Ade pulledat a thread on her sweater. She’d have to cut it with scissors otherwise the whole thing was going to unravel beneath her busy fingers. Like anything when she got to work, she’d pull and pick until she destroyed it. Steph had bought this sweater for her a few Christmases ago, and she loved it. Its fleece inner was soft enough not to irritate her skin and she’d cut out the tags. She’d air dried it, so it hadn’t shrunk an inch, and it hung loose around her waist and armpits.
It wasn’t just the sweater that bothered her. She couldn’t stop going over the last week. Every time she’d seen Sylvie, her thoughts had jumbled up like she’d been through a washer. Had she said too much the last time they met? Had she been too needy asking her to stay that night? She’d been second-guessing herself for days now, unable to settle at work, restless at home.
She wandered along the beach at a safe distance from the waves breaking against the shoreline. The sun warmed her back, but the breeze was enough to whip up foam at the water’s edge. November was gently easing in the autumn air, and she was thankful that the bitterness of the European winter hadn’t yet delivered on its promise.
Her phone buzzed, and she removed it from her pocket. “Steph.”
“Hi, you. How’s it going?”
Ade sat crossed-legged on the sand, hoping she and her sister could talk for a while. “Not too bad. Just enjoying the beach.”
“Me too, little sis. I’m back in Barcelona, enjoying the sights and sounds.” A fit of giggles interrupted her. “Sorry, that’s a new friend.”
“A new hook-up?”
“Something like that. Give me one sec.” Steph spoke away from the phone. “Okay, now we can talk. That was Emeline. Smokin’ hot, God damn. We met in Sitges on the naked beach. It was full of men, except for the two of us.”
Ade closed her eyes, wishing shecouldn’tpicture things. “I don’t need the details.”
“But, Ade, you’d love it here.”
“I very much doubt that.” She wrote the letter “S” in the sand with her finger.
“Anyway, I can’t wait to see you. I’ve missed your bony shoulders to hug.” Steph laughed. “I’m heading to you in about a week. We’re coming via Perpignan.”
“We?”
“Me and Emeline. I just told you about her.”
“But you only met a few days ago.” Ade sat taller. She’d only just gotten used to the space herself; she didn’t want it invaded by some stranger.
“She’s gorgeous and yada, yada. Fill in the gaps, honey. We’re having amazing, hot sex all over Europe, and she’s never been to the South of France, so I said she could come and crash.”
“In my studio apartment? We barely had room for the two of us when you were here last time.”No, no, no. No way.
“We’ll work it out. We always do.”
The sound of a car horn sounded on the line.
“How’re you doing, anyhow? Any more break-in drama?”
Ade took a deep breath of salty air. “No more break-in drama. Work is going fine. I’m?—”
“What is it?” Steph’s tone grew serious. “Are you worried about something? Tell me. I can help.”
“It’s nothing. We can talk next week, when you’re here. I have to get to work now.” She didn’t have time for Steph’s chaos.
“Okay. Can’t wait to see your face.” Steph blew a kiss.
By the time Ade reached the marine center, she’d wound herselfas tight as a coiled spring about having to share her apartment with Steph and her random new girlfriend. It was just like her twin not to realize what an imposition that would be. Not to mention there was literally no space in the studio. With the two of them sharing the sofa bed, Ade would be relegated to some makeshift cot. What if Emeline, or whatever-her-name-was, was too loud, or too messy?
Swiping her pass at the door, she nodded at the security guard. They hadn’t ever talked, but over the past weeks his frown had softened and sometimes he even waved her through. Voices came from the lab, and Ade hesitated. She’d been expecting a shift on her own and didn’t have the energy to face anyone else today.
“Don’t make a mess; she won’t like it.” Greg’s silhouette appeared in the door frame.
She sighed. There was no going back now. He needed supervising, and her name was on the roster, so she’d be on the hook if anything went wrong with the animals. Plus, she’d been looking forward to seeing the fish all day.
“Hey, Greg.” Ade forced a smile. “And Madison. I wasn’t expecting so much company.”
