“A hundred grand.”
He choked on a laugh, turning away to hide the worst of his reaction from me, but it was too late. I already knew what a joke it was.
“Can you even fit yourself through the door?”
“Unfortunately. She had me test nearly every model and made sure I could get up the stairs into the loft.”
“The loft, huh?” he grinned. “So, you’re sleeping on a hydabed or something?”
“It’s an actual bed, and the place has everything we need until we get on our feet.”
“We have everything you need,” he chided. “Not that you would take help from your old man.”
“Pop—”
“I’m just saying, you’re family, and you’d rather sleep in that thing that you can drag around town instead of living with us for a few months.”
“This wasn’t about you. Blake saw it and fell in love. What was I supposed to do?”
“Stop her.”
Jeff barked out a laugh. “She’s pregnant, Pop. Not sure that would have been the way to go.”
“Thank you.”
“I would have shoved food in her face and pretended to miss the exit.”
“Yeah, you tell me how that works when you have a wife of your own,” I snapped at Jeff.
“So, show me the damn thing,” Pop headed for the house on wheels. “Or is that too many people inside all at once?”
“Maybe you should have just parked it somewhere far away from here and not stopped by for the rest of your honeymoon,” Jeff muttered. “At least then he wouldn’t have known.”
“Trust me, I can’t take a shit in this town without everyone knowing.”
I watched from a distance as Pop headed inside, already grumbling about everything he possibly could. Jeff, never one to miss out, grabbed his cell and started taking a video of the experience.
And that’s how it would end up all around town.
Lizzy came bounding out of the house, her face slack with awe. “Oh, my gosh! You bought a tiny house!”
“Don’t start.”
Slipping her arm through mine, she rested her head against my shoulder. “I think it’s sweet. I mean, I can’t blame you for not wanting to stay with Dad. It never would have worked.”
“I’m glad someone else around here noticed.”
“Oh, trust me, they all notice. Mom’s the only one who wishes she could shove you both in the same room for a half hour and have you magically walk out best friends.”
I snorted at that. “So, you really don’t think it’s bad?”
“Bad? Not at all. Michael, you have to stop worrying about other people. You’re making a home for your family until your house is rebuilt. That’snothing to be ashamed of. And if Blake’s happy, that’s all that really matters, right?”
Pressing a kiss to her cheek, I was happy to have my one loyal sister by my side. Out of everyone, she was always there for me, no matter what. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.
Unfortunately, being such a sweetheart also put a target on her back, which only made me worry about her. But I knew Liam and Jeff would do everything they could to take care of her.
“Oh. My. God!” Krista’s voice echoed from behind me. “Just what in the hell is that?”
