Page 17 of The October Arrangement

She walked back into the kitchen with a roll. “What do you need this for?”

I opened the refrigerator. “I’m allowed this little area right here. I’m going to tape it so I don’t cross over into his section.”

“He’s not going to like seeing that tape there,” she said.

“I know.” I grinned. “His rules. Not mine. I’m just making sure I respect them.”

A wide grin crossed her lips. “I like you, Bella.”

“I like you too, Louise. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have editing to do.”

As I was sitting on the couch, editing photos, the elevator dinged, and Daisy stepped out.

“Daisy.” I smiled.

“Ugh, I’m so sorry.” She set her purse down and fell onto the couch. “He wasn’t supposed to come home yet. And I know I lied to you.” She put her hand up. “I just figured what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.”

“It’s fine. He’s letting me stay through the 31st.”

“He is?” Her eyes widened.

“Yeah. But not without ten miserable rules.”

“Rules?”

“They’re on the refrigerator. He made me sign it.”

She jumped up from the couch, went into the kitchen, and then returned.

“He’s fucking nuts.”

“I know. You didn’t warn me about his mental instability.”

“I didn’t think I had to. I figured you’d never meet him. But then again, I should have known he never would have stayed in Los Angeles for three months. He always does the opposite of what his father tells him. Anyway, I dropped by to give you this.” She handed me an invitation.

“What’s this?” I smiled.

“An invitation to my wedding. It’s in two weeks, and I want you there. You can come with Simon.”

“I’d love to come, but alone,” I smirked.

“Yay! You’re going to have the best time.” She reached over and hugged me.

Chapter Nine

Simon

It had been one hell of a day, and I was looking forward to going home and relaxing. I stopped on the way home and picked up a pizza for myself since Louise didn’t get the chance to go grocery shopping today. I suppose I should have told her about Bella, but I didn’t think about it. I tried not to think about her because I was still angry at the entire situation.

“Have a good evening, Nick. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“You too, Simon.”

I entered the building, said hi to Burt, and took the elevator up to my penthouse. All I wanted was food, a shower, and silence. When I stepped into the foyer, warmth hit me. An unbearable warmth. Then I heard music. I closed my eyes for a moment. Bella. Of course.

I kicked off my shoes, and when I reached the living room, I stopped. What the fuck? Bella was crouched on the floor in front of my fireplace with a camera in her hands. That wasn’t the problem. The problem was my fireplace. More specifically, the fucking pumpkin patch she’d constructed in front of it. There had to be at least ten pumpkins lined across the hearth. There were orange ones, white ones, green ones, tiny ones, big ones. Not real pumpkins, but fake ones. Candles were scattered between them, along with faux leaves. My fireplace was on, flames flickering behind the display.

I stood there holding my pizza. She took her hand and shifted one of the pumpkins an inch to the left, then took a picture. She tilted her head, moved it back, and took another.