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My mind returned to Gracie’s earlier words as I untied my apron and tossed it over my shoulder. She wanted me to go out somewhere other than a movie. She made me promise to get out and enjoy life. I wouldn’t enjoy myself. I didn’t want to go anywhere but home, but at least I could give her what she wanted. I was tired but not nearly as tired as after a double. If I was going to do this without lying about it, at least let it be at a time when work wasn’t possible.
Before I could change my mind, I agreed.
“Yeah, okay. Count me in.”
Sadie paused and turned toward me. Her eyes grew wide, and her mouth fell open. “Seriously?”
I nodded. “Seriously.”
I was already regretting it. And as Sadie drove me to my place, I racked my brain, trying to find an excuse to back out. When we pulled up to my apartment building, I hadn’t come up with anything yet.
“I’ll be back in an hour to pick you up. Be ready. We’re going to have so much fun!”
Sadie beamed at me from across the front seat of her car, and I grinned, trying to seem excited as I opened the car door and got out. I stood on the sidewalk and watched her drive away, wishing I hadn’t agreed. My calves burned from days on my feet, my hair was gross, and I didn’t have anything decent to wear.
An hour.
That would be enough time to shower and make myself presentable.
“You’re home early,” Gracie commented without looking away from the TV.
She was sitting on the couch and folding clothes.
“Milly hired a new girl who wants the work, which means no doubles for a bit.” I kicked off my shoes and went into the kitchen for water.
“Good.” I turned to see her set a folded towel on top of the stack of towels on the floor by her feet.
I didn’t remind her that doubles meant a fatter paycheck. Instead, I guzzled my water and set the glass in the sink when I was done.
Leaning against the kitchen counter, I braced for impact. “I’m going out tonight.”
The TV turned off, and the room went silent.
“For real?” Gracie asked.
“Yeah. Sadie invited me out for a girl’s night.”
I cringed at Gracie’s high-pitched squeal of joy, and seconds later, I was engulfed in a firm hug.
“I’m so thrilled for you. I’ll do your makeup. Your eyes are begging for winged liner.”
I held my hands up, stopping her before she could go too far. “No makeup, but if you have a shirt I could borrow, that would be great.”
The night was about appeasing my sister. I wasn’t about trying to call attention to myself. The last thing I wanted was attention from a guy. It wouldn’t end in flirting and hot sex. No. It would end with me walking home full of panic-driven energy.
True to her word, Sadie’s horn filled my apartment almost precisely an hour later. I looked out the living room window and into the parking lot to see her compact green car idling.
“Okay, so what do you do if something happens?” I asked, quizzing Gracie as if she were a child.
She hated that, but I rarely left her alone at the apartment unless it was for work.
“I go over to Mrs. Eva’s apartment and ask to use her phone to call the cops.”
“And if someone breaks in?”
She sighed in annoyance. “I don’t know, Tori. I pick up something heavy and knock the fucker out?”
“Language, Gracie!”
