Elizabeth grabbed my hand, “I can’t believe he owns the company. I did not see that coming.”
“I can’t believe Jon slept with your psycho sister.” Ashley chimed in, “That bitch is cr-aaaaa-zy.”
“Who won the poker game, Janie?” Fiona’s soft voice drew my attention to her; her perceptive eyes were narrowed in a way that made me nervous.
I swallowed, “It was a tie.”
“Hmm…” Fiona pressed her lips together in a contemplative line, “So… then the two of you are dating?”
“I-” I shook my head as though to clear it, “I guess so.”
“And is that what you want?” Fiona pressed.
I nodded before I realized my head was moving, “Yes.” My chin trembled a little, “Yes but, it’s scary, you know?”
“Oh, Janie.” Fiona smiled at me, her elfish eyes twinkling, “That’s how you know it’s real.”
~*~
I texted- yes, texted- Quinn that night when I left knitting:
Won’t be organizing my comic books, instead am planning to pass out from exhaustion as soon as I make it home.
He responded:
Ok. I’ll take a rain check on the call. See you tomorrow after work. FYI guards will make sure you get home ok.
Then, a minute later:
I miss you. You should spend the night here tomorrow.
Then, thirty seconds later:
Or you could come over now. I promise I’ll let you sleep.
I thought about it.
I thought about it and my head said no and my vagina said yes and my heart said I DON’T KNOW!! I’M EMOTIONALLY INHIBITED! LEAVE ME ALONE!!!
I was peripherally aware of and recognized the guards shadowing me on my short walk home. Marie lived in our neighborhood, just three blocks away. Elizabeth had a night shift at the hospital and left the group a little early. It was a cold night and my cheeks stung as Chicago winds whipped against my face, threading through my loose hair and tossing it fretfully around my shoulders.
The cold air felt sobering. I responded to Quinn’s last text:
If I come over I won’t want to sleep. Go to bed.
I slipped my cell into my coat and ascended the steps to my building. Almost immediately I felt the phone buzz in my pocket. I glanced at the screen as I undid the lock and headed for the stairs:
You should definitely come over now.
I smiled, my skin warming, my cheeks turning pink. He could make me blush via text message.
I climbed the flights distractedly, touching the screen of my phone and typing a reply, grinning like a doofus.
No. We both need sleep. Go to bed.
As a second thought, and before I could stop myself, I added- because it was true and I suddenly wanted him to know-
I miss you too.
I opened the door to my apartment as I hit send on the phone, shut the door, and slid the lock. Taking a deep breath I leaned against the partition and allowed my head to fall against it, closing my eyes, wondering how it could be that I’d only been away from home less than forty-eight hours.
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
I stiffened, my eyes opening as wide as saucers, and searched for the owner of the voice. Even before I saw her I knew who it was.
Jem.
CHAPTER 24
She stood in the hallway, leaning her shoulder against the wall. Her arms were crossed over her chest, her chin was tilted up in the proud, stubborn way she usually employed when faced with… well, anyone.
She was dressed in dark wash jeans, brown boots, and a white long sleeve shirt; clothes which were considerably tamer than I was used to seeing her wear; however, I reasoned, it was cold outside and I didn’t actually see her anymore. Her hair looked like mine: long and curly and generally unruly. It was even the same color. Even though she was at least two sizes thinner than me, I immediately understood why I would have been mistaken for her doppelganger, especially at a distance.
I blinked at her, wondering at first whether she were real or imagined, hoping for the latter; before I could think to speak Jem’s raspy Peppermint Patty voice interrupted my internal debate.
“Well?”
I considered her for a long moment before asking, “How did you get into the apartment?”
Jem shrugged, “I pretended to be you. I told your super that I lost my keys. He let me in.”
“Well… that’s just great.” I sighed, heavily, and took one step into the apartment. I pulled off my brown wool jacket, hung it on the coat rack, and eyeballed her.
“Aren’t you happy to see your baby sister?” She shifted, her lips pressing into an irritated line.
I walked past her into the living room then moved to the kitchen. I suddenly needed a drink. Jem followed me, hovered at the counter, then leaned across it. She watched me as I poured myself orange juice and tequila.