I laugh, too. That’s a fight I could never win. “What’s happening back there?”
“Gray’s been at the Royals facility every day, so I’ve been trying to stay busy. Renn asked me how I would feel about helping Tate and Aurora for a while.”
“Tate, huh?” I giggle. “Your very favorite Brewer brother.”
“Ha.”
I giggle louder.
“He’s better now that he has Aurora. She makes him behave,” Astrid says. “Well, as much as Tate can behave. But I told Renn I’d do it because it’s something to do and, quite frankly, I love organizing shit and keeping schedules. And this house they’re building? There’s a lot of organizing and scheduling to be done.”
“Sounds right up your alley.”
“You know it. So what’s up with you? How are you filling your time?”
I try to remember how I’ve spent the days here, but it’s fuzzy. I sleep in, which is nice. I wander around the pasture behind the cabin, which is fun. I’ve had lunch twice at Piper’s Pizza like a solo-dining professional.And I performed surgery …
A smile stretches across my face immediately as I recall a few days ago when Brooks was here. I’ve wondered how well it’s healing, or if he needs antibiotics, but I have no way of contacting him. Even if I did, I’m not sure I would. But that’s because of the whimsy list.
“What is a whimsy list?”
“It’s none of your business.”
“It’s fascinating …”
“Oh, I’ve been wandering around the ranch,” I say, starting my computer. “I’ve had lunch at Piper’s. Lisa loves you. I got an extra piece of chocolate cake yesterday because of you.”
Astrid laughs. “Lisa is a wild woman. If she invites you anywhere, buckle your seat belt and say a prayer. I mean it.”
I laugh, too. “Noted.”
“So you’re not bored?” Astrid asks.
I stare at the wall, wondering if anyone has told her about my surgical debut. I haven’t mentioned it, mostly because it feels like a fun little secret between Brooks and me, even though Hartley knows. And I’m also not sure how to bring it up. I’ve assumed that someone mentioned it to Gray, who would’ve mentioned it to Astrid …but now?I’m not so sure.
“No, I’m not bored,” I say, carefully. “I caught up on work, have taken my fair share of long bubble baths, sewed up someone’s arm?—”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Hartley didn’t mention it?” I ask, wincing.
“No. This is the kind of thing that warrants a call, Auddie.”
She’s right—it does. Guilt swamps me for not calling her when it happened. It might not be a super big deal, but it’s more excitement than I usually have to share.
“I was out walking the other day, and Hartley and Brooks stopped by,” I say, trying to play it like it’s no big deal. “And Brooks cut his forearm on a piece of wire or fence or something in the back of Hartley’s truck.”
“Uh-huh. Go on.”
“And he asked me to sew it shut.”
“And you did it?”
The surprise in her voice catches me off guard. “Yeah,” I say, surprised at her surprise—although I shouldn’t be. Participating in that sort of shenanigan is a bold, non-Audrey thing for me to do. “It saved him a ton of money at the hospital.”
She gasps. “Auddie.”
“What?”
