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“My realtor showed me a few places today,” Aiden said. “The one on Maple is the cheapest because it needs the most work. Plus, it’s already vacant. It will take more than a few weeks toget a mortgage, but I’m sure Mrs. Jenkins would be OK with you renting for a bit while the paperwork goes through.”
“She even left behind some furniture, so you wouldn’t be starting from scratch,” Cal said.
I frowned at the three of them. “Did all y’all go and look at it?”
“Well, it’s basically next door,” Cal said.
I wanted to ask if they’d dragged Poppy along as well but mentioning her would just unleash the usual ribbing about our friendship. “Thanks, but I doubt I’d get a decent rate from any bank willing to give me a mortgage. I just need to find somewhere to rent.”
“Yeah,” Aiden said, taking a sip of his beer. “I figured you’d say that, so I put in an offer this afternoon. Got the call right before I came over that Mrs. Jenkins accepted it. Now all I need is someone to rent it from me until I can do the flip.”
“What the hell, Aiden?” I yelled. Cal and Rowan seemed genuinely surprised, so I assumed their involvement ended with the house tour. “What if I don’t want to live there?”
“Then I rent it to someone else,” Aiden said with a shrug. “It was too good of an opportunity to pass up.”
“Bullshit,” I said.
“I own a construction company, Theo. I buy houses and flip them all the time. It was a solid business decision for me. Period. If it helps you out, good. And if Hell Cat wants to buy it someday, even better.”
“On that note,” Rowan said, standing. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a few hours of baking ahead of me.”
“I’ll walk you,” I said as Cal started to stand. “I need some air.”
Cal looked uncertain, but then settled back on the couch. “Thanks, brother. Kickoff is any minute, and I’d hate to miss it.”
Skye whimpered when Rowan kissed her goodbye but then rested her head on Cal’s knee.
Cal did love football, especially the playoffs, but I knew what he was doing. He wanted me to know he trusted me with the most precious person in his life, that I was worthy or some shit. I wasn’t. I’d still make sure Rowan didn’t fall.
“Thanks, Theo,” Rowan said as we both pulled on our coats. “I’m glad you’re coming to the house. I took a stab at baklava this afternoon and hoped you’d try it.”
My stomach grumbled again. “I haven’t had baklava since—” Instead of finishing that sentence, I threaded my arm in hers and pulled the front door shut. “I’m happy to try it.”
“I think it got colder out here,” Rowan said, shivering. She gripped the railing, and we walked slowly down the steps, which were thankfully clear.
“How’s the back?” I asked as we inched down Cal’s sidewalk. Ice hit my face like pin pricks. We both stopped at the curb and looked at the slick pavement.
Rowan glanced up the street toward her mother’s house. “I’m not letting it get in my way,” she said, stepping onto the grass. “I think we better cut across the yards and cross the street at my house.”
“Yeah, if we go down, I don’t want Cal to see,” I said, glancing back at his house. Cal was pressed against the picture window, like I expected. Rowan and I waved at him.
“Positive thoughts only, Theo. We’re not going down.”
I tightened my grip on Rowan’s arm and took a tiny step forward. Thankfully, we were both in boots and walking slightly uphill, but if we kept at this rate, it’d take half an hour to get to her house. The icy grass wasn’t as slippery as I expected. Rowan let out a relieved breath and walked a little faster.
The ice pinged down, coating my beard. “Days like this, I wish I was in Greece,” I said. I’m not sure where the thought came from, perhaps from painting Mana this morning or the mentionof baklava, but it was out of my mouth before I could consider the conversation I’d invited.
“You haven’t been in a while, right?” Rowan asked, trying to sound casual even though I’d never spoken about my family with her before. Everyone in Peace Falls knew what a mess my life became after the accident.
“Not since my senior year of high school. My passport expired a few years ago, and I’ve never tried to renew it.”
“Why?” Rowan asked softly.
“No reason to,” I said.
Rowan squeezed my arm but didn’t say anything. We crossed another yard in silence, both of us focusing on our steps.
The front door to Rowan’s house opened and Chris came out carrying a large disc. “Hold on, Ann,” he shouted to Rowan. “Don’t cross the street without me.”