I have never needed much space, but Declan has it in spades.
My room overlooks the backyard. A row of trees hides it from the houses beyond. A hot tub sits on one end of the flagstone patio and a barbecue is on the other.
“Kitchen’s done. Want me to help in here?” Declan asks, walking into the room and throwing himself on the bed.
“Sure.” I’ve made good progress, but there are a few miscellaneous boxes still to go. Shoes, knickknacks, makeup…things like that.
He takes the small box with my makeup and skincare products into the bathroom and starts putting them away. Not without comment, as he asks why I need so many things when I never wear that much to start with.
“No judgment,” I call out to him. “I don’t judge you for your jersey collection.”
“Hey.” He peeks his head out. “Those are collector items.”
I point a picture frame at him before I set it on the dresser. One of the two of us at his first NHL game. “And what if I need that stuff? Leave it alone.”
“Fine. I’ll start on your shoes then.”
“Thank you.” I smile at him and finish unpacking mylinens. Not that I’ll need them because Declan has a fully furnished house, but I can’t be without my blanket. Considering I’m always cold and Declan runs hot, I’m going to need it here.
“Umm, Froggie?” Declan’s head pops out from the box he’s unpacking. From the writing on the side, a box of shoes. “What’s this?”
“Oh my God!” I fly across the bed and tackle him to get it out of his hand. “Close your eyes. You’re not supposed to see that!”
My vibrator.
Not knowing what to do with it, I stuff it under the back of my shirt.
“Why is it in a box of shoes?”
The better question is who in the hell packed this box? I don’t remember seeing it, but that was hours ago.
“Can we pretend like this never happened?”
Declan’s face is a deep red, probably redder than mine. His eyes are still wide as he at the shoes that are now haphazardly spread across the floor.
“Is it safe to continue unpacking?”
I shake my head. “Go check on the pizza. I can finish in here.”
There is no way in hell I am going to let Declan near another box. I want to wipe this day from my memory.
Him coming across my vibrator and looking at it like it has three heads? As if things weren’t awkward enough that I’m now married to my best friend, he has to find my vibrator?
How do I face him after that?
Kill me now.
Chapter Ten
DECLAN
Iwonder how long I can hide out in my room before it becomes weird. Something that’s new with Alice.
Weirdness.
Had I not offered to help her unpack her shoes, I never would have discoveredit.
Her vibrator.
