I laugh and lean against the counter.
“I don’t think I’ll see him again, so you don’t have to worry about it.”
“Wasn’t worried.”
“You’re always worried.”
She rolls her eyes.
“I’m just saying,” I continue. “The guy has a lot of baggage, and I think last night was a one and done. A way for him to let off some steam. That’s all.”
“And you’re okay with that?” She raises a brow.
“Maybe you should be okay with that. Getting laid once in a while may be good for your emotional state.”
“My emotional state is fine.”
“I’m ready!” Noah shouts, barreling into the kitchen like a bat out of hell.
“As fine as it’ll be with the most rambunctious seven-year-old in all of Chicago,” she mutters in a high-pitched tone.
Audrey isn’t miserable, but she could be happier. She’s an over-worked, underpaid single mother. I know she’s happy, and I help out as much as I can, but she wants more. And I don’t blame her for that because so do I. Yet… we’re just stuck in this routine with each other.
“Do you have your backpack?” I ask.
“Shoot. No.” He growls, taking off at a run back to his room.
“And your shoes are on the wrong feet!” I call.
Audrey shuts off the water and turns to face me, drying her hands on the sunflower hand towel. Her eyes are the same shade of blue as mine, same as our mother’s. Audrey is a spitting image of her, other than the hair color, while I look more like our father.
“Thank you, Miles.”
“Don’t get sappy on me, Audrey. I will throw up.”
“Oh, please.”
“Okay, I’m ready to go, Uncle Miles!” Noah yells as he comes sliding back into the kitchen, almost overturning a chair.
“Did you fix your shoes?”
“Yes.”
“You have your homework?”
“Yes.”
“And your lunch?”
“Trick question! I eat school lunch. Ha-ha!”
I pat his head. “Thatta boy. Good paying attention.”
I wink at Audrey over my shoulder as Noah and I head out.
“Enjoy your day, sis!”
“You too! Love you both!”
