NOW
When I finally came back to the house, I apologized to my sister. She doesn’t see that I’m trying to protect her, but I didn’t want to harp on it all evening. Things stayed awkward, and I bit my tongue as 7 p.m. came and went with no sign of Jesse.
Of course, he left his dog here for us to take care of. Fia seemed totally chill about watching Tank, adding to my growing frustration. She spent her entire childhood obsessing over dogs, reading every dog book, begging Nan to take her to the shelter to adopt one. So in any other circumstance, I’d be thrilled for her to have a companion.
Instead, I sat in the chair next to the fireplace, seething in silence as my sister peacefully dozed off to sleep, Tank curled up next to her. By 8 p.m., the house was silent, aside from Tank’s snoring and the heater working for its life in this house, so I got up and called it a night.
I grabbed the large fleece blanket from the back of the chair and draped it around Fia before heading upstairs, turning up the thermostat as I went. Not that it would make a difference—the ancient radiator system in this house is beyond my understanding, and I wouldn’t even know where to start fixing it. Still, it desperately needs repair.
After anxiously watching every passing car from my bedroom window, bracing for his return, exhaustion eventually overtakes me. I force myself to unpack, shoving my clothes into the tiny closet.
Perched on the bed, I scroll through my phone like a sulky teenager desperate for distraction—until a floorboard groans in the hallway. I jolt upright, slamming my phone onto the covers.
My pulse spikes as the shadow stretches beneath the door, because my body can’t tell the difference between a lurking ex-boyfriend and a serial killer who’s broken in. However, as quickly as it happens, he's gone. I didn't even know Jesse was home.
Collapsing against the headboard, I squeeze my eyes shut, listening until the door across the hall clicks closed. I feel like a prisoner in a house I technically own.
The moment my head hits the pillow, I’m wide awake again, and I toss back and forth relentlessly.
I hope I wake up to find out that none of this was real.
My hair feels like a rat’s nest piled on my head—wavy and hanging around my cheeks, the rest of it twisted into a messy bun—as I meander down the stairs.
Something’s burning.
Something cheesy, maybe. Or eggs.
I pull my sweatshirt sleeves down around my fingers, and brace myself for whatever mess I’m walking into. Probably Jesse burning shit.
Rounding the corner, I collide directly into Tank, knees knocking against his solid gray body. He doesn’t so much as glance my direction as drool beads on his mouth.
“I’m sorry!” I apologize to him. It’s not his fault that he is owned by Jesse.
I follow his intense gaze to my sister.
Fia curses under her breath, and tears stream down her face as two black discs sit in front of her on a plate.
“Good morning,” she greets me meekly, wiping her nose on the sleeve of her terry cloth robe.
I circle the island to get a look at whatever is on her plate.
Two hockey pucks, it appears.
“I just wanted a bagel.” She inhales, staring longingly at the sad, burnt food in front of her. “It’s all I’ve been craving, and this is the last one, and I had to pee so bad, and it stayed in the toaster oven too long, and it’s burnt now and—”
“It’s okay, Fi.” I wrap my arms around her narrow shoulders and pull her into a hug. Clearly, she’s got the fragility of an eggshell right now.
I grab the plate and toss the bagel in the trash—much to Tank’s dismay. I snag a paper towel and hand it to her. Fia blows her nose, peering at me pathetically.
This is what I do best. Clean up messes.
“Forget about the bagel. There’s a new café by the beach, they serve brunch, and it looks really good. Plus, I need to get out.”
She perks up, fiery red hair falling from behind her ears. “Okay.” She sniffles. “That sounds good.”
“Great.” I try to muster some semblance that I have my shit together today. “Let’s leave in thirty.”
I stand at the sink, blow-drying my hair in the only upstairs bathroom this house has, when my phone dings. After a quickshower, I admittedly feel a bit better. Jesse was nowhere to be found this morning, and maybe today, Fia and I can have a nice, normal afternoon doing stuff we’re used to.
