I need it by tomorrow. ☹

Naturally. She sighed. While she preferred to plan ahead, her twin brother liked to fly by the seat of his pants. It often ended up putting her in panic mode.

I’ll be waiting out a storm, so I won’t have anything better to do.

Maybe having something productive to work on would keep her from falling into Aiden’s arms again. Remembering how safe she’d once felt in his embrace, she shivered.

She texted Seth. Oh, so you’re actually doing me a favor?

Ha-ha. It’s a matter of perspective.

She sent the eye roll emoji.

Seriously, thanks, Sis! I owe you one.

You owe me about a thousand. But you’re welcome. Talk soon.

Sophie pocketed her phone and blow-dried her hair. When she was finished she still heard Aiden moving overhead, so she made her way to the living room where her laptop waited. If anyone should be confined to his room, it should be him.

With the storm shutters closed the living area was unnaturally dark. It was odd not being able to see outside, especially when she could hear the rain pummeling the roof and the wind whistling through the eaves.

She sat down with her laptop. Her brother’s document had arrived, but Sophie checked the weather first. Sure enough, the radar showed the eye of the storm making landfall near Myrtle Beach as the outer edges of the hurricane swept over Piper’s Cove. Still a Category 1, which could produce winds up to ninety-five miles per hour.

She lifted Pippa onto the couch, and the dog set her head on the crook of Sophie’s elbow, trembling. Sophie stroked her little head. “It’s okay, girl. It’s just a little storm. We’re safe in here.”

The dog peered at her with such trust, Sophie’s heart squeezed tight. For such a little thing, she brought Sophie so much joy and comfort. Pippa’s soft fur had caught many of her tears, especially after her mom passed.

“What would I do without you, girl? Huh?”

After one final stroke she opened her brother’s file and gave it a quick scan. He’d failed to mention the document was eighteen pages long.

Sophie sighed. So much for scouring Publishers Weekly.

Something smacked the side of the house, making Sophie jump. Pippa burrowed into her side, and Sophie slid an arm around her. “You’re okay, sweetie. It can’t hurt you.”

Sophie had made it through twelve pages of her brother’s document, fixing punctuation and clarifying points here and there. He was a decent writer, but just like with his college essays, he tended to write the first draft and leave the rest to her.