Clara nodded."It was my grandmother's place.I haven't gotten rid of her stuff yet."
There was a porcelain cookie jar on top of the refrigerator that was a cat.Little figurines on the windowsill and the counter.It didn't scream Clara's place.It was more like she was housesitting.But I wasn't sure how long ago her grandmother had died."It's nice."
She smiled."Thanks.One day I'll make it mine.I have visions of a renovated kitchen and a soaker tub in the bathroom."She filled a tea kettle with water and placed it on the stove.
"That sounds lovely."My lip wobbled.
"Maybe I'll hire a sexy contractor and have a fling with him."Clara scooped green powder from a tin into a glass with warm water, then used a handheld machine to mix it.
"I don't recommend that," I said over the sound of the blender, thinking of my own situation.
She turned off the hand mixer."Tell me what happened."
I sighed."You know I've been living with Morgan?"
"Yeah, are you two a thing now?"Clara asked with no judgment in her tone.
I laughed without any humor."I don't really know how to answer that.We were having a good time and pretending everything was going to work out just fine.But Morgan's best friends with my brother and has some stupid pact with him to protect and take care of me."
Clara paused and looked at me."Oh, that sounds kind of hot."
I shot her a disbelieving look."You think a grown man thinking I need to be watched over is hot?"
Her cheeks heated."I can take care of myself, but I wouldn't mind if a man decided he wanted to protect me or maybe rescue me from a fire."
I waved her off, because I wasn't ready to acknowledge that I liked the caveman act a little."The problem is my brother.He shouldn't have any say in my relationship."
"Is Tom saying he does?"
"Morgan fell all over himself trying to apologize.That he hadn't meant for it to happen; it just did.Like we're teenagers who aren't allowed to date or something."
Her nose wrinkled."I don't like the sound of that.You're grown adults."
I threw my hands in the air."Exactly."
"Why don't you have a seat?I have cookies."She opened a tin and passed it to me."They probably aren't as good as what you make."
I picked up an oatmeal raisin and bit into it."I want to stuff myself with sugar that I didn't have to bake myself."
Clara smiled."I made way too many of them.They're my grandmother's recipe."
"They're delicious.Thank you."It would be nice to market a recipe called grandma's cookies.I'd have to tuck that idea away for later.
Clara filled a glass with ice and then poured almond milk into it.Then she poured the matcha into the iced glass and added a tiny bit of syrup.Then she pushed it across the counter toward me."I'm still working on making the perfect blend.Tell me if it's good."
I sipped the iced green mixture."I love how frothy it is."
She smiled, clapping her hands together."I read that you can blend strawberries and add them to the mix.I want to try that next."
It was refreshing and surprisingly sweet with only a hint of green tea, but I couldn't process much of anything beyond my personal drama."Do you think that Morgan's an idiot?"
She poured more matcha powder into another glass."Aren't they all?My ex thought it would be easier to just move on with another woman and not tell me."
My mouth dropped open."He cheated on you."
She nodded."And I found out the hard way.I went to his house to surprise him, and his new girlfriend answered the door.I'm not sure which one of us was more shocked.”
"You broke up with him."
