Work In Progress (Red Lipstick Coalition #3) - Staci Hart Page 0,21

carried us into our adult lives.

Deep down, I’d always known our time together was temporary. Because life was fluid, ever changing, never the same for long. It was a string of seasons, good times and bad, happy and sad, one after the other.

But above that deep-down knowledge was the naive hope that we’d somehow stay together forever.

It’d be so much easier than what I was facing now, which was loneliness. Katherine was next to find love, I was sure. And where would that leave me? Alone in my parents’ brownstone with nothing and no one to truly call my own.

Claudius nipped at my finger, and I yelped in surprise.

“Except you. You’re the only man I need in my life,” I assured him.

He purred, ignoring my lie.

We walked into the kitchen, and I set him down next to his food dish. The kitchen was beautiful, one of my favorite rooms in the house, stocked with all the amenities any of us could want. Particularly me, given my propensity for baking.

I smiled. Baking. That would make me feel better.

I began to gather ingredients, grateful I’d gotten fresh blueberries with my last order. Lemon-blueberry muffins would set the world—and my mood—to rights.

My parents had purchased the house as an investment, gutted it, and offered it to me and my friends to live in. The library was extensive, our rooms bright and open, all the details of the old Victorian kept intact, just spruced up. The tall windows. The thick molding. The exposed brick.

I loved this place. But it was far too big for me alone, no matter how many cats I decided to adopt. And someday, I’d have to leave.

Discontent settled in my stomach.

I wondered where I’d go, what I’d do. Home to South Dakota wasn’t an option even though I missed my parents. New York was my home far more than my actual home.

No, I couldn’t leave the city. Maybe I’d just downsize. Dad would try to insist I stay. But standing there in the kitchen in the big, empty house, I knew I couldn’t. My loneliness echoed in all the empty rooms.

I sighed and reached for a lemon to zest, reprimanding myself for being such a baby and reminding myself that I’d already shifted in the direction of my ambitions. Someday, I’d be sitting in an office, telling an author I wanted their story. Someday, I’d be brave and bold, just like Rin had been when she started working at the museum or like Val when she’d decided to ask Sam out. We all had something we wanted, something we wanted to change. And now, it was my turn.

That would take all my energy anyway. I’d be fine alone, too busy to care.

I patted myself on the back, feeling great. I could so be alone. I didn’t need anyone.

A key slipped into the front door, and when it opened, Katherine strode in, weighted down with bags.

“Oh, thank God,” I breathed, dropping everything in my hands carelessly on the countertop. I hurried around the island, wiping my hands on my apron and rushing Katherine.

Her eyes widened when I flung myself at her, hugging her with all my strength, her arms pinned to her sides. She stiffened in surprise.

“I’m so glad you’re home.” It was almost a whine.

“You don’t say.”

I let her go, beaming. “How was your day?” I asked as I took one of her bags. It was heavier than I’d expected, and I lurched so I didn’t fall over. “God, what’s in here, dumbbells?”

“Books. I’m putting together a class at the library and needed to source some material.”

I oofed as I lugged the bag to the couch. “Some material, not all the material.”

She set the other bag next to the one I’d taken, glancing into the kitchen. “What are you cooking?”

“Muffins. Wanna help?”

“Not really. But I’ll sit with you, as it seems you have something you want to talk about.”

My face softened, eyes watery and wide. “Would you?” The question was a sad little quiver.

The corners of her lips flicked in her version of a comforting smile. “Sure. Now, tell me what happened.”

My shoulders slumped as I dragged myself back into the kitchen. She sat across from me as I picked up the lemon again.

“Do you…do you ever wonder what will happen to us? I mean, once Rin and Val move out.”

She frowned. “I just assumed we’d keep living here. Together. Is that not the case?”

“No, of course it is,” I assured her. “I just mean…well, you’ll find someone too, I’m