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“Your neighbor is cool.”
“I know.”
“I shit in her shower.” She chuckles.
I give a pregnant blink. “Youwhat?”
She can’t be serious.
“It was so fucking awful. I felt terrible.”
“You shit in her shower? Does she know?”
“Yeah, she was there when it happened.”
“Oh my God.Anna.”
“She washed my hair and it smells really good. Here, smell it.” She holds out a handful of hair, and it’s Freya-scented.
“I still can’t believe you shit in her shower.” My hand scrubs over my face.
Anna finishes telling me about her night. She looks like hell, and she’s still sniffling and sneezing. Yawns every other sentence. Has a headache. And I swear you could measure her sweat in a fucking rain gauge.
Me: Anna told me about last night. I hear I owe you a new shower curtain. If there’s anything else that needs replacing, let me know.
There’s a lot I owe her. She doesn’t respond. I tell myself it’s because she’s already fallen asleep, but I know it’s more likely because she’s still not talking to me. Can’t blame her, I’m no longer on thin ice, I’ve fallen through.
THIRTEEN
After being awake for almost twenty-four hours straight, I hurry to my bed. When I pull the sheets off, I look for the cash I stuffed under the mattress. My shoulders slump. It’s gone.
Goddamnit.
I look around my room for anything else I hold of value—just the cash.
Right now sleep is more important than the money. I can figure this out another time. I can make the money back. I’ll do an extra live stream this week. Besides, I’m not about to get into it with Anna. I’ve had enough run-ins with theft and addicts to know how that’s going to go. If she’s anything like Kyle, she’d fight me on it for hours, talking in circles. I could find the wad of money between her ass cheeks, and she’d still say someone else put it there. I don’t have the energy.
I’m out cold before my head even hits the pillow. I only planned on sleeping four hours but snoozed until after four o’clock in the afternoon. I needed it. Last night was brutal.
I have to get moving because Birdie’s dad, Ken, will be picking up his truck tomorrow morning, and I still need that new sofa and desk from IKEA. I throw on a sweatshirt and leggings, wrap my hair in a messy bun, and get my ass in gear. While getting dressed, my eyes land on the last of the laundry I need to return to Anna.
Which means I have to see Rhys. Ugh.
I gather up the items, along with a couple more sets of loungewear for her. She’s probably sweat through the others by now. I hope Anna hasn’t fled yet. I imagine it would be cathartic to see someone overcome their addiction after everything I went through with my ex. I wouldn’t want anyone to experience that.
When I knock gently on his door, the footsteps on the other side alert me that Rhys is home. There’s no way Anna would have footfalls that heavy. She barely weighs a hundred pounds soaking wet. When he opens the door, it annoys me how good he looks. Especially since I’m sort of slumming it, but I’m in a time crunch, and I don’t care what I look like to him.
“Hi, just returning Anna’s clothes, and here’s a couple more in case you need them.”
“Thanks. You didn’t have to do this. Do you want to come in for a bit?” He steps back, holding the door open wider.Hard pass.
“No, I’m on my way out, just wanted to give these to her before I left. How’s she doing?”
“Better. I think she’s coming around. Still itchy, says her skin is crawling. And I swear to God, the sneezing fits are making me fucking nuts.” He rubs his forehead.
“Give her an antihistamine. It might let her sleep a little too. Imodium also helps with some of the other side effects.”
“I’ll do that. Thanks. She said she’s going to stay a few weeks and get clean.”
