My mom wants to know when the doors are officially locked for winter break.” Marissa Kelly patted my shoulder as she came to a stop behind the couch. I would never rank students in the Beta house in order of favorites, but if I was forced at gunpoint, Marissa would be in the top three.
“Friday, girlfriend.”
I looked away from the TV and cringed at my outfit: hot pink pajamas covered with little suns wearing sunglasses tucked into purple-and-green fuzzy socks, with a stain on my chest from either chocolate or coffee and a clear view of my stomach because I forgot a button.It’s no wonder I’m single.
“Is it sad I wish I didn’t have to leave for two weeks?” Marissa joined me on the couch and sighed with as much angst as a nineteen-year-old could.
“You have a home here waiting for you when you get back. Trust me, enjoy the time you have with your family while you can, because adulthood comes fast and hard.” I adjusted my position, moving so we sat shoulder-to-shoulder, and snuck a look at her. Her typical smile disappeared. A deep frown that made her look years older replaced it. I nudged her shoulder with my own. “Hey, talk to me. I haven’t seen you this sad since the infamous breakup freshman year.”
She shrugged. “My parents are going through a rough time, and it’s hard seeing them fight. It never used to be like that.”
Poor Marissa.My soul hurt for her. “I’m sorry. I really am. I wish I had some profound advice for you to help or make it better, but that is out of my realm. Just… maybe try to find things to do with your parents separately. Offer to help with dinner or cleaning. You can always text me if you want.”
“You’re the best, Becs.” She leaned her head against me.
A rush ofthis-is-why-I-love-my-jobbloomed over me in a full-body hum of happiness, and I couldn’t stop my smile. “Iamyour house mom, and yeah, I can be the best.”
She laughed, and I put my arm around her shoulders for a half-hug. She leaned into it, and a lightness filled my chest.
No one in my education-focused family understood why I did what I did. They always asked how it was going and what I actually did, but it was so foreign to them that their eyes would gloss over and they’d nod a lot. They appreciated the fact that I helped college students, sure, but it wasn’t the same as teaching in their eyes. Yeah, I loved my parents, and I knew they loved me, but they didn’t understand me. None of my endless stream of first dates ever understood me. Very few people did.Except these girls.
“I guess I better start packing since it’ll take me forever to clean my room.”
“Yeah, honestly, you’re a great human but a slob, Issa.” I earned another smile from her.
I was about to offer to help when Amanda Lee rushed down the spiral staircase to my right, face flushed and eyes the size of saucers. “Becs.”
“Yes?” I sat up straighter, already imagining the crisis I would have to deal with. Was it her creepy boyfriend? Her slipping grades? Her secret stash of vodka I knew she kept behind her desk but we never talked about?
“I tried opening the window and it wouldn’t work, so I forced it, you know, to get fresh air into the room. I do live on the highest floor so it gets stuffy, yeah? So I shoved it and the window shattered and I tried cleaning it up but then the wind picked up, and anyway… my clothes are on the roof, and you know how my mom feels about me losinganything,” she rambled, slurring words and syllables in an almost incomprehensible way. But I knew her well and pieced it together.
“Your clothes are on the roof?”
“And all over the yard.” Her bottom lip trembled. “My mom will kill me if I lose those blouses. My grandma made them for me.”
Save the clothes and then look at the glass.“Okay girls, get your coats. We’re going on a recovery mission.”
I marched from our huge living room to the closet, shoving my feet into my favorite pair of sequined Uggs, bundling up with a head-to-toe hot pink parka and ridiculous yellow hat I’d knitted myself two years ago. Not my best-stitched work, but it was warm and that was all that mattered in winter. Marissa, Amanda, and another pair of girls joined us and bundled up, and we set out the back door. Sure enough, colored shirts decorated the dull landscape. It had been a brutal December in the Midwest. Poor central Illinois was already prepared for a blizzard before Christmas, and the wind burned the exposed parts of my face. I didn’t complain though—we had a mission to complete.
We each took off in different directions, grabbing shirts before they blew away, and a bright red something caught my eye next door. Damn it, Amanda. It landed inhisfront yard. Of course, I’d be wearing something totally uncool as I trekked around Harrison’s property in search of a runaway shirt. He probably wasn’t home anyway. He had family in state—a niece and nephews, if I remembered correctly—and it was Thursday before break. Yeah, he wouldn’t be home, and I’d be fine.No need to panic.
With a quick glance at Harrison’s front window, I blew out a relieved breath at the dark stillness within. Yes! He’s not even home!
I sprinted toward the yard and snatched the shirt. Unfortunately, whoever was in charge of my life thought it’d be hilarious to increase the wind and send the shirt flying onto his front porch.
Rats.
Okay, I can do this.He wasn’t home, and even if he was, I had nothing to be embarrassed about—even if he did ghost me on the after-date call he’d promised.
Ten steps. That’s all it’d take. I scanned the house once more, and then I moved stealthily in case I was wrong. The last thing I needed was to come face-to-face with that man.
Each crunch of the ground beneath my boots echoed, and my heart raced. Tiptoeing on the bottom step, I winced as it creaked. My eyes shot to the window, hoping his handsome face and infamous frown wouldn’t appear.
