Unraveling (Second Chances) - By Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,63

be great. See ya later, baby cakes,” Rollo cackled before disconnecting.

I turned to find Jared studying me.

“What?” I asked, looking down, assuming there was something wrong with me.

“Nothing,” he said. “I just can’t believe you’re standing here, in my room.”

I blushed. “I’m here,” I said.

A grin spread across his face, making his eyes crinkle at the corners. “Yes, you are. A man could get used to this.”

My face colored even more.

He chuckled and ran a hand through his messy brown hair. It had grown longer since I’d met him.

“I better go wake up Karlie so that she doesn’t miss the bus,” he headed for the door. “Feel free to use the shower. Just don’t forget to cover your cast,” he pointed at me before disappearing.

A shower sounded nice, but taking one in Jared’s shower would be scary. I mean, I’d be naked… in his house.

I put my head in my hands. I was absolutely ridiculous. I’d taken a shower at my house, with him only a few feet away in the living room. It was the same difference.

I shook my head and grabbed a pair of jeans and a loose purple sweater. The late September weather was too nippy to be going around in a t-shirt. Plus, I’d promised Piper that I’d lay off on the tees.

I scampered into the bathroom, dropping my clothes onto the vanity. I could hear the low hum of Jared and Karlie’s voices coming from the kitchen and occasionally the pop and sizzle of bacon.

I locked the door and then opened the vanity cabinet. Jackpot. I pulled out a clean gray towel, very masculine, and threw it over the glass shower door. Despite the bathroom’s small size, it was nicely done. Gray tile floor, white walls, a black cabinet vanity with a white countertop and vessel sink. Tucked behind a door was the toilet.

I turned the shower on and waited for it to get warm.

I was about to strip when I realized I had forgotten the plastic covering for my cast. Dang.

I went back to the bedroom and found the box. I pulled one out and managed to get it on.

I’d forgotten my toiletries so I grabbed those and headed back to the bathroom, praying that the water was still warm.

I stuck my fingers in and… Yes! Thank you, Jesus! Warm water!

I didn’t take long in the shower. I towel dried my hair, letting it hang down in its loose, natural, waves. I dabbed on mascara and swiped on a streak of violet eyeliner.

I packed up my toiletry bag and grabbed my pajamas. I padded back into Jared’s room and dropped the items in my suitcase before going downstairs.

Downstairs, I found Karlie sitting at the breakfast table eating a piece of bacon while Jared made scrambled eggs.

She patted the empty space to her left.

I settled on the cushioned, built in bench and rested my elbows on the round wooden table.

“Want some?” Karlie pointed to a full plate of bacon. “You better get some before Jared sits down or it will all be gone.”

Jared chuckled and separated the eggs onto three plates. “That’s not true, Karls.”

“Oh, it is,” she crunched another slice.

“You better hurry,” she slid the plate closer to me.

To get her to be quiet, I took a slice. It did smell good. I took a bite and found that it was crispy, my favorite way to eat bacon.

“Yummy,” I said.

“Jared’s a great cook,” Karlie said.

Jared slid a plate in front of her and then me. I half expected him to be wearing an apron, but he wasn’t.

He came back with glasses of orange juice. “I don’t know about great, Karls,” he said.

“He can make anything,” Karlie informed me, devouring another piece of bacon.

Jared smacked her hand. “Save some for me and Katy.”

“Sorry,” she giggled and dropped the bacon onto her plate.

Jared sat his plate and orange juice down on the table and then grabbed a basket of biscuits.

“They’re not homemade but they’re good,” he pointed to them.

I grabbed one, ripping it in half.

“Want some butter?” Karlie asked me.

“Do you have honey?” I asked.

“Yeah,” Jared jumped up.

“I can get it,” I said, but Jared was already sitting down, handing me the bear shaped bottle.

I squirted some honey onto the biscuit and took a bite. “Mmmm, delicious,” I moaned.

“Told ya,” Karlie grinned. “I can’t cook to save myself.”

Jared laughed. “She burns everything.”

I added some honey to my eggs as well and took a bite of those. Sparks of flavor burst across my tongue. “What’s in these?