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We walked back out to the living room and I sat on the couch. She took the other end, and Clem jumped up between us to get as much attention as possible.
“Do you want some water or tea or anything?” I asked.
“I’ve had enough of both. Do you have any shots?” she asked, rubbing her forehead.
“Maybe?” I said, getting up. I didn’t know what kind of booze I had off the top of my head, but I found a bottle of pineapple tequila I had no memory of buying.
“How do you feel about pineapple tequila?” I asked.
“As long as it’s tequila, I do not give a fuck,” Lark said.
I poured a shot for each of us and brought them back to the couch.
“Bottoms up,” I said, and we both tossed our shots back. Lark cringed a little, but she slammed the empty glass down on the coffee table.
“Not bad,” she said. “I’d ask for a few more, but I know I have to drive.”
The tequila burned just a little bit and I welcomed it. I could definitely use another shot myself.
“Fuck,” Lark said with a sigh. She looked toward the TV, and I saw that her eyes were welling up. “It’s just bullshit.”
“I’m sorry,” I said.
She sniffed and I got up to grab her a box of tissues from the bathroom.
“Thanks,” she said as I passed it to her. “I hate crying, especially in front of other people. Don’t you dare tell anyone about this. I’ve been taking a shower at Layne’s every time I need to cry.”
“It’s a good place for it,” I said as she wiped her eyes and then blew her nose.
“I know I’m being a little bit of an asshole, but I think I’m entitled, given the circumstances,” she said. “Everyone has just been so damn nice and it’s embarrassing. I feel like all I do is thank people as they give me money and clothes and stuff and offer me anything I could need. I’m so grateful, but I just wish they wouldn’t sometimes.”
“Life is complicated. You never know how you’re going to feel until something happens to you,” I said.
“I know I’ve had a pretty easy life, aside from my mother being awful. Honor cushioned the blow of so many things, sometimes at her own expense. She was willing to get into a loveless marriage to continue to pay for my school. What am I even supposed to do with that?”
From the way she spoke, I could tell she’d been holding onto all of this for a long time. Maybe her whole life.
“Fuck, now I’m rambling. I’m sorry,” she said, getting up. “I should go.”
“It’s okay,” I said. Having deep conversations with my hookups was another thing I didn’t do, but I was telling myself it didn’t count. Lark wasn’t a hookup anymore, she was going to be my roommate and my last roommate, Joy, had become one of my best friends. Not that Lark had to step into that role, but being casual friends with her might be okay.
“I’ll have the landlord send over the lease and you can just let me know when you want to move in. I’ll get you some keys made,” I said.
Lark nodded as she edged toward the door.
“Sure, fine,” she said. “It’ll probably be this weekend.”
“Great,” I said. “Let me know if you need any help. I’m not going to lift anything heavy, but I’m really good at moving blankets.”
Lark’s face formed a ghost of a smile. “Good to know.”
She started to walk down the stairs and paused. “Thank you, Sydney. For letting me move in. And for the mattress and the other stuff.”
“You’re welcome,” I said. “Joy helped with a lot of it.”
“I’ll thank her too,” she said, and she seemed to want to say something else.
I raised my eyebrows and waited, but then she shook her head.
