Seven Days

Chapter Eight

Syd stared into her closet, frowning at everything she owned. "How is it possible to have so many clothes and still have nothing to wear?"

"Talking to yourself, Syd?"

She spun about to glare at Alex, lounging in the doorway. "Must you sneak up on me like that?"

"Sorry." Alex came into the room. "I didn't realize I'd snuck up on you at all. Where are you off to?"

Syd turned back to the closet. "Frerin Durin is taking me out."

"Frerin? Giving him a second chance?"

"I think he's changed, Lex," she said as she stepped into the walk-in closet and went through the small stack of turtleneck sweaters before finding the one she wanted—a soft Fair Isle sweater in blue and gray—and backed out to find Alex just giving her a stern look. "What? I do and he has."

"Since August?"

"Yeah. I know, it sounds insane, but..." Syd sank onto the edge of her neatly made bed. "The other night, when we went out, he asked me to go home with him and I said yes and then he decided we were rushing and we should wait."

"Frerin Durin turned down sex? Are you serious?"

"Yes! See? And, when we—close the door, will you? I don't want Charlie overhearing because I'll never hear the end of it."

Alex moved to push the door closed. "Go."

"Okay, we came back here and we were watching John Wick—I know, I know, but I really didn't care what movie it was—and we started fooling around." Syd smiled up at her younger sister. "And I got mine, while he willingly stopped me from finishing him."

"What?"

"We were on the sofa and he said he didn't want to make a mess, which I appreciated, but the fact remains, he willingly pulled my hand off him and suffered for it. I mean, Gram was coming down the stairs, and that would have been beyond awkward, but I cannot even imagine how uncomfortable he had to be." A hint of heat climbed into her cheeks. "He's not exactly a small guy, Lex."

"The Durin men are blessed with good genes and they've hit the genetic lottery," Alex replied with a grin. "So, are you going to do the deed tonight?"

"I kind of hope so." Syd went back to the closet to get out a pair of jeans. "I just wish I knew where we were going."

"He didn't tell you?"

"No. He texted me about an hour ago telling me to dress comfortable."

"When Thorin tells me that, it usually means he wants to take me to the gun range."

"Well, Frerin isn't a cop, so I doubt that's what he has in mind."

"You never know."

Syd chuckled. "I'm pretty sure we are not going shooting. But," she came back out of the closet once more and slipped out of her cozy flannel pants to tug on the jeans, "just in case things go well tonight, don't wait up and don't worry if I'm out all night."

"Just be careful, Syd, okay? I don't want to see you hurt."

"I know. I'll be fine."

"Hey, Syd!" Charlie called up the stairs. "Frerin's here!"

"I'll be down in a minute!"

Alex smiled. "Well, I hope it all goes the way you want it to, Syd. You deserve a nice guy who makes you happy."

"I just hope I'm not being naive," Syd confessed as she pulled the sweater on and fluffed her hair over her shoulders. "I mean, what if I'm wrong about him?"