Page 29 of Lovewell Lane

When both of my command strips were up, I reached for the painting to place it. I took a few steps back to get a good look. It wasn’t crooked, or too high or low. It was perfect. Mine.

I turned to pick up the trash from the command strips when I felt eyes on me. Through my window, I found Derek looking at me. The next step for my new home was to buy blinds. He looked like he was judging me, no surprise there. Derek squinted and didn’t look away until he looked down at his hands.

Seconds later, I heard my phone ringing. I found it and answered while staring at him through the window. “Hello.”

“What the hell are you doing?” he growled. Someone was up past his bedtime.

“Putting up a painting. Don’t worry, I used command strips. No damage.”

“Why are you wearing a puffer coat and ski pants?”

I looked down as if I was just as shocked as he was at my choice in outfit. “It’s a new fashion trend.”

His eyes narrowed. I must have confirmed his suspicions. “Come here.”

“I’m okay, I’m busy.”

“Margo. Come in here.”

I sighed as loud as I possibly could into the phone before hanging up. I didn’t even bother peeling back any of my layers.

Inside, he stared at me with his arms crossed. “I’ll go check the heater, you stay here. Come get me if Tessa wakes up, she watched the Nightmare Before Christmas with Sam, and it gives her nightmares.”

“You got it, boss.”

10

Derek

“Heater’s broken.”

“Thought so,” Margo said. She had a smug look on her face, so she must have tried fixing it herself already. She lowered her head and started walking toward the back door. I put my hand on her elbow to stop her.

“You can’t sleep out there, it’s freezing.”

She pouted at me. I wished she would stop that. “I’ve prepared accordingly. These pants are insulated. And I have body heat.”

“You paid to stay in that guest house, right?” I asked. She nodded and cocked her head. “Then by law, I have to give you proper accommodations. Freezing cold temperatures could kill you.”

She tapped her sock-clad foot impatiently. “The couch would be fine. Just for tonight. I can replace the heater in the morning.”

“I’llbe replacing the heater in the morning, and you take my bed. I’ll take the couch.”

“Hold on, you don’t have a guest bed? I was suggesting the couch to be polite,” Margo scoffed. “This house is giant, you must have at least four bedrooms.”

“Slick wanted to stay in the guest bed this week for his ‘last hoorah’ before sleeping in an RV for four months.” I walked to the closet to start pulling out extra bedding. “Tess is in her room.One room is used for storage, the other is my office, which leaves my room.”

“Huh.”

“I’ll change the sheets on my bed, so you know it’s clean.”

“Wait.” Margo put her hand on my elbow. Just like I did to her minutes earlier, except this time, my heart nearly stopped. “What if we just shared it?”

She was definitely messing with me. “What?”

“I don’t want you to have to sleep on the couch, and from previous… scenarios, I’ve learned you’re pretty stubborn.” Margo shrugged. “We’re both adults. I’m sure we can share a bed without it being weird.”

I stood, frozen. “Or I can just take the couch, I’ve already bothered you enough and–”

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