Page 148 of She Wolf

I’ve been so enthralled by her storytelling, I hadn’t even noticed we’d stopped outside a huge shop. She pockets her phone, practically skipping into the store, and I pull out my purse, knowing she’s definitely in sleepover-snack mode.

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When we finally get back to the apartment, she orders me into the shower, and I oblige because I’m still all plane-y after the flight.

After tying my wet hair into a messy bun, I slap on some moisturizer and body lotion and go in search of my new roommate, noticing the air conditioner has now been turned down as I expected.

“Wow, you smell like a pina colada.” Lex muses as I sit down next to her. She’s also fresh from a shower and wearing matching pajamas.

I nudge her shoulder, smiling as I tell her, “And you smell like a vanilla milkshake. Did you already order?”

“I did. Thai. That okay?”

“It really is.”

I’m grateful she didn’t say Chinese. There aren’t many Thai restaurants back home, so when I’ve come to visit her before, I’ve always begged for Thai takeout.

Remote in hand, she clicks through Netflix and stops on our favorite show, just so it’s on in the background while we continue to catch up. We’ve watched every episode so many times, we don’t need to give it our full attention. Then I settle in for an easy night like we used to have, before.

When I finally begin to yawn, we hug goodnight and go off into our separate rooms. I brush my teeth and then climb into my new bed. I’m obviously tired, but sleep doesn’t come so easily anymore.

I’ve stopped taking my sleeping tablets, which is why Lex was extra generous with the gin, but it means I sometimes struggle to fall asleep. I don’t know how much time goes by, but I hear the door creak and then light footsteps. The covers are thrown back and I feel Lex’s tiny body move across the bed.

I turn around and our eyes meet in the dark. She reaches out her hand for me to hold, and I feel like I can finally close my eyes.

I’m going to be okay is my last thought of the day as sleep consumes me.

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