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I shrugged and blushed deeper, not wanting any credit. Doing things for others wasn’t my style, and I didn’t know how to handle it.
“Do you need anything, Mama? We’re going to let you rest a while,” Drew said.
“No, baby. Just come back for supper. Both of you,” she emphasized, leaning back against the pillows.
Drew nodded and led me out of the bedroom without acknowledging anyone else. Sam stood in the doorway, torn between going with me and staying with Loretta.
I crouched down and put my head against his. “It’s okay if you want to stay.”
He licked my face, and I kissed him back. When I let him go, he trotted over to the bed and put his paws on the side. Mulaney hoisted him up, much to my surprise. He snuggled next to Loretta with his head on her stomach, and her entire body relaxed.
I caught up with Easton and Drew when they were almost to the front door.
“Supper’s at six,” Easton said.
Drew stiffened, and my brows shot up at the invite.
“Do we need to bring anything?”Who do I think I am, Merry Homemaker?
Easton gave me a tight smile. “No. Thanks, though.”
I was ready to crash,couldn’t wait to shower and take a nap. The bathroom off his parents’ room was like a spa, and I couldn’t wait to take advantage of the one Drew would no doubt have. I bet he even had down pillows, one thousand thread count sheets, and a soft duvet.
When he opened the door to his apartment, my face fell. This was nothing like the place we’d just left. The living room and kitchen would fit in the foyer of the Carter home. The walls were a stark white, and the only furniture was a minimalist-looking black sofa and coffee table. Not even a television.
“There’s your bed, toots,” Drew said, motioning toward the sofa that looked more uncomfortable than the floor. My mouth dropped open, and he closed it gently with his thumb. “My brother and sister-in-law have dibs on the other bedroom since he’s my warden, so you’re on the couch.”
I wanted to slap him. “You got me kicked out of the shelter for this?” I was practically yelling, arms flung wide.
“The bathroom you can use is an en suite, so if you’re one of those who has to get up at night, you’re going to have to learn to hold it. I can’t be disturbed while I’m sleeping.”
I growled and backed him down the narrow hallway. “You’re a—”
“What am I, sugar?” he taunted when I struggled to find the right word.
“An ass. A big, giant fucking ass.” I didn’t care if I sounded like a child. I was furious. My room at the shelter had been better than this.
“You already knew that.”
I stopped pushing and glanced into the bedroom. It was barely large enough for a full bed and chest of drawers. I went in search of the bathroom. It had to be better than the rest of this place.
It wasn’t. The shower-tub combo was tiny, and the rest of the room was stark white and small. There would be no long, luxurious shower with multiple rainheads and jets. No heated tile floor. No big tub to soak in.
“Prison cells are worse,” he said behind me, and I whipped around to face him.
“What do you mean?”
“It was either this or the big house. I wasn’t in a position to argue,” Drew said nonchalantly.
“You really did steal all that money from your family, andthisis their version of jail?” It sucked, but it was heaven compared to the alternative.
“Yep, and I can’t come and go as I please either.”
“But you have been.”
“That’s because my father’s been preoccupied. Now that we’re all in the same building again, I’m sure it will change.”
“They can’t do that. There’s no way to enforce it,” I said, affronted on his behalf when seconds ago I was furious with him. Strangely enough, he didn’t seem all that upset about the situation.
