Up All Night Long: From Lust to Love (Romance Anthology) (9 page)

Kari turned in her seat, reaching out to touch Sicily's shoulder. "Are you still hurting from all of that?"

Sicily's expression faded into a haunted look. "I'm not sure I'll ever get over it. I was the only one there when she hit the floor. I pray like hell that this new life will ease the ache of loss from my old one."

Kari didn't know how to respond so she said the only thing that came to mind. "It will. We'll make sure of it."

Chapter 8

Kari spent the next two hours in idle chat with Sicily, the topic of their families, their upbringing, and the sharing of a few dreams came up. An hour outside of Bar Harbor they hit traffic, but the scenery around them shifted drastically. Kari rolled down her window, her eyes scanning the beautiful villages and stretches of bare trees with small white buds on them.

"This is beautiful. It almost looks like a picture of the country," Kari murmured.

Sicily breathed in loudly and let the air out in a long sigh. "Can you smell the water? The ocean is close and the saltiness of it makes me hungry."

Kari turned to look at her. "Oh no. We didn't have lunch, did we?"

Sicily held up an empty bag of Cheetos. "Not sure about you, but I had the lunch of champions."

Kari laughed and stretched, rolling up the window and looking out the front of the car as the sun sat heavy on the far side of the sky. "Do you think we're setting ourselves up for failure by wanting this place to be everything we need it to?"

Sicily sat quiet for a minute, Kari finally turning toward her to make sure she heard the question.

"Yes and no, I guess. I mean if we never hoped for something better or demanded something new, then what would that say about our sense of adventure? I think taking on something like this - a move across the country into a place so crazy different than we're used to is the perfect way to shake things up a little."

"Do you think we'll stay here forever or move back home in a few years?" Kari asked, pulling her legs into the seat with her as she wrapped her arms around her knees.

"I think that depends on who we meet and what our new jobs look like."

"Are you excited about your bakery?" Kari asked, a smile lifting her lips as Sicily smiled in unison.

"It's always been a dream of mine. I've worked in several bakeries, but never owned anything of my own. I want to try out a hundred different recipes on my customers." She beamed and Kari couldn't help but smile harder.

"I'm so excited for you."

"I'm excited for you. You get to try all of my good stuff and you get to pick the color palate for the shop. I need you to design me a logo and take pictures of my creations for my website." Sicily's voice sped up, her excitement almost palatable.

"Whoa... slow down. You had me at being your chief taste tester, but colors and graphics?" Kari pulled air in quickly between her teeth, the soft whistle causing Sicily to frown.

"I know we didn't go to school together when we were younger, but I've heard Lisa talk about your talent. Why did you let it go?"

Kari shrugged. "I guess I just thought it was a silly waste of time. I had to figure out how to make a living and painting wasn't it. Photography isn't much better, but I guess moving toward being a reporter will help."

Sicily turned on the blinker, pulling off the freeway on their exit behind Marc. She glanced over at Kari. "You don't want to be a reporter?"

Kari shook her head. "No, not at all. I hate asking people questions and interviewing random strangers. I'd rather take pictures or even paint them. Half the fun is pulling people's heart strings because you've created something that seems impossible simply because of the beauty it inspires."

Sicily smiled and nodded. "I'm going to help you see the possibility of doing just that."

Kari laughed. "That would be great, but I have an interview at the paper tomorrow at lunch. I'm thinking a reporter is where I'm headed."

"For now."

"For now?" Kari looked over at her friend.

"Yeah, for now. You be a reporter until we work on how to unlock your creative side again and then you move toward being who you were created to be." Sicily shrugged.

"You really believe people were created to
be
something specific?"

Sicily pointed to the small red-brick schoolhouse across the street from the stoplight they sat at. "I believe it completely. You're gifted, so use it. Look at that cute little school. It's a junior high, but looks like a mini-library."

