Sometimes Mom did things that didn’t make sense. She always felt a little guilty after a bad flare, even though we’d all told her she had no reason to. “Fine. Whatever. I’ll call her later to say thank you.” I headed straight for the kitchen because if there was one thing that was good at sopping up tears, it was my mom’s sourdough bread.
Steven was right on my heels. “So, what do you mean, you’re homeless?”
“I mean, I am without a home. I am devoid of shelter. I am?—”
“Dramatic,” Steven muttered. “You’re fucking dramatic, that’s what you are.” He took the knife from me, slid the loaf down the counter, and cut off a thick slice. “Do you like the end piece?”
I shook my head. “And don’t tell me it has more nutrients because it has more crust. I know that’s a lie.”
He smirked but set the piece aside and sliced a second one. He handed it over and then said, “Now, tell me what happened.”
I took a large bite and chewed. “My landlord just called. Her daughter is getting a divorce and needs a place to stay. I have two months to find a new home.”
“Two months? But you’re pregnant. Did you tell her you’re pregnant?”
“No, of course not.” I ripped off another bite of bread with my teeth. “What difference would that make? It wouldn’t change the fact that her daughter is in a rough spot and needs a place to stay. All it would do is make her feel bad.”
“Sheshouldfeel bad. This is unacceptable. Call Brax.”
I squinted at him. “Brax Hale? Essie’s husband?”
“Do you know another lawyer?” he snapped.
“For heaven’s sake, Steven. I’m not going to sue Miriam. One of the nice things about living here is that I actuallylikemy landlord. She let me paint the bedroom any color I wanted. I have the feeling our relationship would change if I sued her.”
He growled.
I laughed, then my head tipped forward on a groan as a new, terrible thought occurred to me. “I’m going to have move back home with my parents. Oh, hell.”
“Would that be so bad?” he asked cautiously.
I shook my head. “My parents are great. But I want a life of my own. Wouldyouwant to move back home?”
His mouth twisted and I suddenly wished I had kept my own shut. Amy had told me enough about their childhood that I already knew the answer.
“My parents are too far from school, anyway. I’d spend three hours a day driving. I guess I could try to find something in the city, but everything is so expensive. I’m not sure I can afford anything more than an efficiency there.” I scrubbed my hands over my face. “God, I’m so fucked.”
Steven leaned against the counter and wrapped one hand around the back of his neck, his eyes focused on the linoleum tile. “I have a spare bedroom.”
I gave him a narrow-eyed look. “This is not the time to brag, Steven.”
“I’m not bragging. I’m offering it to you.”
My jaw flapped open on a shocked laugh. “What?”
“You heard me. You need a room. I have a room.” He said this like it was perfectly logical instead of fucking insane.
“Move in with me, Chloe.”
18
STEVEN
It wasn’t likeI expected Chloe to beoverjoyedby the prospect of living under the same roof as—how had she phrased it to Stevie?Hot garbage—but shit. A little gratitude would have been nice.
“Steven,” Chloe said, slowly and patiently like I was an idiot, “I cannot live with you.”
“No,” I said, matching her tone, “you cannot be homeless. Youcanlive with me. Youcancut your commute to work by fifteen minutes. Youcanstill be close to your family without having them all up in your business. You can save money on rent so that when the right opportunity comes along, you can take it.”
