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I tell Nora I’ll see her soon and kill the rest of the morning reading a book on good habit building in bed.I pay the housekeeper just before noon and welcome Gram and Slasher for lunch as she’s pulling out of the subdivision.The pot pie is delicious, and the conversation flows easily.I really enjoy Slasher when he’s not behind closed doors with my grandmother.He’s a cool guy with a fascinating history.
We gossip about the new music venue in town and our least favorite sports teams until nearly two.By the time they leave, I have just enough time to get the dishes in the dishwasher before Nora is at the door with cupcakes and coffee.
“Oh, you poor thing,” she says, gently embracing me by the door.“You look like shit.”
“But still hot.”
“Well, of course,” she says.“You’re a Boudreaux.We’re gorgeous people.”
“Damn straight, we are.”I motion her in with a nod of my head.“Get inside, woman.It’s cold out there.”
“I no longer feel the cold,” she says, breezing past me and heading toward the kitchen table.“After Matty and I nearly froze to death at the treehouse Sunday night when the heat went out, normal cold no longer phases me.Remind me again why I’m madly in love with a man who likes spending so much time in the woods?”
“Because he’s even more madly in love with you.Which is good.If he weren’t, he’d still be on my shit list along with the rest of the McGuires.”
Nora cocks her head as she pulls off her jaunty sock hat and gloves.“Really?You still hate the McGuires?Even after Melissa opened her home to you, sparing you the mental anguish of witnessing Gram and Slasher’s love up close and personal?”
I shudder.“Don’t talk about it.Let’s never talk about it.And I don’thatethe McGuires.They’re just too…tribal for my tastes.Like pack animals.”
“I think the phrase you used last time was ‘inbred assholes.’”
I wince, baring my teeth as I suck in a breath.“Okay, yeah, that was probably a little over the top.”
She arches a brow.“A little?”
“Fine, a lot over the top.They’re nice enough people.”I settle into a chair across from hers and accept the coffee she pushes across the smooth wood.“Maybe I’m just jealous that I don’t have a pack standing behind me.”
“You do,” she says.“You have me and Gram and now Slasher and Matty.That’s a basketball team and we haven’t even counted Melissa.”Her eyes glitter as she adds, “And clearly Melissa likes you awhole lotto allow you into her home.Is there something going on I should know about, brother dearest?A repeat of your steamy November encounter perhaps?”
I snort and roll my eyes like she’s crazy.“No way.We’re just friends, and I’m helping her out with Chase in exchange for room and board.That’s it.”
She hums dubiously.“Right.And I can eat dried mango without farting for days.”
“How is your fart ass?”I ask with a smile as I grab a coconut cupcake from the box.“I’m assuming Matty realizes you’re a foul wind machine by now, but has decided to love you anyway?”
“Shut up,” she says, grinning.“But yes, he loves me even when I give in to the temptation of dried fruit.I’m sure Mel will still like you once she realizes your feet always smell like rotten eggs, even right after you’ve showered.”She grabs a plain vanilla cupcake, like I knew she would.She’s always been a vanilla fan, ever since we were kids.“But we don’t have to talk about that right now.You can reveal your relationship status in your own time.I’m just happy that you two are friends again, no matter what happens with the other stuff.It’ll make the wedding this summer a lot easier.Can’t have our best man and maid of honor fighting like cats and dogs while Matty and I are saying our ‘I do’s,’ now, can we?”She narrows her gaze on mine.“Which means you have to stick the landing on the break-up if you decide to end things, okay?I’m not going to be the jerk who tells you my fiancé’s twin sister is off-limits, blah, blah, blah, but if you hurt her, I’m going to be very disappointed.”
I nod.“Message received.Loud and clear.I have no intention of hurting Melissa.I…like her.A lot.”
Nora grins.“I know you do.I hope it works out.I really do.I think you two would be great for each other.Two strong, stubborn, slightly irritating but hard-loving people?Together, what couldn’t you accomplish?”
Except that I’m going back to Minneapolis and Mel is practically married to this town.But that hasn’t stopped me from trying to win her over before and it won’t now.Deep down, my intuition says I might be able to tempt Melissa away from Bad Dog, if I play my cards right.
And what do I have to do right now except focus on my cards?I sure as hell won’t be spending any time online or on social media.
Nora and I fall back into our usual rhythm—jokes and gentle bullying slowly giving way to deeper conversation.We talk about her business, the scans I’m getting tomorrow, and plans for renovating Matty’s treehouse in the woods into a year-round home for the two of them until her cell begins to chime in her purse.
“That’s me turning into a pumpkin,” she says, rising from her chair.“I have another meeting at four-thirty and need to get home and set up my ring light.It’s an interview, so I need to look pretty on camera.”
“You’re always pretty,” I say, surprised when I look at the clock above the fireplace and see it’s already a few minutes past four.Nora and I were so busy talking, I didn’t realize Mel and Chase were running late.“But yeah, scoot, and I’ll see you later.”
“Maybe we could do dinner early next week?”She pulls on her coat and grabs her purse from the table by the front door.“Our friend Bear extended his trip for a few days, and I know he’d love to meet you, the way we planned.He and Dipsy Dobbs, Matty’s cousin, are such a fun couple.Just chill and funny and sweet.I know you’ll love them.”
I nod.“Sure.Sounds good.Let’s nail something down this weekend.”
I give her a one-armed hug and shut the door before pulling my cell from the pocket of my sweatpants.But there’s no text or voicemail from Melissa.I’m starting to get worried enough to call and check up on her when the drone of the garage door opening sounds from the other side of the house.
Grinning, I start down the hall to greet her and Chase, but when the door opens, Melissa is alone.
