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Simon ducked his head. “Thanks.”
Rory patted Simon’s wrist. “I hope you find the one you’re looking for.”
Simon smirked. “Which one?” He shoved the chair back and picked up his and Shane’s plates to take to the kitchen.
Just as he returned, Levi came in through the front door. “Where’s Simon? Oh, there you are. A bunch of people are here ready to donate blood. And we have bags so you can take some with you.”
We all said goodbye to Simon and Levi so they could go off to deal with that. Then Shane helped Clementine clean up the dishes while Rory put our bags in the car. Manny and I were allowed to go to the front porch and watch Pia ride on Ms. Jackson’s back as they trotted around in their donkey form. It looked hella uncomfortable to me, but I wasn’t a teenager anymore.
I was looking forward to getting into the car, because I really needed another nap.
I turned to Manny. “Are you tired from being injured yesterday?”
He made a so-so gesture. “Not as much as I expected to be. Those sparkles must be the shit, right?” He grinned, but then dropped his smile. “But my head is pretty fucked up. I thought I was dead. I mean, I could tell I was on the way out. It’s freaky, you know?”
I knocked my shoulder into his. “I know. Trust me, I know.”
Finally everyone was ready to go. We thanked Clementine for her hospitality, and she hugged us goodbye. Pia and Ms. Jackson got in the third row of seats along with Pia’s potted plants, and Manny and I commandeered the more comfortable seats in the second row. I had mine reclined as far back as it would go before we were off the dryads’ property.
I yawned. “Wake me when we get there. I can’t wait to be home.”
I jerked awake when the car doors opened. Blinking, I looked around as I levered my seat upright. “What are we doinghere?” Shit, they weren’t planning on leaving me here, were they?
Shane pulled my door open. “What do you mean? You said you wanted to go home. This is the address you gave me a while back. Did you move or something?”
“I—I meant your home. I mean, I was hoping we’d live there.” I eyed my zero-personality, cookie-cutter suburban home. “I guess I should’ve talked to you about it.”
Shane seemed at a loss for words.
But Manny wasn’t. “Great! We can pick up a bunch of your stuff to take back with us, then we can get on the road and be home in Houston tonight!” Pia cheered as he exited the car and tilted his seat forward for her to get out.
Shane extended a hand to help me out of the car. When I was on my feet, he kissed my cheek before tilting the seat for Ms. Jackson. “Sounds like a great plan to me.”
“Yeah?”
“Um, Ellis?” Rory put his hand on my back. “Ms. Jackson seems to be letting your neighbor see them.” He pointed toward the house next door. I squinted at the fuzzy figure of Gerald Rathbone, the biggest pain in my ass, who seemed to be tracking Ms. Jackson as they sauntered toward the front door.
“Oh, fuck. He’s going to call the HOA. Or Animal Control.”
Shane chuckled. “Ms. Jackson can handle it. Let’s get inside and get your packing started. Pia could probably use a snack if you’ve got anything.”
“You know what? You’re right. Fuck him. I’ll be moving out anyway.” I waved cheerfully at Gerald as I walked to the house. Ms. Jackson had opened the front door, but I couldn’t bring myself to care about how.
Selling the place would certainly help my finances now that I was unemployed. The severance check would only go so far.
Rory and Manny went to forage in the kitchen while Shane, Pia, and Ms. Jackson explored the back deck. I headed for the bedroom to get my spare pair of glasses.
Once I could see again—and that alone improved my mood a hundred percent—I dug a couple of suitcases and some duffel bags out of the closet in the office-slash-guest bedroom. I took those into my room and tossed them onto the bed.
The first thing I did was take my Yo-Yo collection off the shelf over my dresser and carefully wrap each one in a t-shirt and place them in a duffel. I only owned nine, but the Hornet and the Metal Drifter with the skull counterweight were my favorites. Hopefully Shane and Rory wouldn’t think my hobby was too dorky.
After making sure Pia was still outside, I opened my nightstand and dumped my sex toys, lube, and condoms into the same duffel before zipping it up.
After that I shoved clothes into the suitcases without taking them off the hangers. I’d worry about wrinkles when I got to Shane’s house. Our house.
I smiled.
Shane wandered in. “Those bougainvilleas you planted a few weeks ago look great.” He opened a drawer and started rummaging through my shorts and t-shirts.
