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“Your brother is scary,” she whispers in my ear. “Scary hot!”
A laugh huffs through my lips. Scar and I are still getting used to this sibling thing, although I might be more excited about it than he is. I dreamed so many years of finding him, and like Hana said, overnight, I’m surrounded by family.
Giving Ali another hug, I take the suitcase. “I’ll text you all the time, and I’ll be back for a visit as soon as I’m off this silly cane.”
Perhaps I can even come clean as Professor Winston’s significant other…
“I’m holding you to it.” She gives me another tight squeeze, and Scar takes my things, putting them in the back of his big black truck.
Hana’s up front, and he helps me climb into the small backseat. With that, we’re headed out of Thornton, and my second round as a college student ends. Dirk and I agreed it would be better if I didn’t visit him on campus, but he’s coming back to his place tonight, and I’ll be waiting for him.
“Thornton is adorable!” Hana coos as we drive off the campus, approaching the interstate highway. “I’d like to attend as a student, too!”
“Dirk really likes it.” I glance back at the large academic buildings with their ivy-covered façades. “He’s a really good professor.”
“Who knows? Maybe in eighteen years, we’ll be dropping off a little Lourde at the university,” Hana adds.
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Scar growls, and Hana and I both snicker.
After helping me transport my things into Dirk’s massive loft, Hana tells me she brought the golf cart for me to use.
“My pregnancy brain is so bad, I completely forgot I’d left it here last time.” Her voice catches, and worried eyes meet mine. “I guess you already knew that.”
“Yeah…” My past indiscretions pop up at the most awkward times.
Luckily Hana is a master at forgiveness. “So you know the way to Hugh’s, and we’ll see you around suppertime?”
Chewing my lip, I look around the place, thinking of Dirk coming home later. “Maybe I can get ours to go?”
“You definitely can.” She gives me a wink and a hug, and I’m alone in the space Dirk says we’re making ours.
Opening my suitcase, I slowly remove my clothes and set them on the bed, carefully carrying them to the new dresser he put in the bedroom for me.
Dirk wouldn’t hear of me returning to New York, so I let my old apartment in Hell’s Kitchen go, not that I was overly attached to it anyway. He hired a service to box up all my belongings and ship them to us here.
I suggested I find my own apartment in Hamiltown, and Carmen offered to help me. Dirk’snowas so fiercely emphatic, I was turned on and a little defiant. I do love wrestling with him, after all.
Having to get around with a cane means it takes several hours to get all my clothes and books and accessories arranged to my liking. I’ve never been more annoyed and frustrated with my body, but I’m doing my best to stay positive. The nice physical therapist said because of my age and athleticism, my body should recover more quickly. I’m a week in, and it’s already taking too long.
By seven, I’m standing at the top of the stairs wondering how I’m going to get down them and over to Hugh’s to collect our dinner when I hear a vehicle pull up in the driveway. My chest sinks, because I wanted to have yummy food smells in the house when Dirk got home.
Yes, it’s old-school housewife vibes, but I love it. I’m leaning into this new relationship. I want to give him all the care he deserves.
“Miss Hana apologizes for not bringing this to you herself.” My eyebrows shoot up when I see Norris standing at the bottom of the stairs. “She helped me prepare everything, and she selected the wine…”
“Please don’t apologize! This is so nice.”
I carefully take one step down, and the older gentleman jogs up to me. “Stop right there. I was told you weren’t to do anything.”
He takes my arm, leading me back into the loft. I watch as he quickly empties the large basket containing a small rotisserie chicken, steaming hot and smelling delicious. Up next are containers of scalloped potatoes and roasted butternut squash.
“I’m going to have a hard time waiting for Dirk.” I rub a hand over my growling stomach, and he uncorks a bottle of sauvignon blanc.
He pauses, taking out one last bundle. “Miss Hana sent you these butter cookies.”
A sad smile curls my lips. “I remember having these in New York a long time ago.”
“If that’s everything, I’ll be getting back to Mr. Hugh’s.”
