“Will you list my name in the credits?”
“Absolutely.”
“Cool. I’d have helped without it, but it’s nice to be acknowledged.”
Zane moved the armchair from the corner to beside his desk chair. For a while they brainstormed characters and challenges. At one point the ideas flowed so fast, McKenna elbowed him from the keyboard for typing too slow and she took over.
The longer they worked, the more he admired McKenna’s intelligence and creativity. She cared about solving the issues as much, maybe more than he did. Finally, unable to ignore his desire and unable to hide it from McKenna if she glanced his way, he said, “Enough work. It’s Sunday. I say we go back to bed.”
“I’m not tired. I’m too excited.”
He cupped her hands in her face and kissed her long and hard. “I didn’t say we’d sleep.”
*
As McKenna drovehome from the Lucky Stars, she couldn’t keep from smiling. Not only had she experienced the most mind-blowing lovemaking of her life, she’d brainstormed ideas for the sequel to her favorite video game.
No one could say life was passing her by now, and she didn’t regret a moment of the last day. Maybe she could have a personal life and work goals. Other women juggled both. Why couldn’t she?
While she had no misgivings, her feelings for Zane weren’t as easy to sort out. But what if she didn’t try? What if she simply enjoyed his company, didn’t overthink, and focused on one day? If she stuck to that rule for the next few weeks, she’d be fine.
When she turned on her street, she spotted a car parked in front of her house. A few houses away, she groaned recognizing her sister’s dented, rusty Corolla. Bracing herself for whatever drama Erin would dump on her doorstep this time, McKenna parked in her driveway and greeted her sister.
“McKenna. Finally. I got here last night, but there wasn’t a key under a plant like usual. I had to sleep in my car,” Erin said when she stood on the sidewalk beside McKenna.
Excuse me for having a life and not being here. I notice you weren’t worried where I was, only ticked you couldn’t get into my house.
“Hello to you, too.” Her voice tight and tinged with frustration and sarcasm, McKenna inhaled deeply, held her breath for a couple counts before exhaling. “Why didn’t you call me?”
“My phone broke, and I haven’t replaced it.”
Meaning Erin lacked money.
“You look like you slept in your dress.”
I didn’t. I slept naked in Zane’s arms. That is those few minutes we slept.
Erin’s comments bristled, because she didn’t owe her baby sister an explanation. How weird was this role reversal? McKenna suppressed her giggle. She usually was the interrogator. Was this how Erin felt when McKenna asked about her finances or her current boyfriend?
Despite not being accountable to Erin, McKenna said, “I worked a late wedding reception. Rather than drive back to town, I stayed in the Lucky Stars’ guest house.”
That was true. In fact, she’d done so before when she’d been too tired to drive home. As to the rest, it was none of Erin’s business.
“I need your help,” Erin said.
“Are you okay? What’s wrong?”
“Can we go inside?”
McKenna nodded. “Don’t worry. Whatever it is, we’ll sort it out.”
When Erin reached in the back seat and pulled out two large suitcases, McKenna swallowed another groan. Weekend bags meant a short visit. Two good-sized suitcases meant a long stay.
McKenna grabbed one and led the way to the front door. Once inside her living room, she dumped the suitcase and froze, unable to think. Why did Erin have to arrive when she finally had a life?
“The seas may be rough, but I am the captain!” Captain Jack Parrot blurted out.
Erin flopped onto the couch. “I can’t believe you still have that bird. Doesn’t his jabbering drive you crazy?”
