While Tuck walks away, I scan the room again, my eyes landing on the spot in the lobby where I lay tangled with Etta not that long ago. As I do, a clean, breezy floral scent assaults my senses, reminding me of her. Realizing that some of her perfume must have gotten on my clothing, my eyes dart around the room while I do a quick sniff check. Don’t need the locals to think I’m smelling myself because I stink or smell funny.
Her scent is on my collar and my sleeve from where we had rolled to the floor together. It’s heady, hitting me like a rush, but it also makes me smile as I remember the heat of her body against mine when I helped her up.
Seeing my brother making his way back, I take another whiff of my collar, like taking a hit of something that’s not quite legal, even closing my eyes to savor the moment. It’s like my secret drug right now, and it makes my grin even wider.
This joyous aroma is everywhere…I am not mad about it at all.
FOUR
Etta
“Hold on,” Riley says, wiping a tear from her eye. “His face landed in your lap? We need to tell someone at The Magnolia Grill they should charge extra for that.”
Glaring at my supposed friend, I shove another container of food her way, sliding it across the kitchen counter like it’s a hockey puck gliding across ice. Riley stops the out-of-control container before it slides off the edge and slams onto the floor below.
“I’m glad you find it funny, because I’m not amused.” I wave my hands in the air around me. “I don’t have time to argue with Zac or have his head accidentally end up in my lap or think about much else right now; I have enough going on. Have you seen the state of me and this place?”
“Well, you did say you wanted a fixer-upper.” Riley shrugs her shoulders and points to the pile of sheets and plastic drop cloths in the corner. “And I see you’ve gotten some of your supplies finally. Which room is being painted first?”
“Living room and entryway this week.” I’d decided to start painting because it would keep me busy. Could I hire a company to do it for me? Of course. In fact, several of the local kids had already offered to do it, and for a good price, but there’s just something soothing in putting on a true crime podcast and being at home, painting your own house—at least, that’s what I keep telling myself.
“You need to take before and after pictures.” Following me, Riley takes a few plates of food into the living room, placing them on the coffee table. Caprese salad, hummus and tahini dips with grilled veggies, and two cobb salads. Perfect for our girls’ night. Almost.
“We need one more thing.” I slap my hands together and look at Riley. “Wine. Grab the glasses and I’ll pick out a bottle.”
Skipping down the hall, I go to grab a bottle of Malbec from my private stash, also known as my hall closet. I’d ordered a wine fridge a few weeks back, but it’s not due here for another few days. Until then, my hall closet has to do.
Getting down on my hands and knees, I pull out a box and inspect a few bottles when the doorbell chimes. Riley answers the door as I scramble to my feet and walk back to the front of the house, thinking Amelia’s joined us.
Instead, I find Riley holding a giant bouquet of flowers. Roses, lilies, tulips, lily of the valleys…you name it, I think the florist managed to stuff it in there. Taking the bouquet out of Riley’s hands, I head back to the kitchen with her in tow. As soon as I place it on the counter, she gets busy looking for a card.
“Hey, did you know the front door is wide open?” Amelia calls out from the other room. “You guys in here?”
“In the kitchen.” Riley’s hand suddenly shoots in the air. “Found it!”
She hands me the tiny envelope as Amelia sweeps in, her eyes bouncing back and forth from Riley to me. “Obviously I closed the door, since you two hooligans can’t. What is going on here?”
Riley grins. “Someone had flowers delivered.”
“I can’t remember the last time someone sent me flowers.” I finally get the envelope opened and pull out the card inside. My heart drops into my stomach as soon as I see the name. I toss the card onto the counter, far away from me like it’s a hot nuclear coal.
Amelia, her eyes on me, reaches out and takes the card, reading it out loud. “I wish it was different. Steve.”
“Your ex?” Riley asks, one eyebrow slowly beginning to arch. I’ll never figure out how she can do that and make it look so cool.
“The guy doesn’t give up, does he?” Amelia tosses the card back to the counter, almost as fast as I had, but not quite. “Is he trying to play nice to get his way?”
Nodding, I take the flowers and move them to a small room off the back of the kitchen, an old closet I’ve designated to be my laundry room eventually. I don’t want to look at the flowers, but I also don’t want to toss them away, so out of view for now will do.
“He sent me fruit baskets when I was staying with my brother and Maisey, and he tried to send them to my grandmother, too. She’s ornery, that one, and so she sent every package back.” Casting my mind back to a few months prior, I also remember the basket of dog biscuits, new leashes, and other canine accessories that made their way to me as well. “Steve even sent stuff for Thor and Hercules, but we gave it to the local SPCA.”
“Bribes. He’s showering you with bribes.” Amelia looks me up and down before grabbing my arm and pulling me into the living room. “Come on. It’s time for you to sit down and chill out.”
Riley pours us each a glass of wine, and we toast before sitting down. My overstuffed chair calls me tonight, and I answer willingly, leaning back into its soft and plush goodness and closing my eyes.
“Where are the dogs?” Amelia asks after taking her first sip.
“They’ll be home later.” I hold my glass of wine up and grin. “I asked the dogwalker to keep them a little longer tonight so we don’t have them begging for food while we eat.”
