“Shit, you got a kid?”
“What?” I gaped at him. “No, I don’t have a fuckin’ kid.”
“Sorry, that’s where my mind went when you said lawyer.”
“No, it’s not that. Someone I used to know left me some shit in her will.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
“That’s all it is?”
“Pretty much.”
“Then why the hell do you look like that?”
“I thought I was gettin’ sued or something,” I shot back. My hands wouldn’t stop tingling. I shook them out and flexed them again.
“Well, good news is—you’re not.” Cian grinned.
“Yeah, bad news is—she’s dead.”
My best friend’s face fell instantly. “Shit, Bas. I’m a fuckin’ idiot.”
“Nah, you’re fine.”
“You knew this woman well? I guess you must’ve if she left you something in her will, right?”
“I hadn’t seen her in years,” I confessed, shame crawling up my spine. “But once upon a time, yeah.”
The fucking understatement of the century.
“I’m sorry, man,” Cian said with a grimace.
“Just surprised me,” I replied quietly. I cleared my throat.
Shit, was I going to fucking cry?
“Hey, when did you get here?” Titus called as he jogged down the stairs, slicking wet hair back from his face.
“Just got here,” Cian replied, glancing over his shoulder. “Your sister’s in the kitchen.”
“You brought food?”
“Yeah, she’s been working on it for two days.”
“Sweet,” Titus said with a smile, passing right by us on the way to the kitchen.
“I’m guessin’ Noel’s still in the shower,” Cian said with a chuckle.
“Good chance, yeah.”
“Look, man, if you want to head out, I’ll make an excuse. I’ll tell ’em you’ve got the shits or somethin’.”
“No, it’s fine,” I assured him.
Spending the night surrounded by people that would undoubtedly notice something was off was marginally better than spending it alone in my apartment, spiraling about shit I couldn’t change even if I wanted to. There was a comfort in being surrounded by the people who had become my family, even if I was hoping they wouldn’t ask me any questions.
