I almost want to tell him it makes me sick too.
Kayla laughs, turning slightly red as she starts putting my silverware inside the drawers.
The front door opens, and Jake comes barreling in, holding five pizza boxes.
“I see you’re hungry.” I quirk a brow.
“I’m a growing boy.” He winks, putting the pizzas down on the counter. “I met Freya and Alex at the store. They’re stopping by later. Do you mind?”
“Not at all,” I tell him with a shrug. Alex is Justin’s best friend, and Freya is his fiancée. I like them both, especially Freya. She’s changed this town for the better since she’s been here. Talk about how one person can change the world.
Justin and Alex served together in the military and have always been close. But Jake was at odds with Alex for a while. I guess Jake started to grow on Alex when he saved his fiancée by shooting her crazy ex. Jake can be hard to like, but he’s also a lifesaver. Quite literally.
We’re almost done putting everything in the kitchen away when there’s a knock on the door. “It’s my first guest!” I cry, jumping up and down like a happy toddler before rushing to open the door. Freya and Alex are standing on my doorsteps—my—with two huge boxes in Alex’s arms. Something long and wrapped in gazette paper sticks from the corner. “We came bearing gifts!” Freya exclaims, and I let them in with a smile.
“Come inside, guys. Pizza’s getting cold.”
“Good thing we brought a microwave,” she says with a toothy grin, and I laugh.
“Thank you, guys! The best housewarming gift ever!”
I find plates in the cabinet where I just stuck them and put them on the island next to the boxes. Within minutes, the pizza is devoured, with only a couple slices remaining. Suddenly, I’m grateful Jake was hungry enough to bring so much.
Once everyone is happy and fed, I decide to ask about the gifts.
“What’s in the other box?” It sits between her feet, and she looks like she’s guarding it like Cerberus. I lean closer to them and try to pick at the side for clues. Freya smacks my hand away and orders Alex to put them on the counter. When he’s done, Freya pushes one of them toward Jake. “Open that one, will ya?” She beams at him. For someone so short and tiny—to be fair, many people are short next to me—everyone always listens to her command. She’s a force to be reckoned with.
Jake opens the box and starts setting the microwave up while Freya pushes the other box toward me.
“Can I touch it now?” I ask, smiling at her. “You’re not gonna beat me up again, are you?”
“Only if you don’t like it. Now open it.” She nudges the box toward me and impatiently claps her hands.
I take a knife and cut the box open. It’s huge. I have no idea how Alex could have carried both boxes simultaneously, even considering his Godzilla size. I have no idea what could be in here.
When it’s finally open, I laugh until tears start streaming down my face. “You guys. It’s perfect!”
Justin tries to peek around me, but Kayla nudges him aside. “Lemme see.”
The box is filled with single-life necessities: a six-pack of ginger ale (because I don’t drink alcohol since that night), a gift card for the one Chinese restaurant in Little Hope (we need more, in my opinion), a box of condoms, a mighty bat, a bag of mint gum, and a massive ten-inch dildo.
“What the hell, Freya?” Justin yells, turning red. “That’s my little sister.” Even the tips of his ears are crimson.
“Right. Like you don’t rub one out here and there.” She mocks him.
I throw my hands up. “Stop, just stop. Both of you. I’ll be traumatized after today, for sure.” I pull the bat out and weigh it in my hands. Living alone has its perks, but I’m also a little scared. What if someone tries to break in? I haven’t lived on my own since… well, ever. I only attended one year of college, but I lived in the sorority house. I was never alone. I’ll need this bat more than I need a dildo. Though, judging by the size of it, it could cause some serious damage. No way I ever let that monster near my lady parts; it’d split me in two. Why did Freya buy it? Is Alex the same size? Eyeing him from the side, I wouldn’t be surprised. Poor woman. Or… a lucky one? Bless her soul… and lady bits.
Kayla chortles to my right and pushes Justin to the side. “It’s time to go, people.”
“What? Why?” Jakes asks.
“Because Alicia needs to get comfortable and ready for bed. It’s late, dummy,” she explains, annoyed she even has to explain. “We’re overstaying.”
Jake looks dumbfounded, glancing between us. “She’s our sister. It’s practically our house. We can stay as much as we want. Right, Alicia?” He looks at me for support. Support I’m not going to give him. Knowing my overprotective brothers, they’d be camping here. Taking turns out front, shotgun in hand, ready to take on any windblown leaf that threatens my peace.
“Yeah, no,” I answer with a shake of my head. “I love you, Jakey, I do, but go home.”
He looks offended.
