Page 68 of The Thought of You

“You said we had sex, which we did not, so you were wrong.”

“But Kin was right.”

“That’s beside the point.”

“Aha! So you admit there is something between you and Mr. PE.”

My cheeks are on fire. I’m dangerously close to needing to dunk my face into a sink full of water.

“Oral pleasure is still sex, baby,” Rain adds. “Any physical, animalistic act that awakens our inner goddess?—”

“Please stop.” I hold my hands up. “I’ll give you anything to stop that sentence. I’ll give you this bag if you promise to never finish that sentence.”

She grimaces. “This bag is rather gaudy.”

“You can’t have it, anyway. It contains my life.” I angle my body away from her and pat my tote, as if she’s hurt its feelings. Given how emotionally supportive this thing has been, I wouldn’t immediately dismiss the notion, either.

“Your life should not be able to fit into a bag. Am I right?” Rain shifts her attention to her friends, then glances back at me. “Why do you chain yourself to such a small life in one place, with uncomfortable clothes and a single bag to show for it?”

“You know I didn’t mean literally. It was a hyperbole.” In the corner of my eye, I see Kin lifting his hand, and smoke billows over him. “Are you burning sage?” I cringe.

“I need to cleanse the negative energy in here. Otherwise, I’m going to hang in the van.”

“There’s a grand idea,” I mutter and cross my arms over my chest.

“Go to sleep! You can wake up once we leave!” Kin calls out to the ceiling.

I turn to my mother, my nerves pinched between exhaustion and extreme irritation like a thumb and forefinger. “Is he talking to this supposed negative energy?”

“Of course. Don’t you?”

“Well, I don’t have any pets, so who else would I talk to?” I flash a sarcastic smile. “Speaking of leaving, when will that be exactly?”

“Don’t tell me you’re in a rush to get rid of us.” Rain tsks. “That’s no way to treat the person who gave you this house, is it?”

I purse my lips as my head spins. It’s the same looney tune and fight with her each time she decides to pop in unannounced. When she was here for the chili dinner, she didn’t stay here. I don’t know that she stayed in Sapphire Creek at all.

But when she does stick around the house, her visit ranges from two days to two months. I never know with her.

The last time she showed up was probably six months ago, which was the longest stretch between overnight visits. I should’ve known this would happen, because why wouldn’t it? This week has been full of surprises.

“I’m actually going out of town for the weekend, so the house is all yours,” I announce.

“You are?” Rain pulls back, clearly shocked. “With Mr. PE?”

“His name is Owen, and no,” I call over my shoulder as I shoot down the hall, mentally organizing a list of toiletries, clothes, and shoes I need to pack.

Oh, and I need to figure out where the hell I’m going.

chapter

twenty-one

ADDIE

Getting practically kicked out of my own house couldn’t have come at a better time.

Fixing my lawn mower and dryer can wait another week. Besides, it’s October, and the growth of grass has slowed. I don’t need to mow every week like I did over the summer.

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