Connected: Part 4 of the On The Edge Series

Chapter 43

I got lost in boxes and thoughts of writing and the wedding when Viv nearly shouted to get my attention.

"Sorry, Viv. What's up?"

"Can James come over?" She impatiently asked, which made me suspicious.

"Hm, is James already here?" I asked.

"Hey, Lil," James greeted as he sheepishly entered from the hall.

"I didn't break any rules; I knew you were here," Viv began.

"It's fine. But you have to either leave your door open or hang out in the living room," I added. "Where is Jackson?"

"Went to rehearsals with Dad," Viv offered as she poked through one of my boxes and picked up an old Bob Dylan t-shirt. "Does this still fit you?"

"Yes, it does. But you can borrow it if you'd like," I added.

"Thanks," she chirped as she flung it over her shoulder.

"You're going to regret that," James warned.

"I know where she lives," I smiled.

"So does Sarah, and she put a lock on her closet," James added as Viv smacked his chest.

"How about this? You can have free rein in my closet as long as you let me know if anything gets wrecked and you're okay with me hunting through your closet for anything I'm missing," I offered.

Viv pondered, giving me access to her closet for a moment.

"And I promise not to snoop. Just look for stolen contraband," I added. "But if I find anything nefarious... yeah, you're in trouble."

Viv poked around my box for another moment before pulling out a red and white sweater and adding, "deal."

"Pleasure working with you, Viv. What are you two thinking of doing today?" I continued.

"Movie?" Viv asked James.

"Sure, but I get to pick. I'm tired of living in a black-and-white world!" He groaned. "I want to watch something blow up."

"Well, you two have fun. I'll be here, endlessly hanging far too many clothes," I grumbled.

"Let me know when you're done so I can go shopping." Viv's eyes gleamed as she looked over a few more things.

The sun was setting when my next visitor arrived. 

"You didn't eat again," Billy scolded as he leaned against the doorjamb of my closet.

"But I'm so close to done," I exclaimed as I motioned to my nearly complete closet.

"You have to eat," Billy chided again.

"I know," I grumbled. "Just twenty more minutes, and I'll be done."

"No, Lil, you eat with the family now." Billy was in full dad mode.

"Fine," I whined. "Is James still here?"

"Mmhmm, found them on the couch. Did you check on them at all?" He asked.

"Um, define check..."

"So, no," Billy answered his own question.

"Were they..."

"No, of course not. But still..."

"Are you mad?" I gently prodded.

"No. I think we've done all we can do with the rules," Billy admitted. "But dinner is here, and you need to eat."

"Fine," I relented again.

"Hey," Billy coyly began as we made our way downstairs. "What do you think about Tim covering the song selections for the wedding?"