Page 304 of Nobody's Girl

Kyle’s eyes go wide. “What are you talking about?”

Eden laughs. “She’s saying the two of you hold high positions and we’re here to celebrate that fact with you, in your home.”

Kyle and Laura turn to look at Eden. “What did you say?” Laura asks, always making sure she has everything right.

“This is your home. You and Kyle have been given this house and a couple of cars as well. This is a thank you from our foundation, for your service,” Eden tells them.

“Shut up!” Laura says loudly.

Everyone laughs. There are so many people it makes a thunderous sound, startling them both. Then the band starts to play, bringing the attention away from us, thankfully. The guests begin to dance.

I take Laura’s hand, then get Kyle’s and I pull them back into the house. “I’m so sorry for the false abduction thing. It’s an unfortunate side effect of initiations to add drama in some way. Anyway, let me show you your new home,” I tell them as I drag them away from the festivities for now.

“This is crazy,” Laura says.

“I know it is, but you’ll get used to it, I did. Come on, you two, I have so much to show you,” I tell them.

“Ally, there are four freaking bedrooms. We don’t need that many. This is all too much. We can’t accept it,” Laura tells me as we stand in front of the door that leads down to the basement and the recording studio.

Eden opens the door, then reaches in and turns on the light. The room is flooded with light. I hear Kyle’s breath being drawn in as he gasps.

Oh good, he is impressed.

“Is that what I think it is?” Kyle asks.

“If you think it’s a recording studio, then yes,” Eden tells him.

Kyle takes Laura’s hand, pulling her with him down the stairs. “We can accept it, Laura. Just go with it.”

Eden and I laugh as we follow them down the stairs. Kyle looks like he’s in heaven. He’s smiling like crazy as he turns to us.

“I don’t know how we can ever repay you,” he says.

“Don’t worry about that. Your service to our organization is worth every penny that was spent on these things,” Eden tells him.

“Ally, this is so nice and unbelievable, but we really can’t take it. We could never even afford the utility bills here. Kyle and I both would have to work three jobs to afford this place,” she says.

“Don’t be so silly, Laura. You don’t pay a thing here. As a matter of fact, we have something else to give you right now.”

I hold out my hand to Eden. He places a credit card in my hand. I turn and hand her the card.

“Kyle’s already been given his. This is for your expenses, food, gas for your cars—you know, whatever you might need or want,” I tell her.

Laura looks over the card, then puts it in her pocket. “This is nuts, you know.”

Eden takes out two sets of car keys hands the truck keys to Kyle and gives the SUV keys to Laura. “You might want to go check out your new rides in the garage.”

Laura looks at him in disbelief. “I think I’m going to pass out. This is all so much.”

“Laura, you’ll be fine. Go up to your room now and put on the clothes that have been left out for you. It’s time to fulfill some of the duties this position requires. Tonight’s job is a tough one,” I say.

Laura gets a frown on her face. “What are they going to make us do, Al?”

“Oh, it’s bad,” I tease. “You’ll have to dance your ass off, eat some delicious food, and hobnob with some of the best people on Earth.”

She smiles, then turns to grab me up in her arms, hugging me tightly. “I love you, Ally. Even if you never gave me a thing, I would still love you.”

She lets me go, only for Kyle to take up where she left off, his arms around me before I know it, rocking me back and forth. “Ally, this is beyond anything I could have ever dreamed of,” he tells me, then kisses the top of my head before he lets me go.