AMELIA
Standing on my front porch, confused, I look around, hoping to spot anyone who must’ve dropped these off. Not seeing a single soul, I shut my door and make my way to the kitchen with the jaw-dropping bouquet in hand.
I search through the delicate bouquet for a note, pulling it out from the bunch full of yellow, pink, orange, and red flowers. I open the little envelope.
Congrats on becoming a big girl. Think of how many times I can make you come without the risk of anyone hearing.
—Meathead
My chest shakes as a laugh bursts free from my mouth. Glancing at the card for a few more seconds like a lovesick puppy, I walk over and place it under a magnet on my fridge. I wish I could call him up and say yes to his offer, but all I do is stare at his handwriting and sigh.
Best housewarming gift ever.
I send him a picture, thanking him for the beautiful arrangement of flowers before I place them on my nightstand beside my bed. That way, he can feel close as I try to fall asleep at night.
Eating a spoonful of peach yogurt, I watch some YouTube on my laptop while trying to make my eating experience less dreadful than it already is. I’ve researched many ways I could overcome my eating disorder. I find it helpful while I’m eating to watch someone else eat. It makes me feel less alone. So, I put on my favorite YouTuber that bases her content all around food and try to become better. Healthier.
After finishing the container, I reach for my phone and choke on my saliva once the screen shines brightly at me.
Leonidas
We’re coming over. Be ready in five minutes.
Springing up from the couch, I nearly fall over my feet as I rush up the stairs after seeing the text message my brother sent four minutes ago.
Oh no.
Yanking on a pair of baggy jeans and a cropped baby tee, I hop around my room as I put on my sneakers, take down my hair from my messy bun, and run back downstairs while applying my lip gloss, which isn’t a good idea. Just as I get to the front door with my purse, my two brothers pull into my driveway in Leonidas’s G-Wagon.
Walking as casually as I can down my front steps in the dead of heat, just as I close the car door and sit back, my brothers both look back at me.
“You just saw the message, didn’t you?” Elijah raises a brow, a knowing smirk on his face.
Scrunching my face at him, I put my seat belt on and sit as straight as I can without heaving like I want to.
I’m so out of shape …
“Yep,” I chirp at my brothers, not meeting their humorous gazes.
“You can breathe,” Leonidas says as he pulls out and starts driving very fast. “We all know you’re out of breath.”
He looks back at me from his rearview mirror, and I give him the finger and do as exactly as I was told.
After an hour car ride without my brothers telling me where we’re off to, we stop in front of a pet store.
“What are we doing here?” I ask, unbuckling my seat belt and hovering in between the two.
“I didn’t want to worry you,” Leonidas starts. “But Trinity has really been missing you these past couple of days at home. I wasn’t sure when I should buy her another dog since Simba passed away the way he did. I wanted to give her some time for closure. But I think today is the day.”
Just hearing Simba’s name makes me feel emotions I like tucking away rather than feeling.
“Trinity has mentioned a couple of times that she wants a certain dog, and I’ve finally found it.”
Getting out of the car, I follow my partners in crime while practically jumping in joy. We’re getting her a dog? Yes, I’ve been waiting for this day!
“She doesn’t know?” I whisper to Elijah, clinging to his arm and shaking it.
“Nope.” He pops thePwith a goofy smile on his face. With a backward cap on his head, he pulls me further into the store.
