“Yeah. I don’t know if I told you, but I kinda met someone…”
I roll my lips, feeling giddy.
“Well, she must be a catch. You’re a Hollywood movie star, after all,” I say playfully, but he’s taken on a more serious look in his eyes.
“She’s fucking amazing. And I’m completely smitten.”
I swallow, feeling truly happy for the first time in a really long time.
“I think she’s totally smitten as well.” His smile he shines down on me has butterflies going wild in my belly.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. She’s a goner…” I laugh lightly at the giddiness on his face, then snort, and Sutton laughs right along with me. Dropping his head, his lips touch mine briefly before we reluctantly get up, shower, and start the day.
I look around, seeing it quiet.
“You shouldn’t be here,” I whisper to Sutton, his hat pulled down low as we walk through the library.
“Why not?”
“Because someone will recognize you. This isn’t Delish; Rochelle isn’t here to save you.”
“Yeah, but you will. Besides, no one’s looking for me here, surrounded by books on gardening and nature…” He picks up a book, one on beekeeping, and flicks through the pages. Odd, considering he’s allergic. I look at the few in my hands that I picked up to try to learn more about grafting apple trees and pollination, still wondering where I can get some wildflower seeds.
“Okay, all done.” James heads back over to us, his library books now all returned.
“Wow, did you know you can get stingless bees?” Sutton glances up from his book, wide-eyed, and I smile at his clear surprise.
“Where are they found?” I ask, having not heard of them before, and he lowers his head to continue reading.
“Australia, Asia… Not here.” He sounds a little miffed at that, before putting the book on a small new pile James has collected, obviously wanting to bring it home.
“I’m just going to look at the noticeboard real quick.” I stride over to the board to start my weekly examination. James comes to my side, looking carefully as Sutton approaches my other side.
“What are you looking for?” Sutton asks.
“Anything and everything. I need some parts for the turbine… I also want to find some wildflower seeds to plant around the apple tree. This board has been my lifesaver since we arrived. It’s where I found the cottage, my job, and the bikes.” My eyes narrow in on one notice. “Bingo.”
“What is it?” James looks over my shoulder to see the piece of paper I grabbed.
“Peter, the local taxi driver, is having a garage sale, and if anyone would have a spare battery, surely he will.” I feel confident. If he doesn’t have what I’m looking for, I’m sure he’ll have some other things I’d find useful.
“Yes! Look.” My brother points, and I look back at the board.
I give my brother a deadpan expression. “We’re not getting a cat, James.”
He huffs. “Why not? I always wanted one.”
“Because we don’t have the time or money for one.”
“Sutton, tell her we can get a cat,” James says to Sutton, who looks at him seriously before he looks at me.
“She’s the boss,” is all he says, and my brother sulks before wandering off to look at more books.
Sutton watches him before he leans into me, his lips against my ear as he whispers, “I only like one pussy anyway, and it isn’t for fucking sale.”
Goosebumps line my skin, even as I chuckle. “We need to go!” I say quickly before I combust right there in the library.
