“Nat?” I call out, walking through the kitchen, not bothering to take off my coat since we’ll be leaving.
“You know I don’t like anyone calling me that.” Her voice comes from upstairs.
I smile, but before I can reply, a hairdryer goes on. There’s a strange scent in the house today. It’s familiar but I can’tquite place it. It doesn’t fit here and it leaves me with an uncomfortable feeling.
Pepper’s lying on the floor beside the couch and her tail makes a thudding sound against the hardwood as she wags it when I approach. “Hey Pepper.” I pet her, and she lays her head back down. She looks tired and I wonder how much longer she’ll be around.
The blow dryer switches off and I hear heels click at the top of the stairs. “Hey, the bathroom window’s stuck. Can you see if you can open it for me?” Natalie asks.
“Sure.” I climb up the stairs. She’s in her bedroom applying mascara. “You know you don’t need that.” I walk to her, meet her eyes in the mirror.
“I like it,” she says, straightening, closing the tube.
That’s when I realize what the smell is. Why it makes me so uncomfortable.
“What’s that?” I ask, pointing to the chipped vase on the nightstand that holds a small bouquet of lilies. The flowers are pink and white and for as beautiful as they are, I can’t fucking stand them or their stink.
“Oh,” she glances at the flowers, then at me. “It was on my doorstep when I got here.”
I go to it, and I’m holding my breath. “On your doorstep?”
“Yeah. I think it was Drew. He can be dramatic. I’m assuming they symbolize the death of the internship.”
I glance at her as she rolls her eyes and returns her attention to her reflection, picking up a tube of lip gloss.
“So, no note?”
“Nope.”
“Who’s Drew again?” I vaguely remember the name.
She puts the gloss down and looks at me. “My best friend since we were kids,” she says matter-of-factly.
“Did he tell you they were from him?”
“Is this a big deal? Are you jealous? He and I aren’t a thing. I mean, we were once, but we’re friends, that’s all. Besides, he’s gay.”
I could give a fuck. “Did he tell you, Natalie?” I ask again, trying to keep the edge from my voice.
She picks up her phone. “Not yet. I texted him a little bit ago, but he hasn’t read my message yet. Sergio, are you jealous?”
I’m not jealous, no. I glance out the window, look up and down the street. I should have put a man on her because I have a feeling these aren’t from her friend. “I just don’t like the stink of these.”
“Most people don’t.”
“Throw them away. They’ll smell up the house,” I say, turning to her. “I want you to stay over tonight anyway.”
Dominic’s birthday is this weekend. I’m supposed to head up to the house in the Adirondacks tomorrow but suddenly realize I can’t leave her here alone.
“Actually,” I start, turning to her, deciding on the spot. “Come with me.” She knows about the weekend, but I hadn’t wanted to invite her before. I don’t want her around my father, my youngest brother. Not yet.
“What?”
“My mom, she doesn’t have much time.” I shrug a shoulder and I’m not lying, I do want her to meet my mom. But that’s not the reason I want to take her with me. “What do you think?”
“Isn’t it a family thing?” She’s obviously anxious about it.
“Yeah, but it’s fine.” I go to her, wrap my arms around her. “I really want you to come with me.”
