“I think the idea that anyone gets over a loss is a lie.Youjust get used to the pain.Itbecomes the new normal.Itscabs and scars, but it never disappears.Youlive with the ache.Thenyou start to forget it’s there most of the time.”Isighed. “So, no.I’mnot over it.Butshe makes it hurt a little less.Ilike being around her.She’sso fucking smart and insightful.She’sa workhorse.Stubbornas hell.It’dbe annoying if it wasn’t so damn cute.”
Drew shoved his hands in his pockets. “Youalways did like a challenge.Justdon’t fuck it up or the dead aunt might haunt you for the rest of your life.That’dbe kinda hard to explain to your next girlfriend. ‘Sorry,Ashley.Theghost of my ex’s great-aunt who lived next door keeps throwing lamps across the room and slamming doors because she’s pissedIbroke her niece's heart.Maybewe should sleep at your place or she’ll drop the ceiling fan on us.’”Hescratched at the stubble on his jaw. “Yeah.I’dbe careful.There’sno telling what a vengeful cock blocking ghost can do.”
Drew’s antics made me think back to the water heater situation.Hadit actually gone out, then mysteriously worked the next day?OrdidAuroralie about it breaking because she wanted an excuse to come over?
How much did she actually not want this, and how much was she fighting how badly shedidwant it?
There was only one way to find out.
Drew was long gone, and the sun had almost set by the timeAurora’scar sputtered into the driveway.Ireally needed to get that bucket of bolts looked at, butIknew she’d pitch a fit about it.
Frankly,Iwasn’t sure how she made it all the way toWilmingtonand back.
I had thought about waiting her out at my place, but two things would happen.One, she would see the room without me.Two, she might not come over.Shewas about to find out thatIhad broken into the house yet again, butIdecided to keep the ruse up a little longer and sit outside on the stairs.
“You’re like a puppy who waits at the door for its human to come back,”Aurorasaid when she climbed out of the car.
“So you’re a dog person.Noted.”
She popped her hands on her hips and thought for a moment. “Actually,I’ma cat person.Catsare way better.”
I scoffed. “Inwhat world are cats better?”
“Cats are independent.They’reclean.They’renot deliriously needy and clingy.Theyrespect your space and expect theirs to be respected in return.Sure, a dog will love you unconditionally, but it will also make you love it unconditionally when it swallows your underwear and you just have to wait for it to make a grand exit.”
Before she could grab her overnight bag out of the backseat,Ibeat her to it. “True, butI’venever had to rescue a dog from a tree.Catsare assholes.”
She smirked. “Maybethat’s whyIget along with them.”
“How was the trip?”
“Annoyingly long,” she groused as she trudged up the stairs. “Thespeed limit is stupidly slow on the coast.Ittook forever.”
I chuckled. “Imeant, how was visitingWhitney?”
“Oh.”Shepaused on the top step. “Itwas good.Wewent out to dinner last night whenIgot into the city.Theevent was today.Shehad a ton of people show up to see her so it was a little chaotic.Ihung out withMilesmost of the time and the three of us grabbed a bite afterward.”
“Do you miss them?”Iasked asIopened the door for her.Shedidn’t even question why it was unlocked.Shehad left it that way.
Aurora shrugged. “Wenever saw each other in-person a lot even beforeIquit.Long-distance friendship and all that.”Shepaused as soon as she set foot inside. “Whydoes it smell like paint in here?”
“I have a surprise for you,”Isaid asIset her bags in the living room.
Aurora froze. “Whatdid you do?”
Instead of telling her,Iput my hand on her back and led her to the bedroom door.Sheturned the knob, waltzed right in, then stopped dead in her tracks.
“Jack . . .”Itwas that same breathy whisper she had breathed when we had fucked.
I stood behind her and smoothed my hands up and down her arms. “Youneeded a bed.Areal one.”
She let out a gasp of disbelief. “Thisisn’t just a bed.It’sa whole bedroom.Andthe walls . . .”
The emerald green was a risky move.Herplan for the rest of the house was builder’s beige—something inoffensive that would resell easily.Buther reaction was all the confirmationIneeded.
“I can’t believe you did this in one night.Thiswould have taken me a week at least.”
“Drew helped.AndIhad things ready to go at my place.Istarted as soon as you left.”
