AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Everyone else sits around the table, including Miles after he washed his hands at the sink. He settles into the empty seat next to me.
“And this is our housekeeper, Louisa,” Chance says. “She’s an amazing cook and keeps us from withering away.”
I glance up at the older woman who’s carrying in a large serving dish, her hands covered in oven mitts. “Nice to meet you, Louisa.”
She offers me a smile as she places the dish on a trivet. “You too, Sadie. I hope you like lasagna.”
“I love it.” I inhale. “It smells terrific.”
“What can I get you to drink?” Louisa asks.
I gaze around the table. Austin and Chance are drinking beer, and Carly is drinking water. I need to keep my wits about me if I’m going to get Miles back on my side. And back into my bed.
“Just water, please.”
“Absolutely.”
A moment later, Louisa slides a glass of water in front of me, and Carly passes me the salad bowl. I help myself to a modest portion and then hand the bowl to Miles beside me. He takes it.
Is that a good sign?
I guess we’ll see.
Miles downs the brown liquid in the glass he’s been holding since I arrived and then takes a drink from his glass of water.
“So what brings you here on a Saturday, Sadie?” Chance asks.
I hastily finish chewing my bite of salad and swallow. “I came to see Miles.”
“How’d he get so lucky?” Austin asks.
My cheeks burn, then, and the table gets quiet.
Do they know?
Miles rises and sets his napkin on the table. “Excuse me for a minute.”
Then all eyes are on me. Austin’s dark ones. Chance’s baby blues. Carly’s, which are a gorgeous green. Even Louisa’s.
None of us can miss an exterior door slamming shut.
“I…”
“It’s okay.” Carly pats my forearm. “You don’t have to say anything.”
“Miles is a good guy,” Austin says. “This just all gets to us from time to time. The whole will thing. While I have Carly here, it’s hard to be forced to stay at this place for a year. My mom’s sick and in Seattle.” He runs a hand through his hair. “Now the dead body surfacing after we cleaned up that dam. It’s a lot to process.”
I nod. “Of course. I understand.”
“Something’s bothering him,” Carly says. “Do you know what it might be?”
“I have an idea,” I say.
“What can we do to help?”
“I don’t think there’s anything you can do.” I rise. “I’ll take care of it. Where did he go?”
“Probably to the garage to work on that bike of his,” Chance says and rises. “Sit down, Sadie. I’ll get him.”
