Page 13 of My Best Friend's Sister

S E V E N

- Madeline -

Things couldn’t be more awkward. Or maybe they weren’t, and I was just awkward. Hard to tell. Regardless, Quinn was gentleman enough to help me carry my boxes to my room even after I insisted I didn’t need his help, which was a pleasant surprise.

“I can give you a tour of the building later,” he said, setting the last box down while I pretended not to notice the way his white T-shirt stretched around his toned arms.

“The building?”

“Is that overkill?” His gaze found my face and didn’t stray, though he definitely checked me out when I first arrived, his blue eyes studying my favorite hoodie like it was a plunge-neck gown. Not that I could tell if he liked what he saw. The guy clearly made it a point not to exceed his smile quota. “I figured you’d want to know where the gym was. And the dry cleaners?”

“There’s a gym in this building?” I don’t know why I was surprised. His appearance should’ve tipped me off.

He nodded. “And a pool. There’s also a lounge area on the rooftop with some nice plants and a big grill, but the door to get up there is a bit finicky.”

“I’d love if you’d show me around,” I said, careful to keep my eyes well above the waistband of his dark jeans. “I should probably unpack a little first, though.” My eyes scanned the long dresser to my right, and I wondered whether James had cleared any drawers for me.

“It’s empty,” Quinn said, reading my mind. “So is the closet, apart from a few of his best suits.”

“Oh. Cool.”

“I didn’t feel right about chucking them in storage.”

My head whipped towards him. “You cleaned out his drawers for me?”

He avoided meeting my eyes. “He didn’t leave much. It’s no big deal.” He stepped back towards the open doorway. “I’ll leave you to it.”

A grateful smile warmed my face.

“Let me know if you want that tour or if you get hungry or anything.”

“And if I need to go to the bathroom?”

“It’s right next door,” he said, pointing a thumb at the wall behind him. “Do you want a drink or something?”

He was really going out of his way for me. Either James told him to be on his best behavior or he was feeling completely weirded out by my sudden home invasion. “I’m okay for now, thanks. I’ll unpack faster if I think I can reward myself with a drink later.”

“Sure.” He stepped backwards into the doorway, turned towards the square sitting room that separated our bedrooms, and tilted his head away from me. “I’ll be in my room if you need anything.”

My chest relaxed as soon as he disappeared from view, and I took a moment to look around my new digs. All the furniture was familiar. It was the same stuff James had had for years: a small bedside table, a long pine dresser across one wall, and a simple desk I’d never been able to imagine him sitting at. The Monet print of three golden haystacks was a nice surprise, though. I didn’t know he had a penchant for impressionism.

The best feature of the room, however, was definitely the view. The huge, east-facing window overlooked the energic city and a vast expanse of Lake Michigan, which sparkled in the sunshine as far as the eye could see. I’d never lived somewhere with a view, but being so high up made me feel clearheaded and hopeful for the first time in weeks.

It was exactly the way I wanted to feel in the days leading up to my new internship, which I’d enthusiastically accepted moments after I got off the phone with Quinn and discovered Operation: Mooch Off My Brother’s Generosity was still a go.

I felt a little shady for hating on Steve’s mooching so hard now that I was mooching myself, but I told myself our situations were different. James was my brother, and he offered to let me stay for free. Not that Maeve ever would’ve let him hear the end of it if he hadn’t, but still.

I hung up the clothes I was considering for next week, knowing it would be important to look the part if I wanted to impress the fashion snobs I’d be working for. Then, like the secret lazy person I was, I shoved most of my stuff in James’s deep dresser drawers, breaking down my cardboard boxes carefully as I went, so I wouldn’t have to buy new in six months when it was time to move out.

As for my personal effects, they only took up one box. Everything else was at my mom’s house in the spare bedroom she used for hoarding stuff she bought on the Home Shopping Network. She never used to do that, but ever since my dad fucked off with my former best friend’s mom, she’d been able to hoard to her heart’s content. Admittedly, I felt a little guilty about contributing to the problem, it’s not like she was going to change her habits just because I cleaned out one closet. If anything, she’d probably take it personally. Like it was a sign I was leaving her, too.

Besides, I didn’t take much comfort in ticket stubs or old yearbooks. The thing that sparked joy for me was clothes. I loved clothes. And shoes. And purses. And scarves. And don’t even get me started on delicate, sparkly accessories.

Some people might think that’s shallow, but personally, I think anyone who isn’t interested in fashion doesn’t understand its true power. Because dressing up isn’t just for Halloween. Every day is a new chance to try a fresh style. I loved that I could be an invisible bum one day and wear my power blue pencil skirt the next. I loved that I could throw on some trendy yoga clothes and pretend I was a fitness It girl and then put on my most flowy, flowery top and channel my inner hippie. For as long as I can remember, fashion’s made me feel powerful and in control like nothing else.

Speaking of which, I really needed to check my blog and see if I got any comments on the post I shared two days ago about summer festival fashion.

I set up my computer and plugged it in. Then I placed my favorite photo of me and my siblings on the desk beside it. It was taken at the beach a few years ago on Fourth of July and our smiles are all bright as sparklers. Maeve and I had face paint running down our sweaty cheeks, and James is in the middle, laughing in star-shaped sunglasses with his arms stretched around us. It was a great day out. We played volleyball until we got too drunk to continue and then spent the rest of the day lounging on the beach, waiting for the fireworks over Navy Pier to kick off.

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