Aurora had been working her ass off—chipping away at the house during daylight hours, and writing like a madwoman under the moonlight.Shedeserved a real fucking bedroom.
Besides, if she wouldn’t come over to mine,Iwas going to make her think of me every time she lay down.
“Yeah.Istarted as soon as she left yesterday.Ihad the furniture waiting at my place.Justneeded you to help me haul it up.”
He stabbed me in the chest with a pointed finger. “Youowe me more than a beer.Idon’t do free labor.”
I laughed. “Thisis payback for when you had me help you move into that shitty apartment, and then out of it a week later when it got flooded in that storm.”
“Fair,” he conceded. “You’vegot me there.”
“Besides, this was just a mattress and box spring and a desk.Ididn’t have you hauling a fridge, washer, and dryer.”
“The desk from hell,” he corrected, taking another look at the drafting desk we had set up in front of the oceanfront window. “Whatdoes that thing weigh?Acool half-ton?”
I shrugged. “Ididn’t expect it to be so heavy, but it's solid wood.”
“And the size of a football field.Why’dyou have it made so big?”
“Roar likes to spread out when she works.Otherdesks were too small or they looked like an office cubicle.”
Drew studied me for a minute, then cracked a grin and shook his head. “You’redown bad, dude.Youdo remember she’s leaving at the end of the summer, right?”Helooked around. “Thisis a big investment for some pussy.”
I cut him a glare and he lifted his hands, silently letting me know he’d watch his mouth.
“I’m just saying.Ifyou want to get laid, there are easier ways than breaking into your neighbor’s house and furnishing her bedroom when she’s not around.Whereis she anyway?”
I unbagged the sheetsIhad picked up at the store.Ratherthan buying some giant, fru-fru comforter,Ibrought over one of the quilts from my house and the pillow she had slept on.
. . . AndImay have sprayed it with my cologne.
All’s fair in love and war.
“One of her friends is on a book tour.Shedrove down toWilmingtonto see her at one of the stops.”
That got his attention. “Themarried one or the one with the cool hair?”
“The married one.”Myjudgmental tone was accented with a sharp look.Ididn’t want him getting any ideas aboutAurora’sfriends.
Whitney was married, butAurorawould never forgive me ifWillow’sheart was broken by association.Shecared about their feelings way more than her own.
“Let me guess.Auroradoesn’t want a fling.”
I shook my head asIsmoothed out the bedding. “No, that’s actually exactly what she wants.”
“So what’s the problem?”WhenIdidn’t say anything,Drewmade the leap. “That’snot what you want.”Heblinked in disbelief. “Youactually want to date her.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter,”Isaid asIarranged the pillows at the head of the bed. “Becauseshe made it clear that it’s not happening.”
“So, what are you doing all this for?”
I grabbed the empty shopping bags and discarded packaging. “BecauseImade it clear thatI’drespect her position.Inever saidI’dmake it easy for her to hold that position.”
“You’re telling me that you actually want to go steady with a woman, and she doesn’t want to go steady with you?”Drewtossed his head back and laughed. “Thefucking irony.”
“Thank you for rubbing it in,”Iclipped. “Youcan go next door and grab a beer from my fridge.”
“You’re serious?”Drewcrossed his arms over his chest. “BecauseI’veknown you for fifteen years and you haven’t wanted a girl sinceLucasdied and your folks moved.”Helooked at me warily. “Andyou meet the long-lostWhitlockand suddenly you’re over the loss?”
