“He was just done, I guess. Starting college made him want to feel free…”
“Oh, these youngsters, honestly…” Hope shakes her head. “Did you get a dorm room?”
“No, it was too late to sign up. I’m staying with a neighbor on the fifth floor. On his couch, to be precise.”
“The little bastard turned you out onto the street?” Prudence sounds outraged as she tops up my glass.
“Well, itishis place—”
“That’s no excuse!”
She isn’t the first to point this out, but I can’t find it in me to hate Kirk.
“How decent of your friend to take you under his wing. Is he a handsome boy?”
“Lane’s no friend!” I say a little too loudly.
The wine works like magic, warming me up and leaving me feeling cozy for the first time in a while. My tongue loosens, and by the time we’re down to the last drops, they know every last detail of my forced roomie situation, drinking up the finer points, gesturing excitedly, yapping away without coming up for air.
“So, there you have it.” I clap my hands on my knees as I reach the end of the story.
“If we had a spare room, we’d have you stay without a second thought.”
“You’re so sweet.” I glance at the clock, and start. “Oh my God, is it eleven already? I’m going to head home, thank you for such an… unexpected evening.”
“Oh, Lois. You can’t leave us hanging like this,” Hope tuts. “You were telling us about the young man who said we’d be breaking a hip working out. We simplymustknow more.”
“A driver, you say?” Prudence narrows her eyes.
“That’s right.”
“Well, itisvery late.” She taps an orange nail against her soft cheek.
“Also true.”
“So, why not give him a call? Tell him to come and pick you up!” Hope chimes in.
“I don’t think so.”
Prudence plants her hands on her hips. “He deserves to be taught a lesson. That whippersnapper is about to see what the Faraday twins are made of.”
Their vengeful pouts make me laugh.
“I’m pretty sure he won’t come,” I say, twirling my phone around in my hand.
“Trust me, I’ve been married four times,” Hope reminds me, and there’s a look in her eyes I can’t quite read. “He’ll come.”
11LANE
What the hell are you doing, Lane?” Don is sprawled on my couch.
“What?” I keep my eyes latched on the street outside.
“What’s the obsession with the window? Someone streaking across the street, or what?”
I hear footsteps running to join me, and a hand shoves me to the side.
“Where?” Lewis presses against the glass.