Kari leaned forward and watched the small figures outside in the yard running to and fro, their bodies too small to determine size, but they seemed busy, occupied. Kari picked up her phone as it buzzed, Lisa informing them that it was only four miles up the road by the water.

Kari relayed the message before dropping her phone in her purse and sitting back, the need for a long restful afternoon pressing against her.

"Let's unpack tomorrow?" Sicily asked quietly. "I'm tired."

"I couldn't agree more."

*

"Alright, you guys ready to unpack?" Marc clapped his hands as he walked toward the Honda, Kari stretching as Sicily groaned.

"Really? When’s the U-Haul due back to the car place? Lisa?"

Lisa walked toward them, her eyes heavy with sleep. She yawned, covering her mouth and shrugging. "I don't know. I just rented it. I didn't pay attention to the details."

Kari chuckled. "Good grief. Let's go check out the house first and then we can look at the paperwork on the U-Haul."

"Sounds good. You're going to love the back porch, the water is just a few feet away." Sicily reached for Kari's hand, pulling her toward the door on the small white wood house. It was a good size and yet not too big. The white picket fence that framed the structure was homey and the flowers and plants were struggling to gain color again from the long hard winter that had plagued the northeast.

Kari walked to the front door, three small steps leading up to the ornate structure.

"This is much nicer than I would have thought. How did you guys afford this?" Kari asked, looking back as Lisa and Marc brought up the rear.

"I'm a real estate agent, you silly girl. I worked a deal with the previous owner of the house." She smiled and shrugged. "He's cute as hell, too."

Marc growled softly as Lisa reached over and popped his butt. "He's got nothing on you, hotcakes."

Kari pretended to gag and followed Sicily in once the door was unlocked and opened. She stepped into the open floor plan, the living room, dining room, and kitchen laid out before her. Everything was stark white and windows filled up most of the wall space.

"Not sure what you guys were hoping to paint. There isn't much wall space." Kari laughed and moved in as Sicily spun around twice like a fairy princess.

"I know. Don't you love it? On rainy nights when the thunderstorms light up the skies we can sit here and just enjoy the beauty of it." She smiled and reached for Kari again. "Come on. Let me show you the loft bedrooms upstairs and then we'll go see the porch and the water."

Lisa murmured something about her and Marc going in the backyard, but Kari ignored them, her focus on the simplistic attraction of the floor plan, of the wide open welcome of their new place. She let go of Sicily as her friend raced up the stairs, Kari's fingers dragging past the walls as possibilities for colors and design swept across her vision.

It had been forever since she'd let herself create, but perhaps now with the freedom to be a new person she would gain access to that part of her soul again. She quickened her pace at the urging of her friend already lost down the hall. Kari moved through the small hall, the floor wooden and quite out of place in the midst of all the white.

"Come see your room first." Sicily popped out of the small door at the end of the hall and Kari giggled, walking quickly to see her new abode. She slipped in and felt the air leave her lungs. The windows stood from floor to ceiling, half the room a view of the ocean just behind them. She walked to the glass as her eyes filled with tears, overwhelmed by the beauty of it.

"Unbelievable. This is just breathtaking." Kari stopped and let her fingers touch the glass, the sun setting just beyond the far edge of the water. She looked down to see the dock, her brother holding Lisa in his arms, his forehead pressed her hers just before she moved up and kissed him.

Kari watched for a moment and turned away, Sicily continuing to stare. "Wow. That's hot."

Kari laughed and grabbed her friend, pulling her back from the show. "And not for us to see."

"Think something will become of them?" Sicily asked before walking from the room, taking time to show Kari the other two rooms which held a similar view.

"I don't know. Relationships where you're in each other's face all the time are hard. I can't imagine having to keep up with something long distance."

"Do you think if things work out with them that she'll move home or he'll move here?" Sicily asked, turning off the lights and walking with Kari back down the hall.

