Read Online How Forever Feels by Laura Drewry - Free Book Online Page B

counter, to the set of encyclopedias that lined the shelf under the widow, to the floor itself, which was made up of thick wide planks like something you’d see in an Old West movie.
    “Wow,” he muttered. “You don’t see that very often.”
    “It’s my favorite part.” Jayne grinned, running the toe of her shoe across the knot in one of the planks. “I was worried Nick would have to pull it all up when he did the renovations, but he made it work.”
    “How long have you had this place?”
    “It was my grandmother’s. I grew up here, spent my first eighteen years in the apartment upstairs, and then when Gran died, she left it to me.”
    “Come on.” Snip laughed as she unlocked the door at the back. “I’ll give you the grand tour. Watch your head.”
    With the door secured behind them again, she led him up a steep, narrow staircase to what had to be the smallest apartment ever built. With less than a quarter turn of his head in either direction, he could see each of the four rooms clearly. Actually, it was really only three—a bathroom, a bedroom, and the room he was in now, which was divided into both a living room and a kitchen.
    “I’ll just be a minute,” she said, passing him the bouquet. “Would you hold those please? Take a load off.”
    “Where?” he muttered. “There’s cubicles at work bigger than this.”
    “It’s a little small, but—”
    “A
little
? I feel like Gulliver.”
    He loved the sound of Maya’s laugh: the soft, gentle breath and then…yup…the snort.
    Glossy magazines covered the narrow coffee table near the couch, the top one opened to a two-page layout of different flower arrangements. From where he was standing, it looked like Snip had taken a Sharpie to it, circling parts of the pictures and crossing out other bits.
    Jack stepped over to the table and lifted the stack of magazines to uncover the DVD case poking out from the bottom of the pile. Apparently she still had a thing for Denzel Washington.
    “Okay,” she said, coming out of the bedroom, her skirt and blouse replaced by a pair of faded jeans and an orangey-pink tank top. “I’m ready.”
    “2 Guns?”
Jack waved the movie cover back and forth. “Interesting choice.”
    “Awesome choice, you mean.” Her left brow lifted as her mouth curled into a teasing grin. “The two most beautiful men in the world together in one movie—what more can a girl ask for?”
    “I don’t know,” he said. “But I bet your friend Griffin might have something to say about it.”
    “Please.” Maya rolled her eyes and headed for the door, lifting a black hoodie off the hook as she did. “If he’s no fan of Denzel or Marky Mark, he’s no friend of mine.”
    Back downstairs, Jayne glanced up from the paperback she was skimming. “See you later. Oh, hey, how about dinner at our place on Sunday?”
    “I’m in.” Maya was still nodding as both she and Jayne turned to Jack.
    “Me? Uh, yeah, sure. Thanks.”
    “Great—bring a salad! And Pete!”
    With a final wave, Snip zipped up her hoodie then hesitated when they hit the sidewalk. “Where’d you park?”
    “Around the corner there.” He waited until they made it to the barbershop, then stopped. “Brace yourself.”
    Circling his thumb and middle finger, he let out a short sharp whistle, then stood back and watched as Snip’s face lit up. Pete came bounding around the corner from where Jack had left him in the Jeep, took one look at Maya, and bolted straight for her.
    Anyone who didn’t believe dogs could smile had never met Pete.
    Snip didn’t even hesitate, just dropped to a crouch and wrapped her arms around his neck as he smothered her face in a barrage of wet, sloppy kisses.
    “There’s my Sweetie Petey,” she cooed. “Who’s a good boy?”
    “Guess he remembers you.”
    The more she scratched him, the harder he pushed against her, until she was teetering back on her heels; but she didn’t stop.
    “Such a handsome boy, aren’t you?” Taking