Idrop my suitcases at the entryway of Ingrid’s place, shut the door behind me, and kick off my boots.
A gust of warm air laced with cinnamon scent greets me. Ingrid’s place always smells like this in the winter. I smile at how cozy it feels, especially since the temperature outside is single digits and it’s snowing.
I glance up and see a bottle of sparkling grape juice with a red bow tied around it and a card sitting on the kitchen island. My cousin is so thoughtful. I really don’t deserve it.
As I walk over to the kitchen, I think back on our conversation a week ago. Ingrid was so understanding when I explained my situation to her. She didn’t even go off on me when I told her just how badly I’d fucked myself over with my reckless behavior. She just listened quietly and said how sorry she was that I was going through all that.
I remember how nervous I was to ask her to stay at her place. I can’t forget the long pause she took before she answered…and that slight hesitation in her tone when she told me yes.
Not that I can blame her. Growing up I was always a wild child, always throwing parties at my parents’ house and leaving the place trashed. I’m ashamed to say I kept up that habit as an adult and it’s led to my current shitty situation: on the brink of losing my dream career with no one to blame but myself.
A heavy sigh rattles my chest as I open the card.
Hey, hockey star! Welcome home! I know you’re laying off the hard stuff, so you should give this a try?
Ingrid
I let out a chuckle and pop the bottle in the fridge. Such an Ingrid thing to do. She’s always been so thoughtful and kind.
I shoot her a quick text.
Hey, thanks again for letting me stay at your place. And the warm welcome. Promise I’ll be a dream guest. When you come back, you won’t even know I’ve been staying here ;)
She replies a few minutes later as I’m hauling my suitcases to the master bedroom.
Ingrid: Of course! Happy to have you ?
Ingrid: One *tiny* change in plans that I need to tell you about.
I squint at my phone screen as three gray dots appear and disappear over and over again for a solid minute.
Just then I hear the front door unlatch. What the hell? No one else is supposed to be here.
But then I think that maybe this is what Ingrid was talking about in her text. Maybe she’s coming back for a bit?
Phone in hand, I leave the bedroom, head down the hall, and stop dead in my tracks when I see Maya standing in the entryway
“Hey,” I say, shocked. “What are you…” I spot a trio of suitcases next to her along with a small fish bowl with a black betta fish in it on the floor. What the…
Snowflakes dot her nearly waist-length wavy black-brown hair. She shakes her head slightly and the snow falls around her. For a second, I’m hypnotized. She looks like an angel.
She crosses her arms and frowns at me. “Ingrid hasn’t told you yet?”
Her sharp tone yanks me out of my trance. I clear my throat and refocus. My phone buzzes in my hand. When I read my cousin’s text, my jaw drops.
Ingrid: Maya’s going to stay at the house with you.
Maya starts to say something, but I’m too shocked and confused to hear it.
“You’re staying here too?” I say to Maya.
“Yup,” she says through a heavy sigh.
This is nuts. “Um, why?”
“Because your cousin is worried that you’ll destroy her gorgeous home in the mountains with one of your epic drunken ragers. I’m here to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
My mouth hangs open at what she’s said. “Wait, are you serious?”
