Page 10 of Things We Hide from the Light
“Waylay!” Naomi chastised. “Lina works in insurance. That’s probably confidential information.”
She had no idea.
I snagged the lid and put it back on the box.
The thudding next door continued. “Nash? You in there?”
It looked as though I wasn’t the only one hiding out from family.
“Come on, Way. Let’s go before Knox levels the building,” Naomi said, holding her arm out for her niece. Waylay slid into her aunt’s side, accepting the offered affection.
“Thank you for the plant…and the bed…and the place to stay,” I said.
“I’m so happy to have you here for a while longer,” Naomi said as we trooped to the door.
That made one of us.
Knox was standing in front of Nash’s door, digging through the keys on his ring.
“I don’t think he’s home,” I said quickly. Whatever was going on with Nash, I doubted he’d want his brother bursting into his apartment.
Knox’s gaze came up. “I heard he left work and came here.”
“Technically, we heard he left work and went to PT, but Neecey from Dino’s spotted him out front,” Naomi said.
Small-town gossip traveled faster than lightning. “He probably came and went. I made a hell of a racket lugging my stuff up here and didn’t see him.”
Knox pocketed his keys. “You see him, tell him I’m looking for him.”
“Me too,” Naomi added. “I tried calling him to invite him to Sunday dinner, but it went straight to voicemail.”
“Might as well tell him I’m lookin’ for him too,” Waylay piped up.
“Why are you lookin’ for him?” Knox demanded.
Waylay shrugged in her pink sweater. “Dunno. Just felt left out.”
Knox pulled her in for a headlock and ruffled her hair.
“Ugh! This is why I have to use industrial hairspray!” Waylay complained, but I saw the upward curve of her mouth when my grumpy tattooed friend dropped a kiss to the top of her head.
Between Naomi and Waylay, they’d done the impossible and turned Knox Morgan into a softie. And I had a front-row seat to the show.
“Bed’s comin’ at 3:00 today. Dinner’s at 6:00 Sunday,” Knox said gruffly.
“But you can come early. Especially if you’re bringing wine,” Naomi said with a wink.
“And Yellow Lightning,” Waylay added.
“I’ll see you then.”
The three of them headed for the stairs, Knox in the middle with his arms around his girls.
“Thanks for letting me crash here,” I called after them.
Knox raised a hand in acknowledgment.
I watched them leave and then closed my door. The glossy green of the plant drew my eye. A solitary homey item on an otherwise blank slate.
