Page 4 of Knot Falling in Love
Sure enough, she's disassociating in front of the sink with aplate in one hand and her small smiley face sponge in the other.
"Hey," I settle beside her, grabbing the platecovered in suds from her hand and relieving her of the sponge, "Let me help."
"Thanks," she sighs, moving to tuck her shoulder-length brown hair behind her ear but thinking better of it, "I really don't know how Mom and Dad managed this when we were younger. Twice.”
“If it makes you feel any better, you’re doing amazing.”
Hannah rolls her eyes, "Thanks to you. Really, you didn't need to take so much onto your plate this weekend."
I nudge her, "Don't get all mushy on me."
"Fine,” she smiles, “How's Maisie?"
“She’s good, a little damp, but she’ll survive.”
“What about her car?”
"I’m going to put a call in to get it towed. From the sound of things, it shouldn’t be anything major.”
“It’ll be nice having her around.” Hannah says, taking the sponge out of my hand and tossing it back in the sink, “I hope you’re going to be on your best behavior.”
I scoff, “I’m always on my best behavior.”
Though I’m not going to let it slipthat in our short 15 minute car ride, I’ve already managed to offend her and she will likely avoid me for the rest of the weekend.
“Speaking of, where’s Mason?” I ask.
"Mason?" She glances over at me.
"Maisie's boyfriend. The one with the hair." I gesture, trying to encapsulate the effortless style that I’ve only seen in pictures online.
“His name is Max. Why do you care?” Hannah turns, placing her hand on her hip as she stares me down.
It feels like the next words out of my mouth will put me behind enemy lines.
“I’m a little pissed he let her drive all that way alone without at least getting her car checked out beforehand.”
"Maisie is a grown woman, she’s made that trip dozens of times, and I don't think anyone could have foreseen her car troubles. Not to mention, they broke up months ago." Hannah’s grey eyes search my face, her expression softening, "Eli.“
“What?”
A scream erupts from the other room, and I turn, sprinting towards the sound, to find Maisielaughing and clutching Alexis's pet frog, Jeremiah, to her chest as he scrambles to climb closer to her neck.
“Alexis,” Hannah says in her most intimidating mom voice, "I told you to keep him in his terrarium."
"It's fine." Maisie smiles, cradling the frog and looking over at me, the soft look in her eyes catching me off guard, “We’re fine. He just startled me.”
I wince at the steady rhythmic thudding behind me, and look to see I’ve partially shifted, my tail hitting the side of the hall table. When I turn back, Maisie quickly dims her smile as she hands the frog over to Alexis, leaving me with the ghost of its warmth.
“I’m so glad to see you,” Hannah says, crossing the room and enveloping her in a hug.
“It’s good to be back.” Maisie sighs, “I can’t wait to take a shower and change into some clean clothes.”
“About that,” my sister winces, “We let Jake’s parents take the spare bedroom. Turns out all the hotels in town are booked solid for the festival.”
“Oh, that’s fine.” Maisie waves her hand, “I can figuresomething out.”
Hannah looks between us, “Hey, why don’t you stay with Elijah?”
