Page 43 of Loco

When I reached my sister’s place, the smell of something rich and buttery was drifting from the kitchen. She opened the door with one hip, my baby nephew Kingston on her arm, and a smudge of flour on her cheek.

“Hey,” she said, eyebrows lifting. “Rough day?”

I gave her a half-smile. “Define rough.”

She stepped aside, letting me in with a knowing look. “The bath’s clean and hot. The towels are in the usual place. Dinner’s in an hour, assuming these two gremlins let me cook in peace.”

“Bless you,” I muttered, kissing her cheek before heading down the hall.

As the door to the bathroom clicked shut behind me and my niece giggling echoed faintly from the living room, I exhaled. This house felt whole and steady.

I turned on the taps and watched steam curl up from the water. And for the first time all day, I let myself stop thinking—just for a moment.

The bath was glorious—hot, fragrant, and, most importantly, still attached to the floor. I sank deeper into the water, letting theheat soak into my bones, my head resting back against a rolled towel. The only light in the room came from the hallway, warm and dim, and for the first time in what felt like weeks, I felt almost human again.

My phone buzzed on the countertop beside the sink. I reached out with dripping fingers, careful not to drop it.

Roque:All okay. Kids are settling in. I missed you today.

A soft smile tugged at my lips, and my fingers hovered before I typed back.

Me:I’m at Heidi’s. I needed a bath that didn’t end in disaster.

The reply came fast.

Roque:Jealous. Send me a photo.

I rolled my eyes, grinning despite myself. I angled the camera so it showed only my legs, submerged in the water, with a bit of the steam-fogged mirror in the background. Not risqué, but suggestive enough. I took the photo and hit send.

His typing bubble popped up almost instantly, then disappeared, and then popped up again. I could practically hear him swearing under his breath and trying to think of something clever to say. I laughed quietly and set the phone aside, letting the warmth of the moment settle around me.

After a long soak, I pulled myself out, wrapped up in one of Heidi’s oversized towels, and padded down the hallway to change into fresh clothes. Once I was done, I followed the faint clinking of pots into the kitchen, where Heidi was stirringsomething on the stove, one hip cocked out, a glass of wine within reach.

“You look about seventeen percent less dead,” she said, glancing at me with a smirk.

“Thanks. That’s about how I feel.” I leaned against the counter, watching her move. “Dinner smells amazing.”

“Are you staying? I made enough for you, obviously.”

I nodded, hesitating for a second before blurting, “I’ve been hooking up with Roque.”

She didn’t even blink, just kept stirring.

I frowned. “That’s it? No dramatic gasp?”

Heidi snorted. “Sayla, please, I’m your sister, and I’m not blind. I’ve known since December. The man looks at you like you hung the damn moon.”

I blinked. “You knew?”

“Course I did,” she said, finally turning to face me, lips twitching with amusement. “You were always suddenly ‘busy’ whenever he was in town, and youdo notlook that disheveled from a snowstorm that keeps you inside the whole time.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but before I could get a word out, a whirlwind of pink and curls came barreling into the kitchen.

“Auntie Sayla!” Nemi cried, launching herself at my legs and wrapping her arms around me. “Come watchShrek! We started without you, but it’s the part where the donkey sings!”

I glanced at Heidi, who lifted her glass and said, “You’re doomed now.”

Laughing, I scooped Nemi up and let her drag me toward the living room.

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