I launched myself off the duvet.
My sister snorted, then placed her cat down. “It’s notthatbad. I just wanted to tell you in case you planned on going straight to bed—which you can use, by the way.”
“No, no, I don’t have time for that.” I yawned at the very thought of a nap. This was the perfect place for a rest. The curtains were closed, the lights were dim, and Jinx’s purring would be a nice bonus. Maybe I could use a nice throw blanket as a protective layer. Later. “Angel’s coming by for breakfast,” I reminded her.
“Oh yeah. Help yourself to anything in the fridge,” she said.
I slumped against her wall. “I can’t impose on you any more than I already have. I’ll pay for groceries—or chip in for rent, depending on how long I’m here, I guess.”
“Don’t worry about that, yet.” She watched Jinx wind himself through my legs, her face etched with concern that seemed to mirror his. “Do you want to talk more about what happened with Jen?” she asked.
I shrugged and stroked her cat. “You know how she is.”
“I do. And it had to be pretty bad for you to move out like this.” She clasped my shoulder. “I’m proud of you, Tori. It’s a big step. But it’ll be worth it. I promise.”
Something tightened in my chest and pricked behind my eyes. “Don’t make me cry again right before my boyfriend comes over,” I joked, my voice cracking.
“My baby sister has a boyfriend. Oh, they grow up so fast.” She clutched me in a dramatic hug and peppered kisses on the side of my head.
“Okay, okay, go get ready for your shift.” I laughed.
She stuck her tongue out, then pranced down the hallway to knock on the bathroom door. “Victor, can Icome in?” she asked.
“Be my guest,” he said, and the door creaked open. Had he gotten out of the shower just to let her in? Or…
I flushed at the realization.
They probably showered together.
Not that they were doing anything salacious. I’d considered joining Angel in there for less pragmatic reasons than hurrying to get to a work shift.
I stripped the bed, then put on a fresh fitted sheet. But each corner of that stupid elastic band kept popping up every time I walked away. Jinx judged me from his place by the window. I wrapped myself in the comforter and plopped onto the mattress with a muffled groan. Why was life so exhausting?
Phones pinged in the bathroom.
My alert went off too. I rolled myself deeper into the blanket cocoon.
That was probably Mom texting. Or Jen.
Ugh. I wasn’t ready to talk to either of them.
My phone pinged again.
I groaned and scrunched myself into a tinier ball like a little linen caterpillar.
No more drama. Please. More sleep.
Kat hurried into the room to toss a spare pillow at my butt. “We’re leaving. Text if you need anything.”
I stuck my hand out and vaguely waved. “I’ll be fine. Have a nice day.”
That customer service stuff was really engrained in my brain.
Kat slapped my palm in a high-five, kissed Jinx, then booked it to the entryway to reconvene with her boyfriend.
Victor’s voice rumbled from the entryway, but I couldn’t make out the words.
“She’ll be fine. She’s in bed,” Kat said, her voice fading as they stepped through the creaking front door. “Take good care of my baby sis,” she called over her shoulder.
