The Red Door (The Door Series Book 1) by J. L. Massey Page B

public had changed. Hmm, maybe it was time to stop being so polite and easygoing. Perhaps then I would not be used or ran over by the guys I dated.
    “What was that?” she asked suddenly.
    “What?” I looked back at her.
    “That serious pissed-off look that you just had on your face. You are mad. Ari, don’t worry, I won’t see him again. Okay? Holes before poles and sisters before misters!”
    I laughed at our old high school saying. “No Becca, he is a great guy. I did think of something…err…someone, but it was not him. And it was never going to be him. If you remember a long time ago when we dated I couldn’t get past the whole like my brother thing then. What would be different now?”
    “You’re sure?”
    “YES!!! I’m sure! Gee, what does a girl have to go through to get her best friend laid?”
    “Okay then, you has some splainin to do Lucy. That was one seriously pissed-off look that was on your face.”
    “Ethel have you been drinking?”
    “No, sorry,” she laughed. “A marathon for I Love Lucy was on in the ER yesterday, and it was slow. I kind of got caught up in their banter. Now explain. Why the look?”
    “Well…” I looked over at her and knowing I couldn’t get out of it, but not wanting to get into it, I decided to put it off. “I don’t want to get into it right now. Not while we are at your parents’. Later, when we leave, you can come back to my room and I will tell you then. Okay?”
    “Fine, but I’m holding you to that. I want to talk to you about last night anyway,” she said excitedly.
    We walked into the living room where David was watching a game. He saw us and stood up, giving us both hugs. He always gave the best hugs. This could be because he was a mountain of a man, standing around six and a half feet tall and weighing in at around two hundred and fifty. He kept his black hair short and had a trimmed beard that was black and silver. He had the lumberjack thing down to the flannel shirts and suspenders.
    “Hey girls. What do you have planned today?”
    “Hey David, where is Michele?” I asked as we all sat down.
    “I’m here,” she replied coming from the kitchen and giving me a hug, too, before sitting on the couch with us. Everyone was waiting to see why I asked to meet with them.
    “Okay.” I laughed. “I guess I will dive right in. I found a house, and I love it. It only has one bathroom and the kitchen needs to be redone, but it has a breathtaking backyard and a nice front porch. Plus, it’s only a few blocks from here. Oh and it is way below my budget so I can afford to redo the kitchen and add a bath. I want to make sure it is sound. David, I was hoping you wouldn’t mind looking at it and work out a timeframe for you to renovate it. I caught the owners there yesterday hanging up the sign, and they told me where they keep the spare key so I could show you.”
    I watched as David ground his jaw and stared me down. Making me wait. I remembered that this was his thing. When we were younger, Becca and I would get caught doing something and when we got in trouble he would do this. He once admitted he did it to make us uncomfortable.
    “First off, Ari, it pisses me off for you to think that I would mind. You and Becca were inseparable growing up and you stayed here as much as Becca stayed at your house. Then you lived here for a few months, too. You are our daughter, not by blood, but our daughter nonetheless. And if you ever come here questioning about whether we will be here for you again, I will get out my belt. I don’t care how old you are.”
    “Second. No. I will not go look over the house. We will all go. We’re family, and we’re always there for each other. You don’t think Michele or Becca want to see this house? Who’s going to help you paint? Pick out furniture? Fill it with knick knack shit? It sure as hell won’t be me or the boys. The kitchen and bath, yes, shopping no.”
    “Third. Don’t ever call here asking to speak with