“And sometimes I hate being the youngest,” Emily said. “You’ve done everything first. I can’t even make my own mistakes.”
“Sure you can,” Cady said over the roof of the car. “You just can’t complain when I say I told you so.”
Her sister grabbed the bigger, heavier suitcase and started lugging it toward the door. “Boys my age are stupid.”
“Grown men aren’t always smart,” Cady said as they hauled the bags through the front door.
“I’ll make you some hot water,” Emily said and strode into the kitchen.
Cady got her bags into what had been her room until Emily converted it into a studio after she left. Cady’s single bed was pushed against the wall and covered with a big piece of plywood to turn it into a cutting board. Emily had moved the fabric scraps to the sewing station that took up most of the floor space. Cady stared at the tiny, crowded space and thought that there was no way she could fit herself and Shoulders, aka McCormick, into that bed.
That was depressing enough to make her leave the bags where they were and walk back down the hall to the kitchen, where Emily was drizzling honey into steaming water. A cup of cocoa steamed on the counter.
“Does that happen often?” Em asked.
“Does what?” she asked, still distracted by the memory of Shoulders’ muscles flexing.
“Crazy drunk guys coming out of the shadows.” Emily held out the mug.
“They’re always out there,” Cady said with a shrug. She clinked cups with Emily, then sipped the drink that was as much honey as water, and let out a sigh. She’d shed Chris, her stylist, her bodyguard, the band, and was finally alone and home. “It’s so good to be home.”
“Only if you leave,” Emily muttered.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anne Calhoun is the author of a number of romance novels and novellas, including the acclaimed novel Liberating Lacey, which won the EPIC Award for Best Contemporary Erotic Romance and was chosen as one of NPR’s 100 Swoon-worthy Romances. Anne holds a BA in History and English, and an MA in American Studies from Columbia University. When she’s not writing, her hobbies include reading, yoga, and horseback riding. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, son, and rescue dog, and has recently overcome her Starbucks addiction.