Page 14 of Your Every Wish
“Of course. No one is saying we should rush into anything.” Kennedy pushes her half-eaten enchilada away, eyes the mess I’ve made of my plate, and grabs her purse off the floor. “Now hurry up so we can head over to that Century 21.”
Kennedy
“Oh my God, it stinks in here.”
“I’ll light the candles,” Emma says. “It seems to help. That and keeping the windows open.”
I can’t believe I’m back. It’s only been less than a week since the first time we visited. But unfortunately—or fortunately, depending on how I look at it—this smelly sardine can of a double-wide has to be home sweet home. At least for now, thanks to Brock Sterling, or more accurately Madge Jenkins, and to some extent Caesars Palace.
“Your room is down there.” Emma points at the narrow hallway.
“I presume you took the primary.”
“No, I gave it to you.”
“Now, why the hell would you do that?” My half sister confounds me. This sweet-as-pie thing she does has got to be an act.
“I liked the view better in the other bedroom. Besides, I’m coming from a studio, so I’m used to small spaces and probably have less stuff than you.” She eyes my pile of luggage warily.
“Why is it again that you’re here?” I know she told me but who can remember with all that’s happened in the last several days? “And I see you took the office sign down.”
She follows me into the bedroom and plops down on the bed. God knows how long this mobile home has been vacant and the bedding collecting dust. The first thing I plan to do as soon as I unpack is strip the mattress and remake it with my own sheets and blankets. We should probably fumigate the entire place, which comes fully furnished straight out of the Goodwill.
“My building in San Francisco is being torn down for luxury condos,” Emma says. “It was either this or my mom’s couch. And since I work remotely, I opted for this, figuring some fresh scenery would do me good.”
“What about the boyfriend? I thought you said you’ve been together forever. Doesn’t he have room?”
“He thinks it would be bad for our relationship. Anyway, I like it here.”
No one could possibly like it here. And as for the boyfriend. . . well, he sounds like a jerk. But aren’t they all. Not my problem, I remind myself.
“What about you?” Emma says. “I have to say I was super surprised when you called, when you wanted to stay.”
“Well, when that Misty woman said the office was the owners’ quarters, I figured it would be good to stay on the premises until we list the place. Make sure to hold down the fort, so to speak.”
“Right.” Emma hitches her brows, dubious.
She isn’t as ditzy as she comes off. But I don’t want to get into the real reason I’m here with someone I hardly know. Or anyone for that matter.
“Should we go over some rules?” I start putting my clothes away in the dingy little closet.
“Rules? Rules for what?”
“Roommate rules.” It’s been a long time since I shared a space with someone and while I like to think of myself as flexible, I’m not. “You know, stuff like how to divvy up the space and who cleans what.”
“Oh, I’m good with whatever you want. Just make a chore list and tack it to the fridge and I’ll do my part.”
“Is there a fridge?” I hadn’t even looked.
“Yep. It’s old but it’s working. I’ll move my stuff to the bottom shelf so you can have the top, since you’re taller than me.”
“Are you always this accommodating?”
Emma laughs but it’s a nervous little laugh. “I guess. Why shouldn’t I be?”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to sayBecause you’ll always get the short end of the stick, but why ruin my advantage?
Emma peers out the window at my BMW. “Is that your car out there, or a rental?”
