“Why don’t you two wait here? I’ll be back in a few minutes with your bag.”
“All right.” Grayson and I walked to the balcony.
I watched as Cole jogged down the stairs and cut through the backyard path to the Dunes.
“Daddy beach.” Grayson pointed.
“He’ll be right back,” I promised.
Five minutes later, Cole appeared with my overnight bag. “Here you go.”
“Thank you.” I unzipped it in search of my cosmetics bag. I was looking forward to a shower with my own soap and shampoo.
“I’m going to take a shower, and then I can help you unload everything.”
“Take your time. I’m sure you’re tired.” He winked. “I can get the stuff in the house. Oh, I put some towels under the sink.”
The shower sputtered, and the pipes started to howl when I turned on the hot water. I guessed all houses had their special sounds. I lathered my hair with shampoo and coated my legs with shaving cream before running a razor over each one.
I turned off the water and wrapped myself in a towel. I stifled a giggle. These looked a lot like the ones Cole ordered for the Dunes.
Feeling more like myself than I had in three days, I walked out onto the driveway balcony, amazed at the size of the truck I had driven. I knew it was big, but when I saw it take up the entire driveway and stick out into the street, I realized it was a monster.
“Carolina!” I heard Cal’s voice yell from somewhere in the truck.
“Cal?”
I raced down the stairs. Lance and Cal each had a box in hand, and they were making a stack next to the stairs.
“Hold on, girl. Let me put this down so I can hug your neck.” Cal placed the cardboard box on top of another one then wrapped me in a hug.
“Don’t squish her, man.” Lance tapped me on the shoulder, before his arms circled my waist. “Glad you’re here.”
“Me too.” I looked around for Sasha. She had to be here too. “Where’s Sasha?”
Cal laughed. “Oh, don’t worry. She’ll be here in a second.”
Lance jabbed his friend in the ribs. “Does she know?”
My eyes darted between the pair. “Know what?”
“I’ll let Sasha tell you when she gets here.” Cal turned to walk up the truck’s ramp. “Lance, get over here and help me with the desk.”
I placed my hands on my hips. I wasn’t getting anything out of these two. I waited for them to pass before I reached for a box.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. What are you doing?” Cole jumped in front of me, wrestling the box from my hands.
“I’m unloading the truck.”
“No, the boys and I have a handle on this. Why don’t you start unpacking?”
I looked at him. Part of me was relieved not to carry heavy boxes of books or dishes up to the second story.
“I can handle carrying boxes, Cole.” I turned to find another one.
“I know you can handle it. That’s not what I meant.” He sighed. “Look, I have no idea what to do with everything in the boxes. I just thought it would go faster if we unload the truck and you unload the boxes. But, if you insist on lugging the damn boxes up the stairs, have it your way.”
He walked down the ramp, two boxes in his arms, and started up the flight of stairs that led to the kitchen.