Rex has been watching me like he’s waiting for me to mess up. He’s perched on the windowsill, tail flicking. I tried to pet him earlier, but he bit me again. We’re in a toxic relationship, and I think he knows I’m too desperate for his approval to walk away.
To kill time, I’ve already deep-cleaned her kitchen twice, alphabetized her spice rack, and reorganized her fridge.
I color-coded her bookshelf and scrubbed the inside of her microwave because who the fuck heats up marinara sauce without a paper towel?
“Do you even own a vacuum, dollface?” I say, talking to myself as I use her lint roller to attack a dust bunny under the couch.
Eventually, I crash on the couch and FaceTime Carter, hoping for a distraction.
He answers shirtless, covered in sweat and sawdust, standing outside on his porch with a mug of coffee in one hand and a hammer in the other.
“What,” he grunts.
Catalina slides into the frame, looking suspiciously bright-eyed and nosy. Her hair’s in a messy bun, and she’s wrapped in one of Carter’s hoodies.
“Oh my God,” she gasps, “why are you in Amelia’s apartment?”
I blink. “How do you know I’m?—”
She points at the screen. “The sage velvet couch, and the red neon ‘Don’t text him’ sign behind you.”
Carter frowns. “Wait, are you in LA?”
I glance at the sign behind me, silently cursing my life. “I mean... technically, yeah.”
“Since when?” Catalina asks suspiciously. “What areyou doing there? Is Amelia with you?”
“No,” I quickly lie. “She’s out. Long tattoo session. Eight hours or something.”
Carter squints. “So, you just... flew across the country to hang out in her apartment alone?”
I scratch the back of my neck. “She needed some help. And, y’know... I had free time.”
Catalina makes a noise that sounds a lot like bullshit. “So you just happened to fly to LA?”
I glare at the screen. “She needed help.”
Carter shifts, setting his mug down. “With what?”
“I—”
Catalina cuts me off, narrowing her eyes. “Did something happen? Did you knock her up?”
“WHAT—No!” I yell, sitting upright. “Jesus, Catalina.”
“Then why are you there?” Carter asks, calmly but perceptively. “You’re not exactly known for flying under the radar, and you’ve been off the grid.”
I wave a hand, trying to sound breezy. “It’s nothingggg.”
Carter stills. “Maverick, I swear I’ll beat your ass if you fuck with my wife’s best friend.”
Catalina’s mouth drops open. “Not if I get to him first.”
I groan. “God, I’m hanging up.”
“No! Don’t you-”
I quickly hang up. I’m going to fucking regret that when I see her next.
