I went back to the couch.
The apartment was uncomfortably silent until Aiden pulled Kira into his arms, murmuring his apology in a hushed tone. “You know how passionate I get about these things.”
Kira nodded solemnly, smiling a little, before he kissed her on the head.
I pulled my attention to the pancakes again. This time I bit into a strawberry first before forcing myself to take another bite of the floury breakfast. All the while scrolling through my phone, pretending to be distracted by my non-existent notifications, as Kira and Aiden talked quietly in the kitchen. I was half expecting another text from Roxy to come through. Ordering me to cover another shift at The Den. Or be called into the basement again.
I refreshed my notifications. Still nothing.
Kira’s giggling brought my attention from my phone. Aiden had tickled her sides while they approached the back of the other couch.
“So,” she smiled, swatting away Aiden’s hands. “Aiden and I are going to my parent’s house for lunch.”
“Thought it was time they met me,” Aiden added as he slung an arm around Kira’s shoulders.
I faked a smile and looked at Kira. “Meeting the parents already? That’s exciting.”
Kira’s moms were the loveliest, most open-minded people I had ever met. And our landlords. When Kira and I first became friends, she hadn’t hesitated to invite me to stay over at her house. My parents only allowed me to go once my homework was done, my room was clean, and I had done my chores. Once they ran out of excuses to keep me from going, they drove me to Kira’s house but stayed in the car.
Her parents spoiled us with dessert for dinner and camping in the garden. Watching movies projected on the wall of our tent, playing games, and eating snacks until early in the morning. My parents restricted how often Jane and I could stay at our friends’ houses from then on. At least while we were still in school.
“Did you want to come?” Kira asked happily.
Aiden subtly squeezed her side as he looked at her. The look alone said enough.
“I think I might just have the day to myself.” I forced another smile.
Kira mirrored it.
An hour later, they were dressed and gone, seeming a little less tense about what happened over breakfast.
I had the apartment all to myself and put my doing-nothing-all-day plan into action. Which consisted of snacking on the couch in my PJs, stuffing my face with choc-chip cookies, and binge-watching Friends.
It almost felt like my life had returned to normal. So long as I didn’t think about Dad’s promotion this coming Tuesday. Where I was expected to sit in a venue full of police officers and detectives. All the while smiling like I knew nothing.
I sighed.
Don’t think about it. Today is for me… Maybe I could finish off some of my sketches—
My phone buzzed on the coffee table as an incoming text lit up the screen.
Unknown: Are you running late?
The text was followed by a nervous emoji.
I frowned and slowly straightened as I brought the phone closer. If I had organized something with my family, a caller ID would have shown. I thought over everything that happened in the past 24 hours; everything that happened yesterday.
“Oh, crap!” I shot off the couch. Phone in hand and sending cookie crumbs flying as I launched myself toward my bedroom door. Gripping the doorframe, I flung myself into the room and raced straight for my dresser.
The date with Oliver had completely slipped my mind. I had agreed to meet him at 1 PM. It was now ten past.
“Shit-shit-shit,” I hissed as I pulled clothes out at random and threw them on the bed.
Denim shorts and a burgundy, cheesecloth button-up top would have to do.
I pulled up his message and responded as I dressed hastily, yanked my light brown, shoulder-length hair into a ponytail, and jammed bobby pins across my scalp to keep the loose pieces in place.
Me: Sorry. Stuck in traffic. On my way!
