Page 100 of Just This Once

Keene sat on the kitchen counter, eating cereal from a bowl, and letting his legs swing. He looked to be dressed and ready for the day.

Oaklynn was barefoot and still in sleep shorts and a lacy-edged cami as she ran a harassed hand through her tousled hair and paced the floor while holding a phone to her ear.

Before they noticed my quiet entrance, Oaklynn paused. “Hello? Foster? Yeah, I’m going to need you to come take this new roommate of ours right back off our hands, okay?Why? Because she’s broken,that’swhy. She just?—”

Lifting her hand as if attempting to verbally paint a clearer picture for him, she said, “She’s been watching the same goddamn movie on repeat, all day long, for the pastfourdays. All she does is cry. No one can go near her. I doubt she’s been going to her classes, either. And I mean this in the nicest way possible, but the girl needs to take a shower.”

“And I still can’t get her to sleep with me,” Keene spoke up from a full mouth as he took another bite of his Frosted Flakes. “Tell him to fix that too.”

Oaklynn held up a hand to block him, only to hiss, “What do you mean, what do I expect you to do about it? She’syourcousin. You brought her here. Just—take care of it.”

As she continued to argue with him, I finally stepped forward, making the other two aware of my presence.

Keene paused in alarm, straightening his back and stopping the merry swinging of his legs. And Oaklynn pushed the speaker of the phone away from her mouth.

I pointed, whispering, “Just going to see Alec.”

When she waved me on, I smiled vaguely and hurried from the kitchen.

In the living room,The Princess Bridewas playing at moderate levels, and I could make out the back of a messy blond head and hear a nose blow.

I paused for a moment to watch Xander toss one tissue aside and pick up another to wipe at her eyes.

Wondering if I should say anything, I cringed before just blurting, “You should tryHope Floats.”

Xander whirled around to look at me in surprise. Her eyes were bloodshot, nose red, hair a total disaster. But geesh, the lucky bitch was still utterly beautiful despite all that.

“What?” she asked before sniffling and wiping at her nose yet again.

“The movie,Hope Floats,” I said. With a roll of my eyes, I motioned toward the television. “My brother watchedHope Floatswith me after my first dumping. It helped a lot.”

“Oh.” She seemed to mull that over before gifting me with a sad smile. “Thanks.” Then she fluttered a hand toward the stairs. “I think your boyfriend’s still in his room, if you’re looking for him.”

I paused and tipped my head. “My…boyfriend?”

“Yeah.” She squinted in confusion before guessing, “Alex?”

My eyebrows shot up. “Oh! You mean Alec.”

She shrugged. “Whatever.”

“Yeah, no,” I explained. “Alec is my brother.Brother.”

“Oh.” She blinked, not really fazed. “Sorry.”

“Hope Floats,” I reminded her. “Give it a try.”

“Yeah, maybe,” she answered listlessly before returning her attention toThe Princess Bride.

I shook my head and then jogged down the steps, bypassing the door to Keene’s room before coming to Alec’s. A sign hung from the wood, sayingThe queen is not accepting an audience today.

Keene had given it to him as a gag gift, but he displayed it proudly.

He’d left the door cracked open, so I pushed on it and poked my head in.

Still in bed, Alec was a stomach sleeper, and he liked to keep the blankets pulled up high, nearly over him completely. All I could see of him was his brown curls buried in a pillow.

Affection roaring to life, I climbed onto the mattress with him and lay facing him on top of all the covers.

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