Page 107 of Wayward
She nods but stares at the floor, and I can’t help myself. I pull her onto my lap. “We’ll make it work.”
“You think Sam’s going to move inland?”
“For seven months? I think Sam would do anything for you. And we won’t know until we ask him.” There’s a flutter in my stomach. I want to tell her now. But Sam and I agreed we’d talk about it with everyone at the same time.
She nods again.
And I take my thumb and tip her chin up to me. Her blue eyes twinkle in the setting sunlight.
“I’m leaving now. I see nothing,” Maya yells from the entrance to the room.
I crane my neck to see her. I’m not lying when I say I’m a little scared of the five-foot-nothing fifty-year-old. Four-star generals have nothing on the Rockwell house manager.
“Goodnight, Maya,” Haley says.
“Goodnight. I will see you tomorrow.” Maya pivots on her flats.
“No, you won’t. You’re taking five days off.” Emily slings her arm through the crook of Maya’s elbow. “Now, let me give you a lift home on the way to the airport. Bye, guys.” Emily waves.
“Bye,” Maya says. “He isn’t going to use my kitchen.”
“He’ll clean up after . . .” Emily’s voice trails off, and the front door slams shut.
“We’re alone.” I run my hand down her back. My mouth is hovering over hers when a door slams.
“Was that my sister in the car, driving away from the house?” Easton comes down the hallway from the garage.
Haley gives me a light kiss before she leans back. “Yes, she’s off to New York,” Haley projects into the hall.
Easton rounds the corner. “Hey guys.” He gazes out onto the lanai. “Maya’s gone?”
“Yes,” Haley says.
“Thank fuck.” Easton drops down on the other side of Haley, his hand on her leg. He leans over and kisses the nape of her neck. “I’m not wrong in thinking we’re alone?”
“No, you’re not wrong.” Haley turns in my arms and kisses Easton. “I’m glad you’re back.”
“Me too. I fucking hate lawyers.” Easton pulls off his suit coat and tosses it on the arm of the sofa. “Almost as much as I hate these straitjackets. It’s ninety degrees out there.” He undoes his tie and throws it at his coat, but it misses and tumbles to the floor.
“World-class athlete.” I laugh.
“Swimmer,” he shoots back.
Haley relaxes back, her head on my chest.
“I shouldn’t have to put one of those on again for a while. My will is completely updated and in a private trust like I should have had it all along.”
“That’s good. Another step toward getting Susan out of our lives.” Until the trial. When they find her. I pull Haley closer to my side.
There’s another slam from the foyer. “Honey, we’re home,” Dante yells. “I’ve got enough groceries for the weekend, and I’ve brought pizza for tonight. Both gluten-free and gluten-full.” Dante pokes his head around the corner, a tall stack of boxes in his hand. “I got Emily’s text. Is the kitchen Czar gone?”
Haley tries to jump up to go help Dante, but I wrap my arms around her waist and hold her on the sofa. Easton’s on the same train of thought as I am. “You’d be the same way if it was your kitchen.”
“That’s different, Sassy,” Dante yells on his way to the kitchen.
Easton stands. “Stay there. I’ll be right back.”
Zane and Sam pass by the living room. “Don’t worry, Viking, we’ve got the mountain of food from the car.”
