THE SHOWER HASbeen off for so long that the water on the glass door is dry. The rhythmicdrip,drip,dripof my wet hair stopped at least twenty minutes ago.
My fingers flex and unflex around the sides of the sink, a shaky exhale clouding the mirror.
Everything is gray today. Worse than usual.
It’s been nine days since I got back, ten days since Ophelia rearranged my universe with a single kiss and then told me to leave.
I can’t make sense of anything. Can’t understand why my six funny, clever girls and our loving mother downstairs aren’t enough to make me happy.
Behind my reflection, I practically see the wordungratefulflashing above my head.
I woke up, I exercised, I ate breakfast with my sisters. I did everything I was supposed to, and I still feel like shit.
But if I die today, I won’t get to try Mia and Éléanor’s stupid two-day-long focaccia recipe that they’ve been going on about for a week.
My phone buzzes as I slide my rings onto my fingers and tame my unruly—but trimmed, at long last—hair.Mike Wilson.
My second-in-command is probably wondering what the hell I’m doing.
I hit decline and pull on a shirt and slacks.
“Alexandra,” says Mia, spoken like one of the royals in those regency romance shows she watches. I pretend not to watch or care about even though I’ll put the TV in the trash if the maid doesn’t end up with the duke.
“Come in.”
Mia cracks the door open, peering in. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
“Are you planning to go to work at any point?
“Shut up.”
“Great comeback. What else you got?”
“Shut up.”
“This is good material. Do you do weddings?”
I shrug on a jacket. “Funerals and divorces?”
“Great. I’ll book one of each.”
I smile and ruffle her dark hair. “You should be studying.”
“I am. But I thought I’d come and check on you. Worried for the family millions, you know?”
My phone lights up with an incoming call. “So is Mike, it seems.”
She’s right behind me as I head down the stairs. Did I have this much joie de vivre at fifteen? Doubt it.
“I’m surprised you kept him.”
“Mike?”
“Yeah. I mean, he was always up Dad’s ass, so—”
“Thanks for that visual, Mia. Mike is good, he knows his stuff.”