"He won't move here. He's got big dreams back home and New York is the land of opportunity for him. I think it's just a fling. We'll have to pick up the pieces of one or both of their hearts perhaps." Kari shrugged, hating the very thought of it.

"Lisa has never fallen in love as long as I've known her. I think it's your brother we need to protect. Warn him tonight to be careful?"

Kari nodded and stepped off the last step, turning to walk into the kitchen. She placed her hands on the large island in the middle of the room, the kitchen huge and beautiful. "How in the world did you guys score this place? This kitchen is massive."

Sicily laughed and moved in beside her. "I know, right? I'll be doing most of the cooking, obviously, so it was one of my only requirements."

Kari's stomach growled, the sound coming off like two cats in a back alley. Both of the girls started to laugh and walked toward the back door, the water sitting just beyond the wooden deck built perfectly to fit the entire back side of the house. They stepped out into the chilly night air as Lisa and Marc separated, walking toward them. Marc looked like a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar, but Lisa looked perfectly fine.

"I'm starving," Lisa muttered, rubbing her stomach. "Those chips didn't do it for me today."

"Me too." Kari moved to put her arm around her brother's waist, a smile on her mouth. "What do you guys feel like?"

Sicily leaned against the wooden railing, the moon faintly showing in the sky just behind her. "I'm thinking we go grab something from the grocery store and cook it. I can whip us up a stir fry in no time."

Everyone chimed in and Sicily and Kari decided to take one for the team and go to the grocery store. Lisa growled about them not wanting to help unpack, but a few words from Marc and she was happy to lift all of their furniture, or so it seemed.

Kari got into the driver’s side and buckled up, a smirk on her lips as Lisa and Marc started to work on the back of the U-Haul. "I think we got the easy end of the deal this time."

Sicily got in and laughed. "No shit. Although, if we get back and nothing has been moved out of that U-Haul, they totally got it on."

Kari groaned. "Ewww... Come on, man. That's my baby brother."

"Your
playboy
baby brother." Sicily shook her head and pointed down the road. "I'm pretty sure I remember there being a small grocery store right beside that junior high we stopped in front of earlier."

"Great. I love your cooking and it's been too long."

"Do you love the house? You good with your room and all?" Sicily turned toward Kari, her voice soft and caring.

Kari nodded. "Oh yeah. I love it. The room seems to be the best in the house though. You guys didn't have to do that. I'll pay extra on the rent or something."

"No, silly. We did that to remind you that you're loved. I'm so sorry about the reason you decided to come with us, but I'm stoked that you're here. It's just not the same without you now that we've all gotten so close over the last few years."

A warm smile covered Kari's face as she made the final turn to the small grocery store, the building a quarter of the size of the ones back home. "I do feel loved. I think being with you guys is going to help me get over this much faster than I thought possible."

They parked and got out, Sicily grabbing a small buggy and moving in front. "I'm going to get the veggies and chicken. You go grab us a box of rice and a bottle of wine. I'll meet you at the counter."

"Okay," Kari responded and moved past the produce, her eyes adverted up to the large signs that sat above each aisle. She finally found the rice and pasta in the middle of the oriental aisle, the categories making no sense at all. She grabbed an off-brand box of rice, none of the usuals finding their way to the shelves.

Tucking it under her arm, she walked toward the end of the small store and found the very tiny wine section, the usual array of options limited to forty or so. She reached up and let her finger drag along the labels, her weariness not allowing her to really discern whether white or red would go best with their dinner.

"What are you planning on pairing your wine with?" a deep male voice sounded beside her and she jumped, turning to apologize for her silly reaction.

The man before her left her speechless. A rarity at best, but unable to say anything as she stared at him. Jet black hair messy atop his head, dark brown eyes, a well-kept beard dusting his face, nice fitted blue jeans, and a white T-shirt that left little to the imagination. The gray hoodie he wore seemed to detract from his overall appearance, but he was far too beautiful to really give it credence.