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ChapterSeven
TESS
It’s pitch black, like the middle of the night, and I’m fumbling for my phone, desperate to stop the blare of the ringtone. Who’s trying to FaceChat me at this hour? On a Saturday? I peel off my eyeshades and I’m blinded by the full sunshine streaming through the window. Oops. Maybe it’s not still dark o’clock. I check the phone. It’s Emi, so I accept the chat.
“Hey,” I croak.
“You’re still in bed?”
“I stayed way too late at Mac’s last night. They invited me to sleep over, but I had too much to do today.”
“You look… tired.” She brings her face close to the screen. “Like a raccoon with an orange tumbleweed for a head.”
“Well, I was sleeping.” I peer at Emi through half-cracked lids. Of course her blonde curls are perfect ringlets around her princess face. Being that cute should be a crime. “And it’s three hours later in DC. Plus I’ve been working like a dog all week getting prepped for camp.”
“How are you holding up?” She blinks her big blue marble eyes. “Nervous? Excited? Exhausted?”
“All of the above.”
“That makes sense. This is a brand new adventure for you.”
I know she doesn’t mean it, but I can’t help thinking she meansanothernew adventure. “I just want everything to go well, you know?”
“Of course you do.”
“I need a win, Em. I need people to see me succeed at something.”
She crinkles her button nose. “That’s in your head, Tess. No one thinks you’re a failure but you.”
“Hmm.” I’d like to believe her, but it’s hard when I didn’t even wash my makeup off last night. I run a hand through my tangle of curls. Orange tumbleweed is right. I sit up with a groan that makes me sound geriatric. “Anyway, what’s up? Nash told me there weren’t any showings scheduled for this weekend.”
“Yep. That’s true. The agent has a bunch coming up this week, but none for today or tomorrow.” We’re both quiet for a beat.
“Spill it, Emi. Did Nash want you to find out if I’ve cleaned the place up well enough yet?” I let my mouth slip sideways so she realizes I’m not serious. But the truth is a part of me feels defensive. “Because I did. Everything’s spotless. In fact you could have a showing today. Right now, even!”
Emi laughs. “We wouldn’t want anyone to be scared off by the resident raccoon.”
“Heh heh. I don’t think raccoons can laugh.”
Emi sighs, and her eyes soften. “Actually, I wanted to see how you’re feeling about all this. It’s a lot, asking you to move out. Are you really okay?”
“Of course,” I chirp as brightly as I can two minutes after waking. “I always knew you two selling the place was a possibility.” As I say this, my raccoon eyes roam the room. I forgot to close the shutters, so the walls are awash with light. So are the coffered ceilings above the bed. I love this space. The thick rugs and hardwood floors. The east-facing windows in this room that let in the sunrise each morning. “This house is too big for me anyway. You really need a family living here.” I shrug, but my intestines feel like a dishrag being squeezed dry. Perfect for a family.
“Say the word, and we can postpone the sale,” Emi says. Her voice is as soft as her eyes now.
“No way. You do what’s best for the Hendrixes. You are THE HENDRIXES. I still have trouble believing that.” My mouth quirks. “I thought we were both going to stay single forever.”
Emi smiles. “Blame Nash for that one.”
I roll my eyes. “Believe me, I do. He was supposed to stay single too!”
“So you promise you’re all right?”
“Promise.”
Emi’s lips quiver.
“Areyouall right?”
