Page 68 of Under My Skin
“Hmm,” she says, and I know she isn’t satisfied with my response.
A knot forms in my throat. “How bad is the apartment?”
She lets out a humorless laugh. “Are you sure you don’t want to keep talking about your parents?”
I groan. “That bad?”
“Oh. I’m pissed.” Her voice is lethal until she quickly adds, “Not at you, of course. Dina should have warned me before letting her move in with you. I knew Jasmine in passing, but she was usually in her room while I was over at their place. I had no idea living with her would be such a shit show.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. “How bad is the apartment, Allison?”
“Bad.”
My head falls back against the couch. “Shit. I’ll come home.”
“Oh no, you won’t.” I’m assuming she covers the bottom of the phone to speak to someone else because her next words come out muffled. “Picking up for the Anderson wedding.”
“Want to call me back later?”
“No,” she answers simply. “And you better not look at flights. I told you, I have it under control.”
“You did,” I say slowly. “But you also have a full-time job being Denver’s best wedding planner, your own apartment to worry about, and a badass wife.”
She makes a noise that crosses a laugh and a scoff. “While I appreciate the inaccurately high praise, I have the time. Plus, Dina knows she’s on my shit list for this and wants to help.”
“Wants to help?” I ask with a laugh as I get to my feet. I told my parents I’d come by the house today to go through the rest ofmy room, and I guess I’ve delayed it long enough. Everett’s logo will have to wait.
“This is one hundred percent her fault. She brought Jasmine into our lives, so she’ll rediscover your living room floor if it kills her.”
I stop in my tracks. “What the hell happened to the apartment, Allison?”
There’s a quiet, “Thanks,” and I’m assuming she picked up her order. Then, a much louder, “How the hell should I know?” comes through the phone. “I’m the only one who has never lived with her. Why didn’t you tell me she was such a mess?”
I grimace. “I don’t know. I didn’t want you to feel guilty about moving out early, I guess.”
There’s another chime as she leaves the shop. “I figured you’d say as much. Which is why you’re going to stay exactly where you are, with your brother’s hot friend.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. If there’s something wrong at home, I should be there. I want that security deposit back.”
“Oh, you’ll get it back,” she practically growls. “Dina will make sure of it.” Poor Dina. I’m not sure she’s ever been on this end of Allison’s wrath. Before I can open my mouth to play devil’s advocate, Allison adds, “Besides, you need to stay there. When’s the last time you’ve wanted to sleep with a man more than once?”
“Hey!” I answer defensively. “I’ve slept with the same guy a few . . . more than one.”
“Who?”
“Huh?”
“Who have you slept with more than once? And don’t even think about naming that asshole you dated in college.”
I frown. “Stefan wasn’t an asshole.”
There’s a beat of silence, and I wonder if she’s rolling her eyes. “He asked for no croutons on a salad we were all sharing.”
“So?”
“So, what if croutons are my favorite part? What if they’re thewhole reason I even want the stupid salad in the first place? He could have just picked them off if he didn’t want them.”
I search for Simon’s keys, so I can drive to my parents’ house and mutter, “How do you even remember these things? Didn’t he have a gluten allergy or something?”
