I don’t have the strength to argue with them.“Fine.Five minutes.Don’t touch anything while I’m gone.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
In my bathroom, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and wince.My hair is a disaster, my makeup is smudged, and I look like I’ve been dragged through a war zone.I start the shower, letting the steam fill the room while I gently finger-comb my knots and cleanse the makeup from my face, carefully checking the scratches on my cheek.Once I’ve detangled myself from the mess of the day, I slip inside.
The hot water feels incredible against my skin, washing away the remnants of the cold and some of the tension from my shoulders.I let myself stand under the spray longer than necessary, using the time to rebuild my walls.
When I finally emerge, I feel more like myself.I pull on a soft cashmere sweater and am reaching for my favorite pajama pants—the ones with little cats on them that I’d die before admitting I own when I remember Caleb is just outside the door.I pick out beige sweats instead.
I’m towel-drying my hair when I hear voices from the living room.
“This art collection is incredible,” Megan is saying.“And the way she’s arranged everything...It’s like something out of a magazine.She has excellent taste.”
“Yeah, she does,” Caleb’s voice carries a note of genuine appreciation.“But don’t tell her I said that.It’ll just go to her head.”
“I heard that.”
Caleb sighs, running a hand through his hair.“Of course you did.”
“Your regret is noted,” I say dryly, stepping into the living room.“But I already know I have excellent taste.”
“There’s that ego I was worried about,” he mutters.
I shoot him a withering look before turning to both of them.“Thank you.For helping me tonight.Both of you.”The words come out stiff, like I’m choking on them when I look at Caleb.“But I’m fine now.I think I was just tired from walking for hours.I’ll eat something and get some sleep.”
“Hours?”Megan’s eyes widen.“You walked for hours in that weather?”
“It wasn’t that bad?—”
Caleb cuts in, his voice sharp with concern.“What the hell happened?”
I wave him off.“Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
“Right, because you handled it so well,” he says sarcastically.“One shoe, no coat, no phone?—”
“I said it’s handled.”My voice has an edge that makes both siblings pause.
Megan looks between us, then grins at her brother.“Speaking of handling things, we should all order some pizzas.”
“That’s really not necessary,” I start, already feeling overwhelmed by their presence in my space.
“Actually, we should probably head out,” Caleb says at the same time, clearly as eager to escape as I am to get rid of them.
Before either of us can elaborate, I hear the distinct sound of a key turning in my lock.Right on schedule.
“That’ll be my brother,” I say with relief, moving toward the door as it swings open.Marco steps inside, my purse and keys clutched in his hands, along with my missing shoe dangling from his fingers.
“I brought your things,” he says simply, his eyes immediately scanning past me to take in my unexpected guests.His gaze lingers on Caleb with obvious curiosity, like he’s trying to place where he’s seen him before.
“Where’s Rafael?”I ask, motioning to my belongings.
“He took his own car.Said he had to take care of something,” Marco says, but his attention is focused on Caleb and Megan.“These are friends of yours?”
“Colleagues,” I correct quickly, shooting Caleb a warning look.“Well, Caleb and I work together.This is his sister, Megan.They helped me get home.They were just leaving.”
“Helped?”Marco frowns.“Didn’t you leave in a car?”
“She walked home,” Caleb says pleasantly, but his voice is hard.“In this weather.With just a cardigan on.There was a man harassing her on the street.We stepped in.”
