Chapter Fourteen
Lucy
When I wake up, my heart thuds against my ribs as I remember where I am and who I’m sharing a bed with. Except Hunter’s not next to me. I pad into the bathroom, and he’s not there either.
Fishing.
Of course. They left early. I didn’t hear a thing, and I’m usually a light sleeper. I check the time. It’s seven thirty. Time for me to organize breakfast.
I pull on a sweatshirt and am about to head downstairs when I practically trip on the two boxes Hunter had delivered yesterday. He’s set them right by the door. On top is a scribbled note, signed by Hunter, telling me the boxes are for me.
I’m so confused. I asked him what was in the boxes, but he didn’t say anything. Why would he want me to open them now?
I pick up the first box and immediately realize what I’ll find inside.
The wigs.
I gave him such a hard time about forgetting the wigs, and he’d already arranged to have them delivered here. Why didn’t he tell me? I grin to myself, check that there are the correct number of wigs, then head downstairs. I need to prepare breakfast before people start waking up.
As I get to the bottom of the stairs, I hear someone moving around. I let out a little growl. I wanted to be the first of us girls up so I could set the table and make everything pretty.
But when I round the corner into the kitchen, Katherine’s at the counter, scrolling through her phone, a cup of coffee in front of her. She turns and sees me and her eyes light up. “Good morning! I’ve been awake since Ed left for fishing. I couldn’t go back to sleep. I’m too excited about having the entire day in this beautiful place. You couldn’t have picked anything better.”
I wrap my arms around her in a hug. “I’m so happy you’re happy. But I can’t take any credit for the house or location. That was all Hunter.”
Katherine’s eyes sparkle. Instantly, I wish I hadn’t mentioned his name. I grab myself a cup of coffee and turn on the oven, like I don’t notice how Katherine is just itching to talk about Hunter.
“You seem very comfortable together,” Katherine says.
It’s not a question and doesn’t require an answer. I head to the refrigerator and pull out some fruit to make the fruit salad.
“Areyou comfortable together?” Katherine asks, noticing her error in not asking me a direct question.
I pull out a chopping board and start to prepare the pineapple. “It’s early days,” I say. “Very early days and not at all serious. He’s busy with Portis. I’m busy with my job. It’s probably going to be over next Wednesday—”
“Don’t say that. It couldn’t be more perfect, having you two date. The four of us—”
“You need to dial back the obsession with the foursome. The four of us aren’t a thing. Hunter and I have just been thrown together to organize this weekend. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be in each other’s lives.”
“That’s not true,” she protests. “You’re my sister and he’s Ed’s best friend. You’re both in each other’s lives for good.”
I smile at Katherine. As much as I want everything perfect so Katherine’s happy, Katherine wants my happiness just as much. Wasthat what Hunter meant last night? Does he think I give everything up for Katherine and she’s not appreciative?
“He’s very good looking,” Katherine says.
“So you said,” I remind her.
She rolls her eyes at me and slides off her stool. “Do you want a hand prepping that?”
“Nope. I’m going to put the croissants in when the oven’s warm, then set the table. I already have the muffins, but I think some people will want eggs—”
“If they want eggs, they can get them themselves,” Katherine replies. “You’re not the hired chef.” Does Hunter see this side of Katherine? The protective side? The side that doesn’t want me to do as much?
“I can’t wait for the private chef tonight,” I reply.
“Me neither. And during the day today, I just want to walk on the beach, collect shells, maybe a little shopping after lunch with a cocktail.”
“Perfect,” I reply. “Just to warn you, I brought a couple of glue guns and some other art supplies, along with some ideas from Pinterest for stuff we could do with the shells we collect.”
