Page 74 of Big Bad Wolf

“Hey, Ruby.” Lena looked up when her sister came barreling through the kitchen door. Her eyes widened when she saw Ruby, soaking wet and fuming. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” Ruby peeled off her coat and hung it by the back door. “Just big, idiotic men being big and idiotic. Oh … hi, everyone. What’s going on here?”

Ruby took in the scene in front of her. Lena was sitting at the kitchen table with several large colorful balls of yarn in front of her. Theo sat across from her, his hands up, fingers spread with yarn strung between them like he was holding it up for Lena who seemed to be attempting to knit. This was new.

Phoebe was sitting on the floor, her back against the wall. Lucifer was curled up in her lap. Ruby could hear him purring from her position by the door.

“I’m knitting!” Lena said happily.

“I see that, but … um … why?”

Lena shook her head with a laugh, exchanging a do you see what I’m dealing with here? look with Theo. How the hell long had Ruby been gone that Lena had bonded with Theo already?

“I thought I could take up knitting as a way to bring in some extra money.”

“Lena…”

“No, really, it’s a good idea! I was talking to Rafe about his Etsy shop…”

Theo burst out with a laugh. “Wait, Rafe has an Etsy shop?!”

Lena shot him a look, one that Ruby was sure she used to use on her preschoolers.

“Sorry,” he mumbled.

Phoebe giggled from her spot on the floor.

“Anyway,” Lena went on. “I think I could set up a shop.” She frowned at the needles in her hands. “Once I figure out how to work these.”

“Right.” Ruby toed off her boots and left them by the door. “Well, I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

“Thanks.”

“We should probably go,” Theo said, attempting to untangle the yarn from his fingers.

“Thanks for the fun afternoon, Lena,” Phoebe said, gently nudging Lucy from her lap.

“Of course, but don’t you want to stay and see your brother?” Lena asked and Theo laughed.

“Nah, it was much more fun hanging out with you.” He planted a kiss on Lena’s forehead and she beamed.

“Thanks, guys,” Ruby said, walking toward the front door with Theo and Fee. “Did anything … um … strange happen while we were gone?”

Phoebe looked at her, eyes filled with sympathy. “Everything was fine. Your sister was perfectly fine.”

“And no fucking Highlanders were sniffing around here either,” Theo said.

“Thank you,” Ruby said again, overwhelmed with the number of people currently in her corner.

“See you again soon, I’m sure!” Fee called over her shoulder as the two made a run for it back to Theo’s truck.

Ruby sighed, returning to the kitchen. Rafe’s truck was still sitting dark in the driveway. She had no idea if he was inside or if he’d wandered off somewhere. She knew he wouldn’t go far.

He was her ride to work, after all.

She went back into the kitchen and found Lena wrestling yarn away from the cat.

“Hey, Lena, can I talk to you about something?”