so easy for me?” she demanded.
He wanted her, they both knew it. He should fight for her, give her a reason not to choose his rival. It made her mad that he wouldn’t, made her mad at both him and herself. Because really, he’d made the choice obvious. And she still hadn’t made it.
“I’ll finish cleaning up here,” he said. “I can get the carpet torn up tomorrow after work.”
“Thanks. And nice way to change the subject, by the way.”
“It needed changing,” he said as he picked up the plastic.
“You are such a chicken.”
The man was so frustrating. He’d fight off a sea serpent if her life was in danger, but handing over his heart was another matter entirely.
“We all have to be good at something,” he said, her petty name-calling bouncing off his armor.
She returned to the house, grinding her teeth.
At least the day ended well. Jenna and Aunt Edie were relaxing on the couch, Jenna reading the latest business book she’d found at the library and Aunt Edie knitting, Jolly Roger perched on her shoulder, when Sabrina came home from school all smiles.
She plopped in between them and announced, “Scotty Rarig invited me to the Spring Fling.”
“Is that like the Highland Fling?” Aunt Edie asked.
“It’s the last big dance before prom,” Sabrina explained. “Hudson told him that Tristan and I broke up. He told me he was sorry I got hurt but he was glad I wasn’t with Tristan anymore. He’s been wanting to ask me out all year.”
“Everything comes to he who waits,” said Aunt Edie.
“He who waits,” echoed Roger.
“He’s so cute, Mom,” Sabrina said, all wiggly with excitement. “He’s the student body president and he’s on the football team. And he’s a member of the honor society.”
“So, not just a pretty face,” Jenna said with a smile.
“He’s really nice. I’ve liked him for a long time. As a friend,” Sabrina quickly clarified.
“Friendship is a great basis for a relationship,” said Aunt Edie.
“As long as he’s a good guy, that’s all I care about,” Jenna said to her daughter. “Someone who thinks about others and not only himself.”
Someone who thought only of himself. Gee, who did that remind her of? Jenna had heard it said that when it came time to marry, boys wound up looking for their mother and girls their father. She certainly hoped that wasn’t true for Sabrina. One Damien in their lives was more than enough.
“He does,” Sabrina said. “He’s nice to everyone at school, even Loyola Burns, who nobody likes.”
“Why doesn’t anybody like her?” Aunt Edie wanted to know.
Sabrina shrugged. “She’s weird.”
“We’re all a little weird when it comes right down to it,” said Aunt Edie.
This was the first Jenna had heard of Loyola Burns. “I hope you’re nice to her.”
“Of course I am,” Sabrina said, shocked.
“Good, because everyone deserves kindness.”
Sabrina rolled her eyes. “I know that, Mom. Sheesh.” She hopped up from the couch. “I have to go text Hudson and Taylor.”
“It looks like our girl’s heart is healed,” Aunt Edie observed as Sabrina raced up the stairs.
“I’m glad,” Jenna said. “I thought it would take a lot longer.”
“The young heal fast.”
“I guess so.” Once you hit your forties, the healing process sure slowed down.
At least they were finally out of reality show mode. Hopefully, life would stay calm for a while.
Setting things to rights in room six was a good beginning. Jenna insisted on helping Seth pull up the carpet and he insisted on Pete helping him paint. Funny how Pete never gave Seth grief about doing things around the place.
Once the room was painted, Seth enlisted the help of a friend who worked as a carpet layer to help him put down the new carpet. Mysteriously, Jenna didn’t get a bill.
Which was fine with her. It was still their slow season and she was all about saving money wherever she could.
That didn’t mean she took a helping hand for granted. The day after room six was restored, she put together two thank-you baskets, one for Seth and one for his pal, of IPA brews and various bags of munchies, along with gift cards to The Drunken Sailor. Once she saw Seth’s truck in the parking lot she went to his room to deliver them.
“A thank-you to you and your friend for laying that carpet,” she said once he’d opened his door.
She’d caught him freshly cleaned up, his hair damp from the shower, barefoot in jeans and a T-shirt. Those pecs! Don’t drool. She forced herself not to stare, moving