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“The library,” he repeats.
“There’s no library in this house.”
“Yeah. Raf said the sunroom is supposed to be a library for you. I have custom shelving being installed in a few weeks.”
“What?” God, I sound like a broken record, but—what?
“Yeah. They’re beautiful. You’re going to love them.”
I’m stunned. He’s giving me a library? Once again guilt gnaws its way into my gut, but it’s surrounded by tiny fluttering pink butterflies.
“I’ve always wanted a library,” I whisper to myself.
“I know,” Joaquín says with a lilt. “Your romance books will be so happy in their new home. By the way, that queer orc romance with the drag queen was a great recommendation. Five stars. Alright I gotta go but send me anymore inspo pics you have, and I’ll get it all squared away with the crew.”
“Okay,” I say, still taken aback by this new information and what it means, if anything.
“Te quiero.”
“Te quiero, Joaquín…”
Chapter 26
September 28th
Angie
“Did your brothers say why they wanted us to come early today?” Rafael asks, turning into the home field park.
“Not really,” I say. “But apparently Jonah is bringing Yogi and Rugger.”
“God, they’re cute. I still can’t believe he got two dogs.”
“I can’t believe he found two Great Pyrenees pups at a shelter. Not exactly a breed you’d see there often.”
When we step out of the car into the dewy morning air, the two white fluff balls are rolling around and play-fighting with each other. They’re much bigger than the last time I saw them when Jonah tried to bring them to the beach.
There are a few other players getting here at the same time, but we make our way to my three brothers all standing in a little huddle with their kits on the ground nearby. They’re still in their warmup sweats and sandals, and Jonah’s mop of blonde hair doesn’t look like it was combed this morning and his whole body is covered in white dog hair.
Looking at the three of them, I’m reminded how the hair color of the Johanssen kids looks like the printer ran out of ink. Me and Isaiah have the darkest, followed by Dane with a sandy brown, and Jonah and Ivy with blonde.
Their demeanors sort of match that now that I think about it. Isaiah is gruff and grumpy. Dane is naturally a social person, but he also gets a little grumpy when things aren’t going his way. And Jonah… Oh, Jonah. Brother Sunshine. He’s never met a person he can’t charm.
“I’ll let you catch up with them,” Raf says. “I’m gonna help Snarf line the field.”
“Sure. I’ll see you in a bit.”
He walks away carrying my bag chair, blanket, and his kit before turning to my younger brothers.
The three of them spot us just before Jonah throws his arms open to hug me. “Angie-Pangie! Did you bring orange slices today?”
“Of course I did.”
“Dude, come on,” Isaiah grumbles. “We talked about this.”
Jonah pulls back and crosses his arms and his expression changes from his natural smile to a frown.
My head rears back as I take them all in. “What’s going on?”
