Page 25 of Connectio
“We just are.”
“Jesus, how much did you drink?”
“Enough.”
“You can say that again.”
We somehow stumble to the top of the porch steps unscathed, so I prop her against the door while I search my clutch for the keys.
“His dad is sick.”
“Huh?”
She twirls a piece of hair around her finger, eyes still dreamy. “That’s why he’s in Sydney. Sick dad.”
“Oh. That’s terrible.”
“It’s great!”
“What? Why?” My finger snags the key ring, so I pull it out and unlock the door, twisting the handle and opening it before remembering Carly’s still leaning against it.
She slips down the wooden panel and falls to her knees in our doorway. Oopsies.
“Ouch!” Carly rolls onto her side and then onto her back, her limbs splayed like a starfish, her dress pretty much around her waist.
“Shit! Sorry.” I reach for her hands to help her up, but she just laughs.
“It’s so great!”
I can’t help but giggle at her weird happiness. She’s never this happy. “Why is his dad being sick great?”
“It’s not.” She frowns at me. “That’s horrible.”
“But you said—”
“He doesn’t have a stupid wife and shitty kids in Sydney.”
“Oh.” I pull her to her feet again. “I never thought he did.”
“I did.”
“I know.”
“They would’ve wrecked everything.”
“Yes, they would’ve.”
“Stupid kids. Stupid wife.”
Guiding her into her room, I let go of her arm when she slumps onto the bed. I’m tempted to leave her that way, but I know if I do, she’ll be in the same position by morning. So I wrench her dress over her head, then lift one foot at a time and yank off her heels, nearly taking out my eye when one doesn’t budge until I’m not ready. The black stiletto flies out of my hand, swiping my head, and nearly lands in Rico’s tank.
“Jesus! Sorry, Rico,” I whisper to Carly’s startled axolotl.
He waves—well, technically, he swims, but tomayto, tomahto—so I wave back.
Rico is adorable. He reminds me of Rapunzel’s pet chameleon, Pascal, in the Disney movie Tangled. I’ve thought of getting my own Rico, but I’m happy to play Aunty Lib to Carly’s animal children, so I sneak him a few extra salmon pellets while winking at him.
“I know what you just did,” Carly murmurs.
