Page 245 of Love in Riverbend
I look around at the new furniture and decorations. Even some of the layout is different. “I can’t believe all the work you two have done.”
Devan spins a complete circle. “Isn’t it great?”
“It really is.”
After I drop my coat on the sofa, Devan takes my hand. “Let me show you around.”
Before moving, I ask, “Where is Ricky? I saw his car.”
“Oh, that was supposed to be a surprise.”
I lift my eyebrows.
“You’re not leaving now?” she asks.
“I’m not. But don’t try to play matchmaker.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Help with the dinner and that was it. No strings.”
Devan’s gaze sparkles. “No one is talking strings. Just think how great it would be if you and Ricky worked things out. We could be sisters.”
“If you say sister wives, I’m driving away and never coming back.”
Devan laughs. “Jill said she’ll be over after the birthday party.” She motions for me to follow her, leading me upstairs. Opening the first door on the right at the top of the stairs, she says, “This is where you’ll sleep.” She points across the hallway. “That’s our room. And Ricky is staying in this room. The last one is still my office.”
As we pass by the room Devan labeled as Ricky’s, I see his backpack on the bed. It’s the same one he had at my apartment. To avoid more conversation about Ricky, I change the subject. “I’m a little surprised there’s not a nursery.”
Devan presses her lips together. “We’re talking about kids.”
“Has no one told you that’s not how you get them?”
“We’ve both been around Jill forever. I think she started telling us the birds and bees in third grade.”
“Oh, I hope it wasn’t that young. Middle school.”
We both laugh as the slam of the back door screen rattles the house.
“Some things never change,” I say.
“We kept the door for sentimental reasons, and my mom was right, it’s more effective than a security system.”
“Devan,” Justin’s voice booms from the first floor. “We’re back.”
“We?” I ask.
“Justin and Ricky,” Devan says with a grin.
Let the pretending begin.
I follow Devan as we take the back staircase, the one that leads to the kitchen. It’s nearly impossible not to make eye contact with Ricky, especially with how sexy he looks in his faded blue jeans and green thermal, one that hugs his arms and shoulders, showing off his muscles. Instead, I focus on the kitchen itself.
“Oh my God, this kitchen is to die for.”
What had once been a large room with country cabinets and Formica countertops is now modern. The wooden cabinets have been replaced by tall white ones above the counter and bright-blue ones below. The countertops are hard surface, and beneath the upper cabinets are LED lights, glowing a faint blue onto the white subway-tile backsplash. The appliances are all new, and now there’s a large island, containing the stovetop and a breakfast bar. A glass four-season room has been added to the back of the house, expanding the room for a kitchen table.
I spin around, stopping as I look at my best friend. “This kitchen is unbelievable. Jill said you’d done a lot, but wow. This looks like it belongs in a magazine.”
Devan hugs Justin’s arm. “It seems that Justin is a great carpenter too.”
“It’s always good to have something to fall back on,” I say with a smirk.
