“I know, I know! My head is literally spinning, okay? I will fill you in on everything when—”
“No, no, it’s not that you’re in the … fae realm?” She cuts me off with a heavy sigh into the receiver that sounds like a gustof wind.
“Then what?” I ask, feeling every bone in my body tense. I hope she’s okay…
“Honestly, you being away this week is kind of good timing.” She groans, and I can picture her nervously tucking strands of red hair behind her ear.
“Oh, yeah?”
“Chris is in town,” she whispers. I straighten at the sound of her brother’s name. Chris—the monster hunter who had dedicated his teens and entire adult life to hunting down Moth—, the man who became so obsessed he used me as live-bait to try to finallycatch him.
Chris—the man who almost killed me. Yeah, the wings are cool, but I would have preferred getting them in a less near-death experience kind of way. As far as I was aware, he’s been living with their parents out of state and seeing a therapist after the entire ordeal. No one besides the five of us knows what really happened that night, and admittedly, I was lighter on the details with Rosie than I should have been. Who knew a life-altering moment would bethis hardto talk about?
I had told her I’m glad he’s getting help, and I should be happy—I mean, everyone is capable of change, right? He can work on himself if he wants to. It just needs to be as far away from me aspossible.
“He wants to meet me for coffee,” she continues.
“Are yougoing to?”
“He is my brother… so, yes? I don’t know. Clara says I shouldn’t bother, but—ah no, I shouldn’t be talking to you about this.”
“No, it’s my fault.I asked.”
“At least you won’t have to worry about running into himin town. “
“You won’t tell him about this, right?”
“God, no, and he’s still banned from The General Store. No matter how this conversation goes, the store is a safe space foreveryone.”
“Thanks, Rosie.”
“Literally the leastI can do.”
I’ve been telling myself that maybe—just maybe Chris could earn my forgiveness one day. Friendship? Never. But isn’t forgiving him supposed to stop my stomach from tying in knots when I hear his name? Rosie is right: being transported to another world couldn’t have come at a better time.
“Could I trouble you to water the plants? Also, I think there are some cinnamon rolls that are probably attracting flies on thecounter.”
“You got it,” she chirps. “Do you still have the same code for thelockbox?”
“Yeah, just make sure you lock up afterward,” I say, flexing my free hand open and closed.
And don’t tell your brother where the key is.
“You know it’s okay to be dealing with lots of emotions, right? What you’ve been through is—”
“In the past! I’m totally good! Do not worry about me,” I say in one breath. I don’t want to talk about this with her—or anyone. I tap my fingers across my phone, trying to focus on the raised texture of the decorative flowers on the case. It’s been a year. Why does everyone keep asking if I’m okay? Realistically, as long as I don’t think about that night, I’m great. I can just keep living in the moment.
“Okay, okay, if you say so.”
“Whatever you decide to do with the whole coffee thing, I hope it goes well.”
And by “well,” I mean I hope she tells her brother to move out of the country and nevercome back.
“Yeah, sure. Be safe, okay?”
“I’ll do my best.” Given my track record, I’m not making anypromises.
With a click of my finger, the call ends, and I tap my nails on the screen, craving the numbing effect of a good scrolling session. As if my phone could handle loading up a meme in this state! Switching it into airplane mode, I curse myself for not having more music or a few games downloaded.
