Page 3 of In Plain Sight

Ignoring my phone, I bent to undo the laces of my work boots. When they were off, I left my bag where I’d dropped it and trudged into my apartment, pulling my phone out as I did.

I had five texts. Four were from Dean, my best friend. Three of them had been there when I’d checked my phone after work, but I hadn’t bothered to answer him because I knew exactly what they were about.

The other was from my sister.

Flopping down on my couch, I kicked my feet up on my coffee table and opened the text from my sister first.

Jade: I just walked in on mom and eddie sucking face and I’ll never be okay again

The mental image of our mother kissing her boyfriend made me grimace.

I had nothing against Eddie, and he made Mom happy, but it was weird to see her with someone other than our dad.

Luka: gross

Thank god the odds of me catching Mom and her new beau in any sort of compromising position were slim. Jade didn’t have that luxury since she’d moved back in with our mom after being laid off six months ago.

Luka: maybe you can get him a bell to wear in the house so you know what rooms to avoid

She read my texts before my screen went dark.

Jade: something tells me mom isn’t going to go for that

Jade: are you home?

Luka: yeah just got in

Jade: Do you have plans? I’m meeting up with some of the girls at Prism in a bit. You should come. Danielle’s been asking about you

Luka: I’m going to stay in tonight. I’m bushed

Luka: and stop trying to fix me up with your friends

Jade: I’m just being a good sister and helping my big bro get laid

I grimaced again. My sister and I were close, and she was only two years younger than me, but talking to her about my sex life still gave me the ick. So did the thought of hooking up with any of her friends.

I’d prefer if the people I slept with didn’t gossip with my baby sister about the men they’d been with, thank you very much.

Just to emphasize my point, I sent her the unimpressed emoji, the one with straight lines for its mouth and eyes.

Luka: no, just no to all of that

Jade: prude

Luka: have fun

Jade: you know where we’ll be if you change your mind

Luka: I won’t

Jade: boring

Chuckling, I exited out of our text thread and opened the one with Dean.

Dean: where are you?

Dean: we’re at glenns