“He’s not staying long,” I repeat.
“Long enough for your homemade cinnamon rolls, I hope. I’m making bacon and eggs, too.”
She passes me the mug and I take a fortifying sip.
“Coop grabbed him as soon as he walked into the living room and he was so nice about it,” she says.
“Where’s Eli?”
“Still sleeping.”
I glance at the clock. It’s 7:43 a.m. I guess if Noel and I were going to screw up and fall asleep together, it’s better that we did it now instead of on a road trip, when we could’ve been caught by players. Or worse, Talia.
“So ... did your turkey get basted last night?” my sister asks.
I cringe, but can’t help smiling at the same time. “No, Blair. We just talked.”
“You said it’s just a sex thing, though.”
I shrug. “I just wanted some time with him.”
“I get it. Yesterday was a lot.” She walks over to the fridge and takes out a package of bacon. “The cinnamon rolls are thawed and the oven is preheated.”
“I thought you’d sleep in today.”
She scoffs. “I wish. I got up to pee and my to-do list was activated in my brain.”
“Do you have to study today?”
“Nope. Family day, remember? The boys are excited about ice skating. But I do need to do some laundry and cleaning before the fun starts.”
I busy myself getting cinnamon rolls arranged in a pan, nervous about Noel being in Coop’s room. How long does it take a kid his age to get attached to someone? And is Noel just playing with him to be nice?
I wipe my hands on a towel. “I should go save him.”
“Don’t,” Blair says from the stove. “He’s a big boy; he can take care of himself.”
I guess she’s right. It still feels weird, having someone from work, my unserious relationship, and my family all mashing up unexpectedly.
Once the cinnamon rolls are in the oven, I help Blair crack eggs into a bowl, then whisk them while she tends to the bacon.
“Doing okay?” she asks me.
“Of course. Put the splatter screen on that.”
“Well, you-know-who didn’t try to break in overnight. That’s a plus.”
My shoulders sink at the thought. It could still happen. “I should’ve bought her a bus ticket to somewhere far away.”
“We could help her get a passport, take her on a trip to Mexico, then take her passport and leave her there.”
I scoff. “I can’t even spend five minutes with her. I’d be opening the airplane door and parachuting out.”
I whisk the eggs together, Blair taking the bowl from me when I’m done. “Go get the boys. Eli, too. I’ll cook the eggs. The bacon and cinnamon rolls are almost done.”
When I reach the top of the stairs, I stop to see if I can hear what’s going on in Coop’s room.
“Oh, your car needs gas,” Coop says. “Park right there ... This is how you do it.”
