Page 208 of Paradox
Eden looks away from my reflection and directly to me. "Is that your way of asking me how loud you can be?"
I shrug. "I'm not sure what you're talking about."
The elevator opens on the fifth floor, and as soon as I step out I see Carey, about ten yards away, leaning against the wall outside an open door.
"Don't get your hopes up," he says when we get closer.
"You better have replaced any food you ate," Eden says, dropping his bags then turning to me.
"There was fuck all when I arrived."
With my duffle and backpack on the floor in the middle of the corridor, Eden picks me up and puts me over his shoulder. Just like he had when the blizzard hit and I refused to leave the shack.
He looks back to Carey; "I left you plenty," then steps inside his apartment. "What the fuck?"
"I told you she took everything," he chuckles; walking in behind us and shutting the door.
Eden puts me down and I hug onto his arm. "It's okay."
"No it's not. Where the fuck are we supposed to sit?"
"I'm still not sure what part of,she took everything,you didn't understand."
"So where did you—"
"What I bought, I took with me. The futon is still in the spare room so you won't be without a bed. But I think Ikea is calling." Carey holds out his key and fob. "And no. You can't stay with me tonight." With a shit eating grin, he pats his brother on the back and turns to me. "Welcome home, Jin. It's not that bad. I'm sure you'll have it looking better than it did before in no time."
"Ah, thanks," I say, and do a three-sixty of the living room. Beachwood flooring, off-white walls—equipt with hooks but no artworks, nothing covering the windows, a bare kitchen counter minus the stools.
"Where's the fucking fridge!?"
"She. Took. Everything." Carey looks at me. "He can't always be this dense."
"What exactly were you doing on all those trips back?" I ask, barely able to keep a straight face.
"Not coming here, that's for damn sure."
"That much is clear."
"Fuck. With the contracts at work and shit with your parents, I didn't even think about—"
"It's fine." I cut him off. "Carey is right. This is actually great. I've got something to do now until my classes start."
"But Jin, this is—"
"Amazing. I'm serious. Now we can make it ours. Just likewewant. With lots of bookshelves."
"Listen to your better half," Carey says before opening the apartment door. "Oh. And we're booking the Bali flights tonight."
"November, right?"
"Yeah."
"Three weeks?"
"Yeah."
"Book two more, okay?"
