“Because you’ve got nowhere else to go,” he chirps.
“Yeah, I know that. I meant more like: ‘Why is he offering to let me stay?’ He can’t even stand to be in the same room as me!”
“He’s a little grumpy, but he’s got a big heart—a real sensitive streak. Oh, and a free couch!”
“He’s also sitting right here,” I interrupt. My patience is wearing thin.
“Okay, I get it. You guys are messing with me.” She looks at Carter, as if I were invisible.
“I’m telling you, it’s true! He likes helping people out. And a damsel in distress gets him every time.”
“You want some knuckles with that coffee, Cart?”
Lois scrapes back her chair, and I circle around the kitchen island to join her.
“We’re not messing with you,” I say. “I’m giving you a little more time to figure things out.”
“See what I mean?” Carter smirks, glancing over at me. “The host with the most!”
She searches my face, trying to decide whether I’m for real.
“Alittlemore time,” I say, flipping Carter the finger without glancing his way.
She opens her mouth. Closes it. Opens it again. Weighing her options.
“Make up your mind,” I hiss.
Shit! So now I’m the one begging her to stay?
She runs her tongue over her teeth. “Okay.”
“No shit!”
“I’ll give you rent money.”
“I own this place, I don’t need rent. Just focus on working your shit out.” I shrug. “And pick up some groceries from time to time.”
“I’ll leave early in the morning and work late at the library. It’ll be almost like I’m not even here.”
“Almost,” I mutter, despite myself.
“Potato peeler, Lane,” Carter coughs under his breath. Subtle guy.
Lois raises an eyebrow at him before swiveling back to me. “I’m going to try to find somewhere as soon as I can.”
“Let’s hope you have more luck with dorms than you do with motels…”
“Gee, thanks for believing in me.”
“Anything for you, sunshine.”
We spend another long minute staring each other down, until Carter brings us back to reality with a few taps on the table.
“You guys are so inspiring!”
“We got a deal, Heartbreak?” I hold out a hand.
She’s clenching her jaw, I notice. But whatever she wants to say—her desperation keeps her silent.
