I can’t be trusted to walk myself anywhere alone.
I don’t know what I did wrong, but I know my life is broken.
I’mbroken.
And I don’t know how to fix me.
8
WHEN HEATH MET UNWANTED FEELINGS
Heath
Four daysafter Hurricane Cricket arrived, I step outside for my normal morning coffee time.
I’m showered. I’m dressed. My eye still looks awful, but it feels better. I’ve checked my calendar and verified that today’s an easy day, mostly thanks to the ladies watching Lav for me again this morning.
We’re checking out a new paint-your-own-pottery place this afternoon after I finish up today’s outside project.
Cricket hasn’t left the apartment below me since the great kitchen incident on Saturday. I’ve left food outside her door—mostly a large order she placed late Saturday afternoon that I picked up for her at Mabel’s request. She seems to be living on chips, meat sticks, sports drinks, and enough chocolate to cause a shortage in town.
Mabel and Samantha have regularly checked on her and brought healthier meals from the house.
Ginny hasn’t, because she’s on crutches for a bit.
I replaced the compressor in the fridge.
Water had pooled on the shelf under the egg carton, and it had disintegrated the minute Cricket pulled it out.
Wasn’t her fault.
But it also wasn’t surprising that it was her.
Lav, meanwhile, is now obsessed with dragons, which I understand is fully Cricket’s doing.
It’s odd to miss the meowing and be so fucking glad it’s over too.
That’s what I’m contemplating as I sip my coffee, solo today since Fluffy didn’t want to join me, when I hear my houseguest’s voice along with the normal bird and insect noises adding ambience to the cool dawn air.
My shoulders bunch.
Not because I’m irritated with Cricket.
Exactly.
More because I’m irritatedforher.
She’s had a shit hand lately.
And I’m irritated for me that I’ve had a front-row seat to her shit hand when I’ve been trying so damn hard to avoid the drama now that my own has passed.
Fluffy meows at me from the cat door to the porch.
She’s stuck trying to join me.
“You’re a nuisance,” I whisper to her.
She whines and plops her front half down.
