Page 87 of Clean Out of Luck

“Why would you plan a surprise visit? Didn’t you know you might see something you wouldn’t like?” I can barely get the words out.

Wade shakes his head. “She’s doing that thing where she’s stress laughing. Stop yelling at her or she’s going to pass out from lack of oxygen.”

His concern only makes me laugh harder. Because he’s right—I do this when I’m stressed. I’m sure my therapist could unpack all the reasons why I laugh hysterically in awkward situations like this—but I’ve just never brought it up.

“This is your fault, Hendrix,” Phoenix says with a grunt.

I take in a slow, shuddering breath as Wade stands up, leaving me sitting on the couch. “Let me get you something to drink.”

He disappears into the kitchen, and I’m left glaring at my brother.

He’s tall, maybe a little over six feet, but not nearly as tall or broad as Wade. He has dark hair like mine, is wearing afancy suit that he probably paid a ridiculous amount for and is planning on trying to ruin my life.

“So, what’s going on between you and Wade?” he asks as he folds his arms across his chest. At least he’s not shouting anymore.

“I can’t believe you two have been dating behind my back,” Phoenix continues. “How could you be so sneaky like that?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I’m not in middle school anymore, and I don’t need to answer to you on who I date and who I don’t.”

Phoenix frowns.

Well, my laughter fits have gotten under control because I do not feel like laughing right now. I kind of feel like yelling. And mainly yelling at my brother. Or maybe yelling at Wade, who has disappeared into the kitchen for a very long time. Good grief, what could he possibly be doing in there?

“You don’t care what I think about this situation?” Phoenix asks with raised eyebrows.

“Of course I care. But it’s not going to change the fact that Wade and I are dating.”

Wade finally returns carrying a glass full of ice water. He comes in, sits down next to me, and holds it out to me. “Here. Why don’t you drink this?”

Like he has never met me before.

“It would probably be good if you drank something. You said you were thirsty.”

“Yes, and what is this?”

“Some people call it water. It’s new. It’s cold, delicious, good for you. Your body needs it to survive, and maybe it will help you not get mad at your brother. I think he means well,” Wade says, looking at Phoenix, who’s now sitting across from us like he’s a caged animal.

There’s something in Wade’s tone that I can’t quite read,and I don’t like that. I feel like I’m on the outside of an inside joke, and that’s not a good feeling.

I take the glass of water from him and take a drink. I don’t know how people drink water all the time. I like it flavored or in a bottle of pop or in a cup of coffee. But plain water? I’ll even take bubbly water—that’s fine. That’s a lot better. There’s just something so flat and boring about water.

Unfortunately, the cold water does feel good. It doesn’t taste great, but at least it feels good.

“What would you like us to do, Phoenix?” I ask.

“I’d like some sort of explanation,” he says with a groan. “Just not too many details. I saw what I walked in on.”

“Please, you didn’t even see anything,” I reply with a laugh.

“I think I’m going to go bleach my eyes first. Where do you keep your cleaning supplies?” Phoenix asks as he pretends to stand up to go find them.

“Wade and I are dating, Phoenix.”

He throws his hands up in the air.

“I leave for one second, and the world just goes to rack and ruin.”

“So you think the two of us dating is going to end badly?”

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