Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 132834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
We were being weird again. What was wrong with us? Was he being weird because he overheard me talking to my mom about sex? No. I was just paranoid. Maybe it was just me being weird. I pretended to read the side of the coffee maker box, waiting for the mood to shift back to something normal.
I was used to arguing with Finn. We’d done tons of that in the six months we’d both been back at Heartstone Manor. This awkwardness that had sprung up since Halloween was something else, and I didn’t like it. At least when we were fighting, I knew where I stood.
Finn ran a hand through his hair, forging ahead. “Yeah, like I said, I noticed you didn’t have one, and I know you like your coffee.”
“I do,” I agreed. He sounded normal again, which was easier to handle. “Honestly, I haven’t gotten around to thinking about what I need in here. Parker and Hope have been so generous with the furniture in the attics. I think they have this whole place decorated, so I didn’t want to buy anything until I knew for sure what I didn’t have. And now you’ve taken care of so much of the kitchen.”
Finn straightened, shoving his hands in his back pockets again. It was almost like my pointing out his thoughtfulness was making him uncomfortable, although why someone would go out of their way to be nice and then be annoyed when people said thank you was beyond me. “Did you want to pick more stuff out yourself?” he asked. “I didn’t think about that.”
I shook my head immediately. “No, I don’t. I really don’t. Maybe at some point, I’ll want to redecorate my own way. Maybe. But right now that just seems like another big long to-do list, and I’m more interested in everything we still have to do in Heartstone. We’re finally making progress bringing the house back, and I’d rather focus on that than make decisions about decorating.” I thought about it and wrinkled my nose. I did not have time to drive around looking at paint samples or furniture or whatever.
“Anyway,” I finished, too aware of how close we were. “Now that I know how good she is at it, I’d just ask Parker for help. I think it’s going to look great once she has it set up.”
“Parker was always good at that,” Finn said, his voice soft. “Before our mom died, she and Parker redecorated Parker’s room so she could have a room she could grow into instead of a little kid's room.”
“I didn’t know that,” I murmured, touched by the thought of Darcy and Parker working on the project together, Darcy knowing her time was running out. I was only nine when she died, the same age as Parker, and I still remembered how thin and pale Darcy had been. And how much she’d loved her children. “Parker’s room is gorgeous. Knowing her, I can believe she decorated it, even as young as she was. Parker’s always had great taste. So did your mom.”
Finn cleared his throat and gave a jerky nod. I should change the subject. Finn never talked about his mother. Except he’d brought her up.
Weird.
“Anyway,” I babbled, “Decorating is covered, but I totally forgot about coffee. Which is not like me. So thanks again. That was really cool of you.”
“Yeah, like I said, I know you like your coffee.”
We stood there staring past each other for what felt like an eternity, but was probably more like ten seconds. Finn jerked a fraction of an inch, as if prodded. His chin popped up, and he said, “I have to get back to the kitchen. Is there anything you need moved around over here? I’m crap when it comes to decorating, and I don’t know what to do with a hammer, but I can lift heavy things.”
“No, I’m fine. I—” Before I could finish my denial, I thought of the boxes I’d stowed in the hall closet that I really wanted upstairs.
I’d asked Billy Bob to bring them over but hadn’t said where to put them. When I tried to move them myself, I realized they were too heavy. In this, my sensible side beat out my ambition. The last thing I needed was to tweak my back, considering I spent most of my day on my feet.
“Actually, there are two boxes in the hall closet. I’d love if you could bring them upstairs, if you’ve got a minute.”
“No problem.” He was gone in a flash, seconds later calling down, “Where do you want them?”
“Anywhere in the bedroom,” I shouted back. I could sort out what to do with the contents once Billy Bob moved the furniture over the next day.
Finn jogged back down the stairs after bringing up the second box, saying, “I put them in the closet so they wouldn’t be in the way when Billy Bob brings the furniture over tomorrow. It won’t take long. Everyone is pitching in. We figured if we all put our backs into it, it wouldn’t take more than a couple of trips.”