“Well, this is it!” I say. “I would avoid looking in any drawers, just in case.” I walk over to the closet and peer inside.
Suits, a lot of them, but there’s one spot where clothes are missing. He must have moved them so he wouldn’t need to bother Samantha during her stay. There still isn’t much room in there.
“You’ll probably want to live out of your bag. I don’t think there’s space for you to hang up your stuff,” I tell her.
“That’s fine,” she says, glancing at the closet. “I’m not displacing anyone, am I?”
“Nah, it’s fine.” I pick up my own bag again. “I’m gonna put my stuff away and head downstairs. Everyone will be in the family room on the first floor. Unless they aren’t, in which case they’re in their rooms, but why would you bother anyone in their bedrooms?” I laugh, even though Samantha continues to look awkward.
I wave to her before I leave and go down two flights of stairs to my own bedroom. It smells a bit of lemony cleaner, and my sheets are freshly washed. I never make my bed at the dorm.
I collapse onto the bed and pull out my phone. I tab over to the group text.
Pandora
Hope you’re all having a great time without me already.
I mean, I don’t really, because being with me would be infinitely better. But may traffic be good and the airlines without delays, etc.
Boyfriend
Harmony’s airport is okay. So far, so good, which means I just cursed us.
Blabe
It’s not. The lounge is dismal.
Boyfriend
He hasn’t stopped complaining since we got here. You’ll have to join us next time so you can tell him your bad jokes and cheer him up.
I glance at my closed door. I know Samantha is potentially waiting… no, she’s probably taking a shower and stalling before she has to deal with everybody.
I hit thevideo callbutton.
Blaze answers, and the video shows him and Asch sitting close together in what does appear to be a fairly dismal airline lounge, all beige and boring.
“Be glad Harmony’s airport even has a lounge,” I say by way of greeting.
Blaze rolls his eyes. “It’s barely a lounge. The only food service is a tiny snack bar with pre-packaged protein bars or pretzels.”
“He’s used to lounges with all the rich people sticking their pinkies up while they drink expensive booze,” Asch says. “He’s suffering. Really.”
“It sounds awful,” I say. “Have you been in the lounge in New Bristol? The international airport, not the domestic one. They actually have steak if you go around the dinner hours.”
Blaze wrinkles his nose, while Asch shakes his head.
“I don’t need steak, but I want the salad to not be wilting.” Blaze smiles at me then. “How was the drive? Has your Papa already given you a lecture about how we’re bad news?”
“Papa would never!” I say. “He’s all in favor ofbad news. But nah, he’s still in the kitchen cooking. Why are you guys at the airport so early?”
“Because you’re supposed to be at the airport at least two and a half or three hours before your flight in case something goes wrong,” Asch says promptly, but he rubs the back of his neck and his cheeks flush red. “All right, maybe it’s a little excessive, but I didn’t want to be late.”
Blaze rolls his eyes and knocks his hand against Asch’s chest. “Every single fucking time. There hasneverbeen a line for security at Harmony. Never. No, not even during peak travel season when all the students are flying home.”
“You never know,” Asch insists. “And you know that the NewVa airport gets crazy, so it’s a good habit to get into.”
I laugh, although my eyes are drawn to how Blaze’s hand lingers on Asch for a few extra seconds.
