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“Fucking hell,” Ben growls. “Get your ass outside.”
Emmett laughs and winks at me before turning toward his brother. “We were discussing her job. You can’t blame me for making small talk.”
“Small talk my ass.”
They walk out to the porch, and through the window, I catch Emmett holding his hands in the air, telling Clayton to throw him the ball.
“I’m sorry. He can be a lot sometimes,” Gillian says.
I shake my head at my sweet sister who practically raised me. She really is the best. “I can handle Emmett Noughton.”
Then I see him put one hand on the porch railing and jump over it onto the ground below. It’s flawless the way his legs swing over and all his weight is held up by one bulging bicep. I need to remember why I hate Emmett. I’m in no place to start anything with any man right now, let alone a man-child like Emmett.
“Well, Ben is going to have a conversation with him.” Gillian tosses the salad and sets it aside.
I spread the garlic butter mixture over the bread. She puts it in the oven, then she grabs a wine bottle from the fridge and snatches two glasses. I still for a moment, watching the wine fill the crystal glass. It looks really good, and lord knows I could use it right now to calm my frazzled nerves.
She slides a glass my way, and my shoulders sink. “Tomorrow is my first day, and I don’t want to have a headache. Wine always gives me a headache.”
Gillian’s head tilts, and I prepare for her to push me on the subject. “More for me then. Water’s in the fridge.” Her phone rings on the counter. “Oh, it’s the realtor.” She slides her thumb over the screen and walks into the attached living room. Their entire downstairs is open concept. “Hello?”
I check the garlic bread and make a mental note to check it again in a few minutes.
“No way! Are you serious?” Gillian says, her eyes widening in my direction. “Well, yeah, I guess.” Her smile dims, and she cringes at me. “No, I see your point. Okay, well…” She stares at me for a long time. “Of course. Yeah. Definitely. I’ll take it.”
She hangs up and stands in place for a second. That’s Gillian though. Always taking a moment to think about her words and what the next step is. She doesn’t often act impulsively, and I’ve always admired that because I’m the opposite. I’m not sure if she was born that way or if it was the years of child-rearing she’s done, unable to ever be a child herself.
“Ben!” she calls.
He walks in, looking into the kitchen before finding her in the living room. “What’s up?”
“The house is sold. Cash offer, and they want to move in as soon as they can.”
And just like that, I’m homeless once again.
Chapter Five
Briar
Gillian squeals as Ben picks her up and swings her around the room.
“That’s amazing!”
She beams. “I know. I mean, I never thought it’d happen this fast. I figured we’d have it for a while longer.”
Gillian’s small bungalow in downtown Willowbrook isn’t my childhood home. Gillian moved there once Koa and I were old enough to take care of ourselves. After Dad died, she moved us in. Koa had to share a bedroom with Clayton and I had my own. After I went off to school, Koa moved into my old bedroom. It was small but hers.
So while I have no significant attachment to the house, I’m surprised she’s so excited. I just drove by my childhood home the other day, remembering the day we moved out after it sold. The feeling of not having anything of my own, a place where I belonged. And here I am in the same situation again. All I have to blame is myself.
Bruce comes in off the porch. “What’s going on?”
Ben lowers Gillian’s feet to the floor. “Gill sold her house. Cash buyer.”
Bruce’s eyes widen. A cash buyer is surprising, but maybe the housing market is as crazy here as it was in Chicago. “That’s great news.”
Everyone else comes in from outside, probably having overheard what’s going on. Sadie rushes over and hugs Gillian. Jude nods and gives his congratulations, then Gillian quietly talks to Clayton, and I see him nod a lot. God, she’s such a good mom. How did she turn out to be so great when she had no role model?
Bruce turns in my direction and gives me a tight smile.
