“Oh?” I glanced at Abi who was peering into a pot of something while Nick explained something to her.
She, much like most people in my profession, could fit in anywhere.
“I assume she and Wren would stay at the cabin, and you would come to the house and stay with Emery?”
I frowned. “Uh—”
“That sounds about right,” Wren said firmly. “I love you, but I want a whole bed to myself. Besides, you have a man to cuddle.”
I almost objected, but Abi sent me a look that said “don’t be an idiot” and I acquiesced.
“Sure. Fine. Whatever. I’ll bring my stuff here later.”
“Good.” Wren stuck his tongue out at me, then went to hug Jenn again.
Nick set up the coffee and treats, and everyone descended. I took mine to the living room to get out of the way a little. I wanted to give Wren room to be with his family for a while.
Bodhi came in, glanced at me with a scowl on his face as usual, and then went into the kitchen.
Eventually, Abi joined me on the couch and looked a bit stunned.
“What?” I asked, pretty sure I knew what the expression was about.
“How can people be that wholesome?” she whispered.
Laughing, I patted her shoulder. “I don’t know. I stopped questioning it years ago.”
Later, we drove to the cabins and grabbed their bags from the back.
Russ was sitting on his porch, and Wren handed his guitar case to me, then jogged to greet the man. Abi grinned and shook her head. Yeah, that interaction was oddly wholesome, too.
“The couch is pretty comfortable,” I told her as I opened the door to the cabin.
Somehow, extra blankets, pillows, and linens had materialized on the couch. I needed to give Jenn an extra hug. I didn’t care who she’d sent to make sure Abi had them, but I knew it had been her.
I left the guitar case in the living room, then went to the bedroom to drop off Wren’s bag and to grab my stuff.
It blew my mind a little that I was moving in with Emery, even if temporarily and not in any serious way. The easy acceptancefrom Jenn, the assumption that I would go to the house, also warmed my chest.
She and Mike had become pseudo-parents, as much as I felt comfortable admitting that to myself. Like all the lost souls the ranch seemed to gather, I, too, was grateful and somewhat befuddled about the Harrington Effect.
Snorting softly, I gathered my toiletry kit. I needed to tell Emery about the Harrington Effect. I was pretty sure all the spouses would agree with me that such a thing existed.
I put my bag by the door, and hung out with Abi for a while until I heard Wren talking with someone outside.
As I went to investigate, I saw Emery chatting with Wren animatedly.
I leaned on the doorframe, just watching them for a while. Then Emery realized I was there, andbeamedat me.
“Oh, that’s disgusting,” Wren teased as he looked between us.
I gave him the finger and went to meet Emery halfway. I kissed him softly.
“So, I hear I get a roommate?” he asked, waggling his eyebrows.
“Your mother bullied me into it, yes.” I leaned closer and said, “If you think I won’t want to fool around in your childhood bedroom, you’re wrong. I just have to come up with creative ways to keep you quiet.”
The sound he made and the blush on his cheeks made Wren let out retching sounds.
