He walked over and held out the coffee.
I took it with both hands like it was a religious offering.“Thank you,” I said.
“Drink slow.”
“I make no promises.”
“Good morning, sunshine,” Tempi called.
I grimaced and took a careful sip.Hot, black, perfect.“How are you so wide awake this morning after last night?”
Tempi smiled.“I can hold my liquor.”
Twister snorted.
She pointed at him without looking.“Quiet.”
He lifted his coffee.
“And,” she added, “I took a handful of Tylenol before I went to sleep.”
“That feels like cheating.”
“It’s called planning,” she winked.
I looked around the room and noticed two people missing.“Where are Britta and Swift?”
Tempi laughed.“Britta does not handle her liquor as well.”
Swift’s voice drifted from upstairs.“She heard that and hates you.”
Tempi cupped a hand around her mouth.“Love you, Britta!”
A weak groan came from somewhere above us.
Gramps came through the front door with a small stack of mail in his hand and a scowl on his face.“Mail,” he announced like he had just returned from battle.
Twister held out his hand.
Gramps slapped the stack into his palm.“Bills.Junk.More junk.Something from the city, which I say we burn before it curses us.”
Podge appeared from the hallway.“Please don’t burn official correspondence.”
Gramps pointed at him.“You’re official correspondence.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“It does to me.”
Wheels guided me toward the table with a light hand at the small of my back.Barely there.Still enough for me to notice.I sat down, and he took the chair beside me.
Tempi moved toward the kitchen.“You want food, Goldie?”
My stomach rolled.“I don’t know.”
“A greasy burger will fix you right up,” she promised.
“It is barely morning.”
