All Grown Up(20)

“Anybody home?” My sister’s voice interrupted.

Shit. Instinctively, I stepped back. Val shook her head a few times before rushing to the door.

Bella still had wet hair from her shower. Figures she’d pick today to not spend an hour getting herself ready. “Mmmm…it smells good in here. That workout made me so hungry.”

I caught Val’s eye. “Watching it made me hungry, too.”

Val walked back to the stove, not glancing in my direction again. I stood a few feet away, leaning against the kitchen sink with my arms folded over my chest, just watching her.

“There’s coffee in the pot and creamer in the fridge,” she said to Bella. “Help yourself.”

“I haven’t had a frittata in forever. Our mom used to make them. You sort of remind me of her. Doesn’t she remind you of Mom, Ford?”

My eyes shut, and I shook my head. “She definitely does not remind me of Mom.”

Val plated the two frittatas and set them on the table. “You two eat.”

“We’ll wait for you,” I said.

“Yours will get cold while I make mine. Eat.”

Bella caught my eye and smirked as she sat down at the table. She pointed her fork at me before digging in. “See? Mom.”

I was definitely waiting for Val to eat after that comment. I wasn’t really that hungry anyway. She finally sat a few minutes later.

“The class this morning was amazing, right?” my sister said.

“It was. I really enjoyed it. It’s been a while since I did yoga, so I might be sore later, though.”

“And that instructor was totally into you. I bet he asks you out next time.”

Valentina gave my sister a polite smile, and then our eyes caught briefly. My sister was totally oblivious, so of course she continued.

“He couldn’t keep his eyes off of you. We should take the class again tomorrow. He’s totally worth getting up so early for.”

I had a momentary lapse in sanity. “Maybe I’ll take the class, too.”

“You?” My sister snorted.

“Sure. Why not?”

“You’ve never done yoga.”

I stood and put my plate in the sink. “I’m all about trying new things.”

“Well, I’m all about getting a job today.”

“A job? You’re only out here for the weekend.”

Bella’s lips pursed. “I have an interview for a summer waitressing gig at a restaurant in town. I figured if I got a job, you might start to see that I’m responsible enough to stay out here for the summer. Plus, I need to save some money. I sort of blew through my savings during my semester abroad.” She looked down at her phone. “Shoot. My interview is in twenty minutes. I’m going to be late. Let me help you clean up before I go, Val.”

Valentina waved Bella off. “I got it. Go to your interview. You don’t want to be late.”

“Go,” I added. “I’ll help Val clean up.”

“Okay. I owe you one.”

“I’ll add it to the pile of ones you owe me.”

Val and I were both quiet after the screen door slammed closed. It felt like small talk was needed.

“She’s supposed to be out here for a four-day weekend, and she’s interviewing for a job.”

“Well, at least she took some initiative. You could have arrived to a house full of knocked-over, red Solo cups and passed-out teenagers.”

“I suppose.”

Val stood and picked up her plate and Bella’s. But I took them from her hands. “I got it. Sit. You cooked.”

“I can’t just sit here and let you clean up.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know. I just can’t.”

“I tell you what, if you don’t let me clean up, I’m going to continue my story about what I was doing when I was thinking about you this week.”

She started to speak, but then closed her mouth and sat back down, a light blush on her cheeks.

I mumbled to myself, though loud enough that she could hear, “Shame. It’s a phenomenal story.”

After I had all the dishes rinsed and loaded into the dishwasher, I noticed a puddle of water forming at my feet. “I think you have a leak?”

“Crap. Ryan was supposed to fix that when he was out here last summer. I told him to call a plumber, but since we share expenses on the house, he never wants to spend on a repairman.”

“I can take a look.”

“No. It’s okay.”

“I’m good at fixing things.” I grinned. “Don’t let my pretty face fool you into thinking I’m a wuss.”

“Really, it’s fine. I can call someone.”

I put my hand on her shoulder. “I’m going to fix it. Do you have a bucket and a toolbox somewhere with a wrench?”

“I think Ryan has some things in the closet.”

On second thought, I didn’t want to use her ex’s shit for some reason. “I’ll just run next door and grab what I’ll need to take the drain apart and see what’s going on.”

“Oh. Okay.”

I got to the front door and turned back to make an obnoxious joke about getting to take care of her pipes after all, but when I did, I found her eyes firmly attached to my ass. Caught, her eyes jumped to meet mine, and a guilty look washed over her face.