“Why?” Justin asked. “When I was checking on Gramps yesterday, he said Preacher and Mom were happy that you were going to be sticking around their place for a while.”
She gave him a deadpan look. “And you know what that’s like. I love our parents, but the last two times I came home after midnight, Dad was waiting up for me. He said he was just getting a drink, but the television was on both times, and he gave me the nothing good happens after midnight lecture.”
“Ouch. I remember that one,” Blaine said.
“It’s not a fun lecture,” Madigan said. “I’ve traveled across the country without anyone holding my hand. I don’t need to be babysat. I love that Mom wants to make family dinners and do my laundry and all the rest of the motherly things she hasn’t been able to do since I moved out, but I don’t want her touching my thongs.”
“And I don’t want to know you’re wearing thongs,” Justin said sharply.
Marly grinned and said, “Then you really don’t want to know what’s in her nightstand.”
“Enough. We’re not doing this. She’s our little sister,” Justin said as he scrubbed a hand down his face.
“Hello? I’m also an adult. Will you guys help me?” Madigan asked.
Blaine folded his arms across his chest and said, “You’re asking for a lot, princess.”
Madigan glowered at him.
“I told her she could stay with me, but she refused.” Marly sat in a chair and curled the ends of her dark hair around her finger.
“Because I’m afraid someone might come creeping out of your bedroom in the morning.” She hiked a thumb at Blaine and pretended to gag.
Marly looked at Blaine and said, “Would you please tell her that you’ve never spent the night at my place and that we’re just friends? She doesn’t believe me.”
“Who am I to debunk the myth? Are we going to eat, or should I drag Marly into the supply room for my next meal?” Blaine winked at Marly.
“Gross! We’re going.” Madigan grabbed Justin’s wrist, tugging him out of his office.
As they walked through the showroom, Justin said, “I might have a line on a place for you. I’ll let you know Sunday.”
“You’re a god,” Madigan exclaimed.
“I bet that’s what Chloe says,” Marly teased as she and Blaine fell into step with them.
“Nah, she usually says, ‘Is it in yet?’” Blaine cracked up as he put on his shirt.
Justin punched him in the arm. “Asshole.”
Marly took Blaine’s arm as they left the showroom and said, “A little bird told me that Maverick has been given quite a descriptive nickname for his junk. Maybe you’re jealous.”
Blaine scoffed. “Does an anaconda get jealous of a garden snake? I don’t think so. I heard Maverick bought a strap-on just so Chloe wouldn’t leave him.”
Justin lunged, and Blaine took off, laughing hysterically. “You’re about to hear your head crack open when I slam it against the pavement!”
Chapter Twenty-Five
CHLOE’S ARM SLID over cold sheets on Justin’s side of the bed Saturday morning. It was her birthday, and the bed might be empty, but her heart was full. Refusing to give in to the morning just yet, she kept her eyes closed and snuggled deeper under the blankets, thinking about last night. She and Justin had cuddled beneath a blanket on a lounge chair on the deck, stargazing and talking. Justin had asked her what her favorite thing about being twenty-nine was, and her answer had come as easily and honestly as the air she breathed. You, she’d said.
She rolled onto her back and opened her eyes. The ceiling was covered in balloons, their colorful strings dangling above her. One of the strings had a piece of paper hanging from it. She sat up and snagged the note, reading Justin’s handwritten message. Happy 29th, beautiful! Come find me! She squealed and hopped out of bed, taking in the streamers draped across the top of the curtains, the edges of the dressers, and the closet and bathroom doorframes. She plucked Justin’s shirt from the floor and pulled it on.
As she opened the bathroom door, balloons floated out and up to the ceiling, and another happy sound escaped her. She grabbed a few handfuls of ribbons, pulling the balloons out of the bathroom to make room for herself, and when she stepped inside, she saw Here’s to your best year yet! written in lipstick on the mirror. There was a gift on the counter. She tore open the pretty silver