“But only because I’ve already vowed to never part with this mattress again so long as we both shall live.”
“You and me?”
“No, me and the mattress,” I quipped, and he tackled me sideways and play wrestled until we were both giggling.
Chloe’s flights were delayed for hours, meaning that she got in well after one in the morning. I had work and Barry had practice early, so we were both asleep when she let herself into the apartment and promptly knocked out in the guest room. I saw her shoes by the door when we left in the morning, cute sneakers still crispy white.
She was up in the kitchen when I came back without Barry five hours later, and Chloe startled to see me come in.
“Oh, I…” She looked over my outfit, the blue janitorial jumpsuit stretched over my stomach, rolled up to the elbows. “Sorry, Barry didn’t say anyone would be here today.”
I raised my eyebrows, trying to figure out what she meant—I heard Barry say to her on the phone last night that I’d be here during the day.
Then it clicked: my jumpsuit. Chloe thought I was there toclean.
I cracked a smile, couldn’t help it.
“I’m Hannah,” I said. “The, uh?—”
Chloe’s eyes went wide, mortification written on her tired face. “Oh my God. Right.” She came from around the island, embarrassed. She brought me into a hug, tight like her mom. A whole family of huggers.
“Of course. I’m sorry, I saw the uniform and?—”
“It’s okay, really.”
“I should have known that a pregnant woman coming into my brother’s home was his—well, I’m sorry. I’m Chloe.”
“Good to meet you, Chloe. I think you’re Barry’s favorite sibling, which is impressive because there’s like fifteen of you.”
“Five really does feel like fifteen sometimes. But I have special privileges being the only girl and the youngest.”
“Princess of the family. I like it.” I propped a hand on my hip and then recoiled when I caught a sniff of my underarms. It was a sweaty one this morning because I finished early and helped Tara clean the cold and hot tubs. “I have to shower, but Barry made a bunch of breakfast things in the fridge. Please do make yourself at home.”
“Will do. Thanks.”
I skirted past her and feared that me telling Chloe tomake herself at homewould leave almost as wrong a message as me sharing a room, but I supposed what they said about being in for a dime, in for a dollar was true.
I showered and changed into a pair of sweatpants and one of Barry’s Raptors sweatshirts before returning to the kitchen where Chloe was halfway through one of the breakfast bowls from the fridge. I grabbed the container of chia pudding and a banana, then smiled at her from across the island.
“How was the flight?” I asked. “Dumb question, it was very delayed and horrible, right?”
Chloe nodded. She was wildly beautiful, a round face and perfectly plump lips. Her eyes were dark brown, and her nose like Barry’s if it hadn’t been broken multiple times.
“I’m sorry again for assuming.”
“It’s alright,” I assured. “I am actually a janitor, so that part is true.”
Chloe’s mouth made an O shape, her surprise at this news evident.
“Barry didn’t tell you?” I asked. She closed her mouth and shook her head.
“I suppose he didn’t mention that, no.”
“I work at the practice facility,” I explained. “That’s actually how he found me again.”
The gears in Chloe’s brain were turning, new details orienting her to brother’s very pregnant not-girlfriend living in his big, expensive, downtown condo.
I knew already that Chloe was as lovely as Gen, but I was pleased to note she was wary of me too. I could read it in her eyes after this revelation.
