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I darted my gaze across from us. Although Gabe was too busy waking up Pavel to take note of our conversation, I lowered my voice anyway. “The first and last time that will ever happen.”
“It’s also funny,” Dean said conversationally as he chomped on a piece of honeydew, which was only more evidence of his malevolence. No one actually liked honeydew, yet here he was, shoving it down his gullet as if he enjoyed it. “You said that after you kissed me at the bar.”
“Yeah, and it never happened again.” When he eyed me, my cheeks heated. “You started it this morning, and there was no kissing,” I declared, with my finger up like that made it better. It did not, but I was grasping at straws here.
“Real nuanced argument there, counselor.”
I rolled my eyes. “Shut up.”
“Come on, babe.” Gabe pulled Pavel up to standing. “We have to get on the road.”
Pavel mumbled something that I didn’t catch, and I stood when Dean did to offer each of his friends a hug, but as I sat back down, my cell phone buzzed in my purse. It was a text from my sister.
Kennedy
Gas leak in the apt building
Kennedy
Have to find another place to stay for a while
WHAT
Before I could finish typing out my second text message, my phone vibrated in my hand with an incoming call from the building manager, and I answered immediately. “Miguel, hey. What’s wrong with the apartment?”
Dean turned sharp eyes on me, his brow furrowing in question, but I only shook my head, curling in on myself, my elbows on my knees, my free hand on my forehead.
“Hi, Taylor. Sorry to call with this emergency. Your sister told me you’re at a wedding.”
“I don’t care. What’s going on?”
“There was a break in the main gas line.”
“Oh shit,” I whispered, my mind immediately spinning at the possible outcomes for this. “Is anyone hurt?”
“No, everyone is fine. But the gas is turned off.”
I rubbed at my temple. “What does that mean? Kennedy said we have to find a place to go?”
“Since the utilities are gas, that means no heat until we get it fixed.”
Dean placed his hand on my shoulder, urging me to sit up. “What’s wrong?” he asked, and I held my finger up.
“How long is that going to be?”
“Could be a day or two, could be a week or two. I don’t want to give you any guarantees until I know more. The utility company is here now.”
I didn’t care that it sounded immature when I said, “Oh my god.”
“I know,” Miguel said. “I’m really sorry, but with old buildings like this, we have to be really careful, you know? If we make a mistake, it’ll take much longer to fix.”
“Yeah.” I was full-on sulking now. “Well…” I swallowed thickly. “I guess we’ll talk later?”
“Of course. I’ll update everyone when I know more.”
“Thanks, Miguel.”
I hung up and ignored Dean’s prodding and called my sister. “Hey, where are you?”
