Page 13 of The One Who Saw Her: Boone

SATURDAY, 6:47 AM

Colter: So there's a city girl in the kitchen making espresso like she pays rent here

Boone: She does pay rent. That's the problem. Ten grand for thirty days.

Eli: TEN GRAND

Colter: For the bunkhouse? The one with the family of raccoons living in the walls?

Boone: She stayed in the main house. In my room

Eli: In your room. The one I walked into half-naked and got accused of being HER man

Colter: I got accused too. We were both accused. It was a whole thing.

Boone: I wasn't there for that part

Eli: You missed Nan announcing herself like she owns the place, which she does, and then Vivi blurting out "we slept together but our clothes were on" to the entire kitchen

Colter: Unprompted. Nobody asked. She just said it.

Boone: Jesus Christ

Eli: Then Nan decided Vivi's staying in your room and you're getting exiled to the barn loft

Boone: I was there for that part. I agreed to it. Under duress

Colter: Under duress meaning you stared at her for four straight seconds before saying "fine"

Boone: I did not stare

Eli: Nan clocked it too. She told Vivi "isn't he adorable when he's annoyed, he gets that from my Marvis"

Boone: I hate this family

Colter: Ten grand though. Really put this in perspective for me. What's Kayla's Venmo? I have some feelings I'd like to express with cash

Boone: Leave Kayla out of this

Eli: So the barn loft? Cold showers, three chipped mugs, and a bed that's basically a cot. All so a stranger with a rental confirmation can sleep in your sheets.

Boone: She's not a stranger anymore. She helps with chores now too. Rea's rules.

Colter: Chores. Right. Is that what we're calling it?

Boone: I'm leaving this chat

CHAPTER 7

The world ended in a metallic explosion.

Vivi shot upright, heart slamming into her ribs, hair sticking out in eight different directions. The sound was so violent she half-expected to see flames—or maybe an alien invasion. Instead, Boone stood in her doorway, pot in one hand, spoon in the other, banging like he was summoning the devil.

"What the hell are you doing?" she shrieked, clutching the blanket to her chest.

Boone grinned—actually grinned—like this was the highlight of his morning.

"Up and at 'em, sunshine. You're late."