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“You could stay here and take the morning train too,” Jeremy offers.
I don’t know if I want to thank him or throttle him.
“I don’t have anything here,” Brooklyn explains. “And you two—”
“Aw, come on,” Jeremy gently goads Brooklyn. “I’ll bet Auntie springs for dinner and drinks.”
I shouldn’t be amused, but I am.
“Ease up,” I tell him.
“Okay. I’ll let you two figure it out,” he says. “I think you should stay. Then we can drink on Auntie’s dime and swap stories.”
That does it. I grab a roll of paper towels from the counter and chuck it at my nephew. “Go clean something,” I tell him.
“I’ll clean the blue bedroom,” he returns. “That way it’ll be ready for Brooklyn.”
I chuckle, take a deep breath, and turn to Brooklyn. “I’m sorry. He means well.”
Brooklyn nods.
“I understand if you need to leave, and I get it if you don’t want to stay here. But you are welcome. I’m sure I can find something for you to wear. We can throw your stuff in the washer for tomorrow. Remember, I’m great with laundry.”
“I’d like to stay,” Brooklyn admits.
“You don’t need to explain.”
“Yeah, I do. You’ve been so generous, Carter. From the day we met. I feel like I might be taking advantage of your kindness.”
There’s a measurable pause between my heartbeats. “I think you overestimate my kindness.”
“You’re paying me to work for you. And you’ve fed me, invited me to Thanksgiving—”
“Brooklyn, that’s just what friends do. It’s okay to decline,” I tell her. “Don’t leave because you think you’re imposing. The blue bedroom is next to the room Jeremy uses. You might hate me by morning. He snores like a freight train.”
Brooklyn laughs. “Are you sure?”
“That Jeremy snores?”
Brooklyn whacks me on the arm.
“Oh. I’m sure.”
“I’m going to owe you a five-star meal in Paris by the time we’re done working together,” Brooklyn says.
“Nah.” I start toward my office. I can feel her eyes on me. “That’s not how it works.” I keep moving. I know she’s considering my words. She’s likely wondering if they carry any deeper meaning. They don’t. I don’t expect anything from Brooklyn—nothing except the unexpected.
I’m surprised by the reply that comes from over my shoulder. “Well, okay, maybe not five-star, Paris. At least a cardboard pizza in a box.”
I laugh. Like I said—expect the unexpected.
***
“She didn’t!” Brooklyn laughs.
Jeremy is pleased with himself. “She did. My mom says she never saw my dad as flustered.”
Brooklyn looks at me and shakes her head.
