Page 92 of The Beach Shack Summer
Even if it involved unburned pancakes and stolen cookware.
Tyler pulled into his driveway as the morning light caught the windows of the house three doors down. Tonight, those windows would glow with Meg’s presence, bringing life back to rooms that had been dark too long.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Meg stood in Tyler’s guest room, holding her two suitcases and trying to look dignified about moving three doors down.
“That’s it?” Tyler asked from the doorway. “Two suitcases?”
“I travel light.” She grabbed her laptop bag. “Oh, and I need to get my toothbrush.”
“Right. Toothbrush.”
She walked to the bathroom, emerged with her toothbrush and travel toiletry bag. “And that coffee mug I’ve been using.”
“The blue one?”
“It’s mine now.”
“That’s my favorite mug.”
“Was. Was your favorite mug.” She headed to the kitchen, Tyler trailing behind.
Stella sat at the counter, watching this unfold with poorly concealed amusement. “Big moving day?”
“Don’t start.” Meg grabbed the mug, then paused. “Oh, and that throw pillow.”
“Which throw pillow?” Tyler asked.
“The one I’ve been using for back support.” She darted to the living room, returning with a small decorative pillow. “And your stapler.”
“My stapler?”
“It’s a really good stapler.”
“Meg—”
“And this pen.” She plucked a pen from the counter. “It’s the perfect weight.”
“You’re robbing me,” Tyler said. “In slow motion. In front of witnesses.”
“Stella, you saw nothing,” Meg said.
“I saw everything,” Stella corrected. “This is hilarious.”
Luke arrived to find Meg surrounded by suitcases and random household items. “Need help with the truck?”
“No truck,” Tyler said flatly. “Apparently we’re walking her suitcases three houses down like the world’s saddest parade.”
“It’s not sad,” Meg protested. “It’s... efficient.”
“Efficiently sad,” Stella suggested.
They formed a ridiculous processional—Meg with a suitcase and the stolen pillow, Tyler carrying the other suitcase while jealously guarding his remaining office supplies, Luke with the laptop bag and a box of work papers Meg had accumulated, and Stella documenting the whole thing on her phone.
“This is definitely going in the family history,” Stella announced. “The Great Three-Door Migration.”
“Still ridiculous,” Tyler muttered.
