I didn’t know why we were talking to each other like we were both fragile and sensitive, but that was exactly how I was feeling. Like at any second, this illusion of a truce or compassion would fizzle up and it’d all be a dream.
I didn’t realize how much I would like this dream.
As the middle child, I was always used to being overlooked, even if mostly unintentional. In a family of seven, I could only guarantee a reaction when I was able to keep everyone on their toes.
I threw the pills back and lowered my head to the sink to lap up the faucet water like a dog.
“What the hell…” Nola laughed in disbelief.
I popped up from the sink and wiped my wet mouth. I think I might’ve broken Nola, because she couldn’t stop staring at the sink and my mouth. “I am extremely resourceful.”
“I can’t take you seriously when you sound like that.”
“What? Overwhelmingly hot?”
“Like your throat might close up,” She remarked seriously, making me feel fragile again.
I turned away from her, splashing water on my face to avoid her gaze.
“This stuff is pretty fast acting, so I’ll be out for the rest of the night. But let me go show Olive I’m okay.”
Nola listened to me with her head tilted like a dog trying to understand English. She was stuck like that until I moved forward and she cleared her throat.
“Oh, uh, yeah, thanks for that.”
I shrugged. “No worries, this may surprise you, but I am capable of being a serious big sister.”
We headed back downstairs to show Olive I was indeed alive and well, but as we talked I walked over to the lone water glass and guzzled it down while the teenager hugged me tightly.
“I’m gonna go knock out, but have fun tonight.” I rubbed her shoulder, still in awe that I made such a huge impression on Nola’s sister in forty-eight hours. A new record for me.
I was heading back upstairs when I heard Nola’s voice. “I’ll come check on you in a few hours.”
“No worries.” I shook my head. “I’m a big girl.”
I was a stupid girl, was what I was. Somehow in my drug-fueled haze I woke up around eight at night, unable to remember what time I’d gone to bed.
I had cotton mouth, but hadn’t filled a glass of water—or had I? My bathroom light was on, but I hadn’t left my light on—or had I?
God, I was a disaster.
I was possibly hallucinating, because I felt a glass magically appear in my hand. Warm fingers grazed mine as I took it, but I was too thirsty to react to a phantom hand giving me something I desperately needed. I chugged the water.
“Thank you,” I mumbled to the ghost, my throat possibly not as raspy as it was before I went to bed.
“I’ll get you more. Go back to bed.” The ghost, who sounded awfully a lot like Nola, commanded.
“Bossy,” I quipped as I turned back into my soft duvet and sheets.
At some point, I heard my door shut, a clink on my night stand and shuffling on the carpeted floor. The presence of someone giving me enough comfort to drift back to sleep.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Bee
I awoke just as the sun started to rise over the ocean. Pity decision or not, I was glad Nola let me keep the ocean view room when we moved in. I tested my voice—normal—and tried to figure out if I’d hallucinated a helpful ghost last night, or if Nola Young had actually come to check on me.
I’d prefer if it was a hallucination—would love it, actually. It’d sure be better than thinking about the way our relationship was emotionally escalating quicker than I could process.
