"We have more than enough help," I said, wondering why she'd sent him. As soon as he took out his toolbox though, I understood it. He started checking the few windows and doors in the room. Rick ducked his head under the small kitchen sink. Adam held a stud finder against the wall.
"No studs here," he said. "I wonder if it's broken." Then he held it against his chest. I shook my head as it started to beep. "Nope, not broken."
"What are they doing?" I asked.
Stevie narrowed her eyes for a moment, studying them. "It looks like … a home inspection."
I started unpacking but Dillon's annoying habit of rearranging everything was getting to me. Finally, we three girls sat on my small bed, trying to stay out of everyone's way.
"I like this place," Marley said. "It's got character. You even have a balcony."
"It's a fire escape," Stevie said.
"Yeah, but it'll be nice to sit out there at night and think about my writing."
"Just make sure to keep your windows locked," Adam said. For some reason, this statement made Stevie giggle.
I was about to ask her what was so funny when Dillon interrupted my thoughts. "Oh that reminds me. I got you curtains, kid. Can one of you fellows hang up the rods for me?"
Adam opened his mouth, no doubt ready to say something wicked, but Stevie shot him a warning look. "I'll do it," Rick said.
"Speaking of your writing, we read the story," Marley whispered.
"What did you think?"
"It's good. I liked it."
Dillon joined us on the bed. It was not made for four people, but somehow we all fit on it. "I read it too," he said, dropping his voice, even though the sound of power drills masked it.
I could read between the lines so I turned to the one person who'd tell it like it was. "Steve, tell me the truth."
She sighed. "It was good, but the sex scenes were a bit … " She looked at each one of us as if trying to come up with the right word.
"Dry," Dillon offered.
"Seriously? I thought they were hot."
"They were, but they lacked um … "
"Passion?" I asked.
"Yeah, that's the right word. The guy talked a good game, but when it came down to it, it just didn't seem like he delivered the goods."
"What do you mean?" I asked. They were silent. "Look, be honest with me, even if it's brutal. I let you read it because I want to make it better. Just say it."
Damien interrupted our thoughts when he knocked on the wall above my bed. We all looked like kids with hands trapped in a candy jar. "Billie, this is a sound building. The third step on the stairway needs to be fixed, so I'm going to get Mike's permission to fix it."
"Ah, thanks, Damien."
"This wall right here," he said, knocking once more, "it isn't as sturdy as the others. It was put up to separate one big apartment into two units after the building was erected."
Dillon giggled, no doubt at Damien saying ‘erected'.
"Grow up," I said, elbowing him.
"Is that bad?" Marley asked.
"No, it's not load-bearing, but it's also not insulated. It just means you'll be able to hear your neighbor."
Oh … I tried to process if I liked that idea or not, but as soon as I thought of Evan's favorite activity, my stomach soured. If I had to listen to him with another girl, I'd lose it.
Stevie clapped her hands. "Why don't you guys take a break and go to that chicken place you like."
"Really?" Adam asked, giving her a suspicious glance as if she was tricking him. I wondered the same thing.
"Yeah," I said. "You guys are missing the football game, aren't you?"
"Football isn't played for a few months."
"Soccer?" Dillon guessed.
"Baseball," Rick said.
"Oh of course," Stevie said. "Go watch as they touchdown a few home runs."
"You don't touchdown a home run, but a break sounds good. We'll bring you guys back something," Damien said.
"Want to come, McKay?" Adam asked Dillon.
"Nah, I'll stay here."
"Hungry?" Rick asked Marley.
"I'm good for now."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a protein bar before depositing it on her lap. "In case you get hungry before I get back."
She smiled, picking it up. "Thanks."
"Don't take the stairs. Like Damien said, the third one needs to be fixed. Wait for me."
"Okay, Rick," she said, her smile tightening.
"And call me if-"
She stood and smacked his lips with a kiss before he could finish the sentence. "Go, already."
When they'd finally left, and the room no longer suffered from testosterone overdose, I shot a quizzical look at Stevie and Marley. "I'm surprised you guys let them go. I thought you were against that place."
Stevie shrugged. "Adam made a good point the other night. Besides, we wanted to talk about the book."
"What about it?"
"The guy was kind of a dick."
"He's cocky."
"There's a difference between having a big dick and being a big dick. I mean, he was all like ‘my dick's so big, I can fuck you when you're in the next room, baby'."
"Um … he never said that."
"He might as well."
Marley placed her hand on my shoulder. "Little Bird, I don't mean to sound harsh, but I think your lack of experience shows."
"You're right, I don't have many writing credits."
"Not that … your lack of sexual experience," Stevie said.
"Are you telling me I should have more sex to write a better love scene?"
"I'm not saying that, but we did buy you a gift to help you."
"A gift? You guys already got me the curtains and the writing desk … and-"
"That's from everyone. This is just from us."
"Consider it a welcome home present," Dillon said. "Or maybe a parting prize."
Stevie ran to a box I didn't recognize packing. She took out a beautifully wrapped present, placing it on my lap. It was heavy.
I unwrapped it, confused by the contents. "You bought me a lifetime supply of triple A batteries?" No wonder it was heavy.
"Look underneath."
I removed all the packs of batteries then untied the long velvet pouch. "You got me a vibrator?" I asked in disbelief. "Thanks for the thought, but I already own one."
Only in this family.
Marley took the package out of my hand. "This is the V-Magic Nine-Thousand. Look." She pointed to the writing on the box, which stated the most unusual guarantee I'd ever seen on a package.
"How can they guarantee an orgasm?"
"I don't know, but it works. This got me through all those lonely nights before I met Rick," she said.
"Eww, is it used?" I asked.
Marley laughed. "I'd give you the shirt off my back, but there are some hand-me-downs you just don't do."
Thank God for that. I put the lid back on the box. "Thank you. You guys must think I'll be using it a lot, with all the batteries."
"There's nothing more annoying than getting a new toy and not being able to play with it," Stevie said, shoulder-bumping me.
We all worked together to put up the pretty black and white damask curtains Dillon brought. I turned on some music, choosing Miley Cyrus' Party in the USA. Stevie shook her head. "Don't judge. This is my tune," I insisted.
"That's right," Dillon said, doing a cute little hip dance that made me join in. "Leave Miley alone, you haters."
"Should we have put up the curtains before Damien puts up the new locks?"
"He's putting up new locks?"
"Mom asked him to make the place as safe as possible," Marley said.
"Next he'll be putting in a security system."
"What makes you think he isn't?"
Then I remembered that look between Adam and Stevie. "Hey, Stevie, what was that look you gave Adam when he said to lock my windows?
"What look?" she asked, feigning innocence and not fooling anyone.
"I saw it too," Marley said. "Spill it, Stevie."
She sighed. "Adam's been doing this thing lately where he sneaks into the bedroom window late at night."
"Why would he do that?" Dillon asked. "Are you locking him out?"
"No … it's role play. He wears a mask."
"Like a Halloween mask?" I asked.
"A superhero mask," Marley suggested.
"No no, that's dumb … like a robber's mask."
Yeah, as if that makes perfect sense.
"He wears pantyhose over his head?" Dillon asked.
"Seriously, stop guessing. He wears a ski mask and dresses in all black. He tips me off to it by telling me to make sure the windows are locked. So of course, I leave the bedroom window unlocked."