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The only thingnotnormal was my jittery nerves. Because Jaylani had managed to fluster me beyond repair.
“Thanks a lot,” I muttered to my absent best friend. “Make me afraid to live in my own home. Really appreciate it.”
Huffing out a breath and letting my irritation with her take over—so I wouldn’t have to think about my wussy-ass fear—I grabbed my book bag and climbed from the car.
At the back door, I unlocked all the bolts, then paused to look at the black-coated key with the letter A on it sitting in my palm.
Whenhadthey last rekeyed this place?
Didn’t matter. I was letting my own imagination get the best of me. I just had to stop thinking about this.
But as soon as I opened the door and glanced into the short, dimly-lit back hall, anxiety rushed over my skin, prickling my flesh.
“Gah, this is crazy,” I muttered to myself and purposely stepped forward, only for the door to close at my back, making me hesitate with a thick swallow.
The place just seemed so quiet today. Like resoundingly quiet.
I hated it when things were too quiet.
So I hummed to myself as I clomped down the hall with my steps echoing way too loudly underfoot. Once in the open, my muscles relaxed some, but instead of going straight upstairs to my room, like I usually did when I got home, I veered toward the kitchen.
There, I heaved out a breath and plunked my bag and purse on the kitchen island before heading to the front window and whipping open the curtains all the way.
“Better,” I announced to myself.
As I turned back to face the rest of the first floor, I saw movement in the corner, right at the base of the stairs where all the shadows seemed to be collecting.
Stumbling back, I belted out a short scream, only to clutch my chest and sag against the island when Thalia emerged.
Playfully lifting her hands in surrender, she called, “Boo,” before snickering over my reaction and heading toward the couch, where she plopped down lazily just outside the line of sunlight that was streaming in through the window.
“Fuck,” I gasped, still trying to get my heart back inside my chest. “You gave me a damn heart attack.”
“So I see,” she murmured in amusement. “You’re still shaking.”
“God.” Blowing out a relieved breath, I turned away and started toward the cabinets, needing a stiff drink. “I did not hear you coming down the stairs.”
“Sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Behind me, the television turned on, and Thalia began to surf through stations.
“Not your fault,” I assured her as I frowned up at the vodka I’d been intending to drag down. “I’m just in a jumpy mood today.” But with my roommate around, acting normal, I suddenly felt better.
I shut the cabinet door, leaving the vodka on the shelf, and decided I was hungry instead.
“I’m going to make a sandwich,” I called over my shoulder. “You want anything?”
“No thanks.” Thalia heaved out a sigh, and the television turned off again, leaving me to believe she hadn’t found anything she liked. “I’m not really hungry.”
Furrowing my brow at her, I watched her tip her head toward the couch cushion and rest her cheek on it as she yawned. She looked worn down. “You do eat, don’t you?”
Thalia rolled her eyes and cattily shot back, “Only on full moons.”
“Funny,” I said sarcastically. She and her brother definitely shared the same dry sense of humor.
But thinking of him reminded me of our date we had planned and the fact that we weretogethernow. Thalia would freak out if she knew we were a couple.
Except it felt worsenottelling her.
