Emma
We don’t speakthe entire way back to my apartment, which is fine with me. She stomped to the bus stop, then sat three rows behind me on the city bus. Probably so she could make sure she got off at the right stop. Smart, really. Now, as I step off the bus, I peek back and see her stand. I only live a half block from this particular stop, so as soon as she’s off, she starts to jog past me. I don’t know why she’s bothering to beat me home because she doesn’t have a key to my place and Carley isn’t home. Unless she plans to pick the lock—
I stop suddenly. She could probably do that. Or kick in the door. I wouldn’t put it past her to do that. So I pick up my own pace. When I get to my door, I sigh with relief. Amber’s sitting on the floor with her back against the door. Reaching into my pocket, I grab my key.
“You should just make me a copy of that key.”
Yeah, right. That’s never going to happen.
Ignoring her, I unlock the door and push it open. Since she’s blocking my path, I wait for her to go in first. As soon as she’s over the threshold, she drops her purse on the floor and makes her way to the couch where she’s set up a temporary bed.
God, I hope it’s temporary.
No. I know it is. Carley gave me an ultimatum and she’s not one to pussyfoot around about ultimatums.
“Make me a bowl of cereal, would you?” Amber’s on the couch with an old magazine in her hand.
Setting my purse on our tiny counter, I rotate my head slowly, for emphasis. I don’t know why I bothered because she’s not looking my way. “Get your own cereal.” I move toward my bedroom, but then it hits me. And it makes me smile as I say, “We’re out of milk.”
The scream’s loud. Louder than necessary, for sure. Then, in an equally loud voice, she adds, “Youfuckingsuck.”
“Yep,” I reply, just as I open my bedroom door and slip inside.
* * *
“I can’t take much moreof her.”
Carley’s finally home. I think she spent extra time away after class, so she didn’t have to deal with my little sister. I don’t blame her. I switched shifts at the library so I could take Eli to the doctor and to keep an eye on Amber. I don’t know what’s going to happen when both Carley and I are gone.
“She’ll probably steal the silverware while we’re gone.”
“It’s from the thrift store.” I blink at her. “Nothing matches.” Literally. No two utensils are the same. We kind of like it that way. It’s the same with our dishes and glasses. A hodgepodge.
Carley stares at me like I’m crazy. “I wouldn’t put anything past her. When you go to class tomorrow, you’d better take all of your electronics.”
Ugh. My backpack is already ridiculously heavy, but she’s right. Anything of value needs to travel with us.
“Did you call your parents?”
I was supposed to call them to ask them why Amber’s here, but I’m afraid to. The last thing they need is more Amber drama. “What if she’s on the lam or something?”
“Well, then she’s fucked because she crossed state lines.” Carley gets a gleam in her eye. Her voice suddenly wistful as she adds, “Federal prison.”
It cracks me up. Not the idea that my sister would end up in federal prison, but the way Carley said it. Like it’d be a dream come true for her. “She’s notthatbad.”
The look on Carley’s pretty face suddenly morphs into one of shock. “Yes. She is. She’s one bust away from going away for a good, long time.”
“Most of her things have been misdemeanors.”
“Thanks to your poor parents and good lawyers.”
True.
“Call them. See if you can find out why she’s here. What if we get in trouble for aiding and abetting?”
“You’ve been watching too many true crime dramas.”
“Have not.”
