Page 28 of Learn Your Lesson

“It’s too much,” I agreed, tucking my arms so tight around me they felt like a straitjacket as I watched Vince dump another box in the bedroom after asking me where it went. He swung by where we stood long enough to sneak a kiss on Maven’s cheek, who batted him away.

“Like hell it is,” Livia argued, propping her ass up onto the granite. “You’re saving his ass. If I were you, I’d be asking for a gold card, too. And maybe a G-Wagon.”

Maven laughed, and I cracked my neck before blushing when they both swiveled their heads toward me at the loud sound.

God, I was so awkward.

“Listen, if there’s one thing I know, it’s that you can easily lose yourself when you start getting involved with this team,” Maven said, her eyes soft as she approached me. One hand reached out to squeeze my arm. “So, Livia and I are always here to rescue you.”

“Starting with a girls’ night next week,” Livia added, hopping off the counter. “This bitch has wrangled me into DIY wedding crafts, which is utter bullshit considering how much money her soon-to-be husband makes.”

“It’ll be fun and you know it,” Maven teased her.

Livia scoffed. “You can’t call anything that doesn’t include a peg and a bottle of lubefun, bestie.”

“Liv!”

Maven tried to scold her, but was bent over in a laugh now as Livia winked at me. I couldn’t help it — I cracked a smile.

Who the hellwerethese girls?

I loved them already.

“Anyway, I’m not going through that torture alone. Grace is supposed to be in town, too, so I’m wrangling both of you into it with me,” Livia said, pointing at me as she floated past. “We’ll text you the details.”

She swung out the door, teasing one of the hockey players carrying in my cat tree on the way.

Maven smiled at me when she was gone. “I got your number from Will. I’ll add you to our group text. Okay?”

I nodded. “Okay.”

“I gotta run. Make sure these boys clean up after themselves,” she said. “And hey, Chloe?”

“Yeah?”

“Welcome to the family. We’re a bit crazy, but I promise we’re fun.”

I couldn’t explain the way my heart expanded at that comment, at the wordfamily. I thanked her, and then she was out the door with a princess wave, walking in stilettos in a graceful manner that would have been impossible for me to achieve.

The rest of Sunday was a blur.

I hadn’t packed that much over — at least, I didn’t think so. Still, with three cats to get settled and limited time to move things from my house to Will’s in-between practices and games, it felt like I had blinked and the weekend was over.

That evening, once Ava was in bed, I put on an episode of theStuff You Should Knowpodcast — this one about sloths — and got to work unpacking and organizing.

Maven was right. The pool house was more like ahousehouse, and it was at least twice the size of the one I was currently renting. The main living area was expansive, with a stained alder ceiling and polished concrete floor. Plush rugs kept the space warm, along with the massive cream couch piled high with pillows I was certain Will didn’t pick out, a cozy electric fireplace, and two oversized leather chairs fit for hockey players the size of my new boss.

The living area bled into the dining area and kitchen, which looked fresh out of a magazine with the navy cabinets, gold hardware, and white marble kitchen island. Nacho had already made himself at home on that island, sprawled out and flicking his tail as he watched me unpack a few of my favorite tea mugs.

Pepper was too busy exploring to sit still. I had to be careful with the gigantic glass doors that opened to the pool. As beautiful as they were, they only begged my mischievous cats to test their luck — to see if they could slip through my legs and out that door before I had the chance to close it.

Pepper would be the first to try, no doubt. He had already figured out how to climb up onto the mantel over the fireplace, as well as scale the empty floating shelves Will had told me I could outfit with whatever I wanted to. I was already plotting out which books and art supplies would go where.

Coconut, on the other hand, was still hiding somewhere — likely under the gorgeous king-size bed. Every time I walked through my new bedroom, I stopped and let out a dreamy sigh at the sight of it. It was memory foam and flush with expensive bedding that made it feel like I was sleeping on a cloud.

It felt as strange as it did comforting, unpacking my belongings as the evening slipped by. Something about the pool house, about Will and Ava ingeneralfelt… natural, like they were family already and I’d visited a hundred times.

Then again, everything about it also felt incredibly disconcerting.