Page 65 of My One

“You know, when we were flying here this morning, I had no idea I’d be put to work.”

We laughed. “Think of it like a scavenger hunt.”

“It totallyisa scavenger hunt.”

At least the boxes were labeled.

Edna came back a few minutes later, gave us each a glass of lemonade and a pair of scissors, and then left us to continue rummaging through the boxes. The more we looked, the more I thought Edna needed to have a garage sale or donate all of this stuff to charity. She had a ton of boxes, and I was starting to worry we wouldn’t find what we were looking for.

“I found one labeled electronics,” Brooke finally stated.

“Oh!” I exclaimed and went to her. “Open it.”

She grabbed the scissors and ran the blade across the tape. I opened the flaps and peered inside. Right on top was a VCR as well as the cords needed to hook it up to a TV. It honestly felt as though we’d found a treasure chest filled with gold.

“Now, let’s get the guys and make them set it up while we do a burger run.”

“Set it up here, right?” Brooke questioned.

“Yep. Easier than bringing a TV across the street,” I joked.Seriously, what did Doug and Denise do at night?They didn’t even have books or an e-reader around.

So fucking weird.

Iwas nervous.

Fuck, I was so nervous.

Easton and I had set up the VCR Nic and B found in Edna’s garage, and now we were waiting for them to get back with our dinner.

“Here.” Edna put a shot glass in front of my face. “You look like you could use this.”

I smiled up at her from where I sat on her couch. “I do?”

“From the way your leg is bouncing up and down, I’d say you do.”

I reached for the glass with a clear liquid—probably vodka. “Is it that obvious?”

“Yes,” she stated a matter-of-factly. “Would you like one too?” she asked Easton.

He smiled at her. “Sure.”

Edna went into the kitchen and came back with a shot for both Easton and herself.

“Here’s to answers,” I toasted, and we clinked glasses before downing our shots. Yep, it was vodka. “You know, I didn’t take you for a shots kinda gal, Ed.”

She grabbed the shot glasses from us and walked into the kitchen, calling over her shoulder, “When you get to be my age, you just don’t give a fuck anymore.”

We all chuckled. Hearing her drop an F-bomb actually didn’t surprise me because she did seem like the type to not give a fuck. I mean, she was making sure to liquor me up every chance she got. Hell, maybe she was some sort of alcoholic. She didn’t look like one, though, and I knew my fair share from being a bar owner over the years. I wanted to know more about her. She seemed cool and actually, she reminded me of someone, but I couldn’t place her. Edna was the one my mother had trusted with a secret will, and that was maybe why I trusted her too.

“And how old are you?” I asked.

She came back into the living room. “Avery, you never ask a girl that question.”

“Well, you don’t look a day over thirty.” I grinned.

“Does that mean you want to go clubbing with me tonight?” Edna teased.

“Santa Barbara have any good clubbing spots?” I inquired, joking as well.