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“Nothing happened,” I said. “Just as I predicted. Nothing happened because she’s not into me and I’m not dating anyone right now.”

Sterling frowned. “There wasn’t any kind of anything?”

“I mean, she opened the door for me, and she did put her hand on my back when we were leaving, and she paid for me. But that was it. Oh, she gave me business advice. Really hot stuff.” I rolled my eyes at her and she made a silly face at me.

“She’s an idiot then,” Sterling said resting her head on my shoulder and putting her arm around me. I thought I’d wanted to be alone when I got back, but it was nice having my sister here. In fact, it was better than being alone, now that I was thinking about it.

“She’s not. She’s just not into me and that’s fine, Sterling. It’s not a character flaw to not want me,” I said.

“I think it is,” she said, and I couldn’t see her face, but I could picture exactly how she was clenching her jaw.

“You know I’m not an easy person to get along with.”

She made a grumpy little sound. “That just means not enough people can handle how great you are.”

I snorted. “That sounds like a nice way of calling me a bitch.”

“You are a little bit of a bitch, but so am I,” she said, sitting up and then kissing my cheek loudly. “All the best people are.”

I laughed and wiped off my cheek.

“Thanks. Can I go to bed now? I have to get up and paint tomorrow and my shoulders are screaming.” I winced as I rolled them back. A massage was something I desperately needed.

“Turn around then,” she said, wiggling her fingers.

I did and she started digging her fingers into my sore shoulders and I had to admit, it hurt, but in a good way.

“Fuck, you’re all locked up,” she said, grunting as she worked my angry muscles.

“I’m going to have to start lifting weights,” I said. And definitely get back into Pilates. It was kind of impossible in the van, and there wasn’t really a gym or anything around here. I could go to the beach, but then I’d have to deal with people watching me.

“I could join you,” she said. “Kai has started getting strong lifting all those boxes of books and I think I need to keep up.”

“You provide the weights and I’ll show up,” I said. It wasn’t the fabulous gym at my old apartment, but working out with my sister could be fun.

Sterling finished my little shoulder massage and I sighed in relief.

“Thanks,” I said and leaned forward to hug her. She wrapped her arms around me and leaned into the embrace.

“Anytime, Gwennie. I love having you here.”

I had to close my eyes as a rush of emotion made them damp.

“It’s good to be here,” I said.

Chapter Ten

Lacey was waiting for me when I pulled up the next day and she jogged over to open my door for me.

“Good morning,” she said, grabbing the breakfast bags and coffee from me.

“Good morning,” I said, feeling my face flush as I got out. She stood close to me and I felt a rush of happiness at seeing her again. I tried to tamp it down, but I couldn’t.

“The furniture is getting here today, right?” she asked.

“Right,” I said, following her to the steps where we sat down. I was going to miss this little ritual of us eating together on this porch.

“We’ll have to put most of it in the garage and the dining room,” I said as she bit into her donut. I hoped I didn’t seem like a creep for enjoying watching her eat, but I did.