The bed moans as I stand. My shoes sink into the thick shag carpet as I plod my way over to the window.
A barn sits a few hundred yards back. A couple of horses stand in the field surrounding it, the breeze blowing their manes like something in a kids’ movie.
“Where are you staying?” Jake asks.
“Got a room at an inn, believe it or not. I’m looking at a horse right now.”
“Sounds terrible.”
“Nah, it’s not.” I scratch my head. “Weirdly.”
“I’m reading that pause to mean the real reason it’s not terrible is pussy related,” Jake says. “You already got one lined up, don’t you?”
“No,” I say quickly. “Nothing like that.”
“You sure?”
My thumb brushes against my lip as I try not to laugh at myself. No, I’m not sure. But I’m not not sure either. All I know is staying here doesn’t sound as bad as it might have this morning.
Maybe it’s because I’m relieved not to have to deal with Liz. It’s possible I don’t want to go back and sit in an empty house. I really don’t want to have dinner with Dad and Meredith and listen to her go on and on about her dogs and interior design. Any way you cut it, being here and staying busy for a few days seems preferable.
The chance of running into Haley again doesn’t sound too bad either.
“You’re totally not sure,” Jake says.
I turn away from the window. “You know what? Fuck off.”
Jake laughs. He knows me well enough to leave this alone.
“I kind of like it here,” I say.
“No. Nope. You are not joining the dark side with Meredith. I refuse to let that happen.”
I laugh. “I just mean it’s not terrible. You might even like it.”
“No. It’s Meredith’s place. I hate it on principle.”
“Speaking of Meredith,” I say. “You should’ve seen Dane’s reaction to the poodle spa.”
“It probably looked similar to mine when I heard about it. And we are not putting that in our portfolio.” Jake groans. “It’s almost embarrassing.”
“Almost? Try again.” I yawn, my arms stretching high over my head. “I need to go. I’m starving.” A grin slips across my face as I think of Haley and her warning to get my stuff before ten.
“Tell her I said hi,” Jake says.
“Who?”
“Whoever you’re thinking about.”
“You’re outta your mind,” I say with a laugh.
“I’m gonna be if I don’t get out of this office soon.” He blows out a hefty breath. “What does sunshine look like? I don’t remember.”
I lug my bag onto the bed and rummage through it. “Take a day off tomorrow and come up here. Get some sunshine, fresh air, check out the house.”
“I have no interest in seeing Dad’s love nest. Thanks.”
“We’re getting paid for it.”
“Like we’re charging him what we’d charge someone else. We’re just covering costs and a little overhead.”
A paperback I’ve been reading for a couple of weeks is buried at the bottom of my bag. I retrieve it and toss it on the bed. “That’s your fault. I thought it was fine to charge him full price.”
“Yeah, well, I’m trying to be the change I want to see in the world.”
I chuckle. “And what change is that?”
“A world where everyone isn’t ready to fuck you over.”
Mom’s face floats through my brain, and by the way Jake grumbles under his breath, I bet he’s thinking of her too. Shaking it off, I redirect our conversation.
“If you change your mind about coming down here, let me know,” I say.
“Nah, I’m good. I have enough messes here to keep me busy. The meeting this afternoon went better than expected, but I still have to rework an entire schedule.”
“Suit yourself. I gotta go before the town shuts down.” I get to my feet. “I’ll send you some pictures of the Love Nest tomorrow.”
“No. Don’t. I don’t need or want that visual.”
I grab my keys and wallet off the nightstand and stick them in my pocket. Heading out the door, I switch off the light. “Talk to you later, Jake.”
“Bye.”
The door to my room shuts behind me.
CHAPTER SEVEN
TREVOR
My headlights shine on a hand-painted sign spelling out the words GRABER’S GROCERY in bright-red letters. It’s the only thing open in town besides a gas station and a place called Mucker’s. The latter is the size of a shoebox and looks packed.
I kill the engine and step onto the asphalt. The air hints at winter’s rapid approach. I shove my hands into my pockets, letting a shiver roll down my spine as I