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It was exciting. I didn’t know when I’d see him next or what either of us would say or do. The thrill was almost as exciting as Isaac. Almost but not quite. Isaac was a whole other level of exciting, thrilling possibilities. Possibilities I would probably let myself indulge in thinking about after I got settled into my apartment.
My first clue my quiet night was not to be was finding my apartment unlocked. My second clue was opening the door to find every light on, music blasting, and food cooking on my stove.
“One of these days you’re going to give me a heart attack.” I glared at my older sister as I wheeled my luggage inside and shut the door.
Ellen, my oldest niece jumped up and hurried over to give me a hug. “Mom let me come!” Ellen was twelve, had long blonde hair and was already transforming into a younger version of my sister, Allie, but with her father’s blonde hair instead of our brown.
Allie stood at the stove stirring. “Why would anyone break into your apartment to cook?”
“Why would anyone invite themselves into someone’s apartment without asking? I could have come home with a guy.”
Ellen’s eyes went round. Allie shot her a look before turning it on me. “Is there a guy in the hallway?”
“No.”
“Case in point.”
I stuck out my tongue. “What are you making?”
“Your favorite.”
Linguine with mushrooms and peas. I washed my hands and helped Ellen make the salad. My sister had done this dozens of times over the years. Usually when she missed me because I was working a lot and not answering her calls as quickly as she liked.
“So out with it. How many texts have I responded slowly to and how many calls have I ignored.”
Ellen snorted.
“Four calls and like twenty text messages.”
“I’ve been bad,” I whispered to Ellen. She snorted again. “Well as you can see, sister dear, I am alive and well. Just busy.”
“Because you took a job when you promised to rest. I suppose I’ll need to start making appointments to see you?” Then her eyes narrowed and she waved a spatula at me. “Something’s up. What’s going on?”
Allie had an usually attuned sense of my moods. She always had. “Nothing. Just work. It’s a very complicated situation and it’s taking all of my brain power.”
“Nope. Try again. My sister senses are tingling.”
“You do not have ‘sister senses’.”
“I do!” She insisted. “It’s my superpower.”
I faked a gasp. “You have superpowers! I can’t wait to tell Dad! He’ll be so excited to have a real-life superhero for a daughter.”
Ellen rolled her lips between her teeth, fighting hard to keep from laughing. I bounced my eyebrows. “You might live with her, but I’ve dealt with this way longer than you. Take notes.”
Allie turned off the stove. “Deflecting now? You definitely have something going on. It can’t be Mei or drama with Jeri. That leaves…a man!”
“Just because you desperately want me to get married so Shawn has someone to hang out with at family parties, doesn’t mean I have a man.”
Ellen tossed the salad and moved it over by the stove where Allie was mixing the linguine into the sauce, mushrooms, and peas. I followed behind with the bowls.
“I don’t desperately want you to get married,” Allie whispered loudly. “I just miss you and I know there is something more than love of your work going on with you.”
“Well my work is all consuming. When would I even meet a man? It’s not like the last guy left me with a good impression of the male species.” We each took a seat at my table and dug in.
Allie shook her head. “I still can’t get over that. A masculinity coach? That shit’s toxic as fuck.”
Ellen’s mouth fell open.
