“Sweet.” She digs through her bag for the reading light and pulls out a book before flopping onto the bed. “Y’all may never see me again!”
“Where am I going to sleep?”
“Follow me.” He grabs my bag from my shoulder and I do as I’m told. It’s not far. This house isn’t that big, and there are only two hallways. One that leads to the mudroom and the back door. And this one. One of the doors we passed must be his room.
“Peter, I can’t take your bed.” I need to voice the argument before we even get to his room. I know him well enough to know that’s exactly where he intends for me to sleep.
“Yes, you can.” He turns the knob on the second door we walked by and pushes the door open.
There’s a battery-operated lantern on the dresser. Not that it’s needed because of course he has another fireplace. The gentle orange glow fills the space and I feel bad Lexi won’t get to enjoy the aesthetic.
Wait, what am I talking about? I already said I wasn’t sleeping in here. It’s too personal. We didn’t enter each other’s spaces when we were younger, why would I start doing that now.
“Where are you going to sleep if I’m in here?” It’s the only thing I can think to ask. The one rebuttal that might make him realize this is ridiculous.
“The sofa.”
“You don’t fit on it.” As if he needs me to tell him that bit of info. I’m sure he knows. Though, they are bigger than normal sized sofas. Well, the one facing the window is.
“I. Will. Be. Fine.” He won’t back down.
Ugh, why is he so freaking stubborn?
“Fine. But if it’s okay with you, I’ll hang out with you in the living room.” Another bad idea. I’m supposed to be keeping the distance between us, not spending more time with my childhood crush.
“You don’t have to, you know that right?” He leans his head to the side studying me. Waiting on a response.
“I know.” Believe it or not, I don’t want to be locked away in a room, no matter how cozy it feels. Besides, once Lexi explores the house a bit, she’ll be sitting in here by the fire while she reads.
“Then why?” His eyes don’t leave mine. “You’ve made it pretty clear you don’t want me to help you with anything. Now you want to spend time with me voluntarily.”
That’s the million-dollar question. I can’t really explain it without letting him know about the crush I harbored as a kid. Or the fact I’ve thought about him more than I should throughout the years, which is the main reason I didn’t let him follow me on social media.
“Because I don’t want to be alone. It’s too quiet.” It’s an honest answer. More than I wanted to be.
His only response is a nod before walking out of the room. What that hell is up with that?
Eleven
Peter
I don’t understand this woman. She’s always hot and cold with me. How am I supposed to know where I stand with her? One minute she refuses my help, the next she wants to hang out with me. She makes zero sense.
The only thing I can think to do is go to the kitchen and cook. Unlike her, I don’t mind being alone. It’s being around people that makes me nervous. Being around her…I can’t even think straight.
Every word she says throws me off kilter. She probably doesn’t know she has this effect on me. The feeling was there when we were kids, if only a small acknowledgement, but being near her now is a whole different story.
Opening the fridge, I pull out the meat to make chili before setting it on the counter. Thank goodness for my generator, or all the food would have spoiled. One of these days I’m going to look into a generator for the whole house.
Hopefully they aren’t picky. Chili is my comfort food when it’s cold, even if I did just have it with my sister. Besides, it’s not like I was planning on having company for dinner. If either of them object, I’m sure I can find something for them to eat.
Now, I only need the pot, a skillet, and the seasonings. I’m glad I paid attention when Mom was showing us how to make it. Nobody else in my family can do it the way she does.
“Are you okay?” Callie’s voice scares me and I drop the pot on my foot.
“Shit.” I don’t mean to yell it, but it hit my foot and I’m not wearing my work boots.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry.” Callie bends down to get the pot and places it on the counter. “Do you need me to get you anything? Hopefully it doesn’t bruise your foot or anything.”
