When I walk in the house, bracing myself for his presence, it’s eerily quiet. I wait for Tank to barrel into me, but there are no signs of that slobbery gremlin either. I drop the takeout containers on the kitchen counter and turn on a light, wondering if he took his dog and bailed on us, on foot? Then my phone starts ringing.
Audrey’s calling to FaceTime me.
Maybe Jesse and Tank just went for a walk, but I’m not going to risk my conversation being heard, so I pop in my earbuds and answer the call.
“Hey, babe!”
Audrey’s face fills the screen, half-covered in flour. “Where are you?”
“Sorry, I just got back to the house. Went to pick up some sushi for tonight.”
Audrey’s mouth falls open. “You do know that pregnant women shouldn’t eat raw fish, right?”
I roll my eyes. “Duh—it’s not for Fia. She’s at work. It’s just me and Jesse tonight.”
Audrey raises her brows, saying nothing. Which says it all.
I dig around in my purse for lip gloss, feeling extra fidgety. “She pretty much begged us to act like functional adults because she’s in a blissful state of mind where we are all a happy family.”
“That’s kind of sweet, though, right?” Audrey replies.
“Sweet, naive…same difference.” I unclip my hair, letting it fall around my shoulders as I lean on the counter. “But I want her to be happy, so if being nice to Jesse makes her feel all warm and fuzzy inside, then fine, I’lltry.”
The words burn like vinegar on my tongue.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to simply tell her the truth? That you two had a romantic falling out?”
I laugh, short and bitter. “That chapter is closed. Fully and completely.”
I put on the pink lip gloss I find in the bottom of my purse, a mindless habit.
“I feel like she’d understand, right? And considering you’re going to be there until Christmas, that’s a long time to pretend nothing happened,” Audrey chimes in, always with logic.
“I’m not pretending. Nothing is currently happening because it’s ancient history. And telling her would only make things harder. She’d feel guilty for inviting him to live here if she knew the truth, then she’d feel like she had to take my side in this, and she doesn’t need that stress right now.”
Audrey tilts her head. “You don’t want her to do that…because you care about his feelings being hurt?”
I nearly knock my phone to the floor. “Idid notsay that. I’m avoiding drama, that’s all! I ordered him dinner, and I’ll hang out with himfor one hour. We’ll play nice and move on with our lives. Happy holidays.”
“Right,” Audrey replies slowly, observing me with narrowed eyes. “You know best.”
I head for the stairs, nearly tripping over Tank, passed out in a melted puddle at the bottom step. His limbs are all bent, tongue half out, snoring. World’s worst guard dog.
The stairs creak as I make my way up to the dark second floor, and I half expect one of them to just give out. I wouldn’t mind being swallowed whole right now.
“Hey, I wanted to talk to you about throwing a baby shower for Fia,” Audrey says, and I can’t believe that didn’t pop into my head.
“You know that's actually not a bad idea, she’s going to need everything. It will have to be in February, though, January is already full for me,” I reply.
“Perfect! I’m happy to handle the food for her, I was just thinking that would be nice.”
“Seriously? That’s so thoughtful, Aud, I owe you. While I have you, let me show you the sweater I picked up at a boutique yesterday. I love it, but I feel like the burnt-orange color might look better on you.”
I adjust the phone to switch on the hallway light.
“Hold on, let me flip the camera—” I press the button, then freeze.
A yellow glow spills from the narrow slit under the bathroom door, and before I can register what’s happening, it swings open, steam billowing out.
