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“Uhm, you really can’t go wrong with smelly candles or cookbooks. If you get her a cookbook, try to make it obscure. She’s got shelves lined with them,” Cora suggested. “She’s been experimenting with Indian lately.”
“Thanks. I’ll go grab something from the mall, then.”
“Good. I can pick you up and 4:30 p.m. And we can swing by the bookstore on the way if that makes it easier?” Cora asked.
“Yes! You read my mind. Also, I wanted to ask…this is kind of embarrassing. I’m probably going to be getting a car within the next couple months. I don’t know how to drive.” Taryn said.
Seeming to realize how dumb Taryn felt having to ask, Cora just said, “Sure. My car is a stick, so you can learn the hard way. That way if you get an automatic, it will be easy.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, Taryn said, “Thank you. Now that I’m not a broke college kid, I figured it was time to learn.”
Cora opened her mouth to respond and there was a knock on the door. Taryn realized she was still in work clothes and said, “Grab the door. I’m going to go change really quick.”
Scurrying back into the bedroom, Taryn grabbed a T-shirt and jeans from her closet. She heard muffled voices through the door and assumed that Cora continued to talk to them through the open door while she changed. Shucking the khaki polo and brown shorts, she changed and ran a brush through her hair.
Stepping out, she saw that Cora had closed the door and leaned against it, a half smile on her face.
Looking at Taryn now, Cora said, “Those men have some excellent genetics.”
Taryn nodded her head in agreement and said, “They really do. They seem to enjoy being shirtless, too. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to hold out against the constant eye candy.”
Sliding her feet into canvas flats, she looked at Cora and asked, “Ready?”
Chapter 4
When Evan heard the knock on his door, he got up off the couch to answer the door. His brother walked out of the bathroom and said, “Oh good, they’re here. Let’s order. I’m dying.”
Evan opened the door and saw them both standing there. Stepping back, he said, “Come on in. I was just about to order.”
Looking at Taryn, he asked, “Is there a good place around here?”
“Gianetti’s is really good,” she said. “Usually quick, too.”
“Gianetti’s it is,” he said, searching on his phone. “So what does everyone want on their pizza?”
At once he heard all three of them speak, “Pepperoni. Cheese. Everything.”
Laughing, he said, “Clearly we need to discuss.”
Taryn said, “I still say everything is the only way to go. I could be persuaded to change my vote to pepperoni if it makes it easier though.”
Jamie gave a fist pump and then looked at Cora expectantly. She said, “Fine, fine. I’ll pick them off.”
“I wanted everything, too. Lemme grab two. One with everything, one with half pepperoni and half cheese. That way everyone wins,” he said.
Everyone nodded in agreement. He quickly called in the order as they sat down. When he turned around, he saw that his brother and Cora had settled on the couch and Taryn had curled up on the love seat.
“Would any of you like a drink? Water, tea, beer, soda?” he asked.
When everyone had answered, he moved to the kitchen. Grabbing one bottle of water, one coke, and two beers, he turned around and almost bumped into Taryn. She asked, “Do you need any help?” as she reached out to take the coke and beer from his hands.
He watched her walk back into the living room and hand the drinks off. He followed with his beer and her water in hand. Sitting on the love seat, he passed it to her once she sat down.
She angled herself toward him and asked, “Are you really entirely unpacked? I totally expected to see some boxes.”
Taking a swig, he set the bottle down on the end table next to him and said, “I finished up early Sunday morning, actually. Just woke up early for some reason.”
Clearing her throat, she said, “Funny. The same thing happened to me on Saturday.”
