“Not now,” I snap.
“What’s wrong?”
One of the fire trucks starts to pull away from the scene, and it’s loud. I cover my other ear with my free hand and talk over the noise.
“I lost my job, my boyfriend is married, and my apartment almost burned down!”
“What?!” he exclaims. “Start from the beginning.”
I catch him up to speed as I pace in front of my building. Other tenants push past me to get their things, but I’m nervous to go inside and see the damage.
“Are you serious?” Pete asks. “Where will you stay?”
“With mom and dad.” It’s not my first choice, but it beats bunking at the clubhouse.
“You should stay with me.”
I scoff. “I can’t just drive to Chicago.”
“Why not? You have no job, no house, and no man.”
I’m silent.
“Every Christmas you say you’ll visit and you never do.”
That’s true. It’s been years since I’ve been to Chicago. My brother comes home for the holidays and we see each other then. Even though I always promise to visit him, I don’t. A trip to the city would seem like a vacation. In my line of work, I don’t get paid days off.
“There’s nowhere for me to sleep,” I say.
“I have a spare room.”
“What about Juliana?”
Juliana is Pete’s permanent girlfriend. At thirty-two years old I don’t think he’ll ever get married – or grow up. My brother works as a bouncer and religiously plays Call of Duty. Jules doesn’t seem to mind, however. She’s been with him for years.
“You know she loves you,” Pete says. “Besides, I’m at her place more than mine. Come out here, Little J. Escape for a while.”
That does sound enticing. I sigh. “I can’t right now.”
“You can.”
“I don’t think so. I need to find a job. Are you going to pay my bills?”
“If you need help, yes.”
“I won’t take your money, Pete.”
“Would you stop being so complicated?” He sounds like our dad. “Get your ass in the car and drive west. I’m trying to make you feel better and you’re not making it easy.”
A few of my neighbors walk out the door with their arms full of clothes and toiletries. The sight depresses me. I don’t want to be a nomad. I also don’t want to be a jobless twenty-six year old staying with her parents. Maybe I do need a change of scenery.
“Fine,” I say quietly.
“Fine? You’re coming?”
“Yes.”
“Awesome.” I can sense his smile through the phone. “When are you leaving?”
I look up at my building. “After I pack, I suppose. It shouldn’t take long if everything is ruined.”
“So, I’ll see you in five or six hours?”
I walk up the steps and open the door. “I’ll call you along the way.”
Chapter Three
“Eeeeeep!” Juliana throws her arms around my neck. “You’re here!”
I stare at my brother over his girlfriend’s shoulder. I can’t return her hug. I have a suitcase in each hand, a bag over my arm, my guitar strapped to my back, and eyelids that weigh more than bricks.
“I’m here,” I choke out.
Pete grins. “Don’t strangle her, Jules.”
Juliana steps back and hangs on to my arms. “We’re going to have so much fun!” she gushes. “I made us a pedicure appointment, I added you as my guest at the gym, there’s a party tonight at Latson’s –”
“Whoa,” I say. “It’s the butt crack of dawn. How did you do all that?”
“Online, silly.”
Oh. Of course. Silly me.
“I think Jen needs some sleep,” my brother says as he reaches for one of my suitcases. “Is this everything or is there more in the car?”
“No, this is it.”
I was able to pack most of my clothes into two large suitcases since everything in the closet stayed dry. I tried to bring as much as possible because my landlord has no clue when cleanup will begin. When I talked to him before I left, he said he would call when he had any information. He also reminded me to contact my insurance company to make a claim for my belongings. I hope my parents will help, since my furniture is ruined and I left town before meeting an adjuster.
“Come see your room,” Juliana says and takes my other bag. “I tried to spruce it up a little, but we may have to go shopping.”
I look at my brother, confused.
“She’s been up all night,” he says.
Juliana elbows him. “You can’t invite her to stay with you and expect her to live in a pig sty.”
“Thanks,” I say. I can only imagine what he had piled in there.
I follow them through the living room and down the hallway. The apartment is decorated differently than I remember. It looks more modern. A few pieces of abstract art hang on the walls and the furniture is plush and overstuffed. The entertainment center looks like it was forged from steel. I assume the changes are a reflection of Juliana’s taste more than my brother’s. I’ve never known him to decorate with anything other than old road signs and bean bag chairs.
“If the closet isn’t big enough we can get a dresser,” Juliana says as we enter my new space.
“I’m sure it will be fine.”
“Well …” She walks around the bed and opens the closet door. “I had to put Pete’s stuff somewhere.”
Half the closet is packed full. From where I stand I can see multiple shoe boxes, stacks of papers, and a couple of large plastic totes.
“Some of it is yours,” my brother grumbles as he sets my suitcase on the bed. “All that stuff from your yoga phase for example.”
Juliana makes a face. “Okay. So, there’s like, two things in there that are mine.”
I smile. Their bickering is cute. “Don’t worry. I’ll make it work.” I drop my tote bag at my feet, then pull my guitar strap over my head and set the instrument against the wall.
Pete looks at my bag. “What’s in there?”
“Just bathroom stuff and my purse.”
“The bathroom!” Juliana exclaims. She drops my suitcase and sprints toward the door. “I’ll clean out a drawer for you.”
My surprised eyes follow her as she leaves the room. “She’s excited,” I say as I sit on the edge of the bed.
“Yeah, well.” My brother smiles and joins me. “Her best friend moved away about a month ago. She’s happy you’re here.”
I nod.
“So.” Pete clasps his hands between his knees. “How are you?”
“Tired,” I admit and roll my neck.
“Have you processed everything that’s happened?”
“Not really.” Instead of thinking during my drive, I turned up the music and turned off my brain.
“If you want me to kill him, I will.”
My brow jumps. “You mean my cheating ex-boyfriend?”
“Yes.”
I have no doubt my brother could – and would – toss Derek. It’s what he does for a living. Pete cracks his knuckles for emphasis, and I notice his arm muscles flex against his shirt sleeve. “Have you gotten bigger?”
“A little.” He shrugs. “Answer my question.”
“You’re going to crush Juliana!” I playfully shove him. She’s so petite next to his huge, six-foot frame. “I don’t know why she puts up with you.”
He scowls. “What’s wrong with being healthy?”
“There’s a difference between being healthy and being Schwarzenegger.”
Juliana appears in the doorway holding a hair dryer. “I take it you don’t like big guys?”
To be honest, they intimidate me. “Obviously you do.”
She grins.
“I prefer my men to be more defined,” I say. “Not bulky.”
“Good to know.” Juliana wiggles her eyebrows before wrapping the dryer cord around the handle.
“Stop.” My brother glares at his woman. “My sister is here to relax, not date.”
“Whatever.” Juliana rolls her eyes.
I laugh, but silently agree with Pete.
“Now, back to my question.” He crosses his arms and looks at me. “Do you want me to kill him?”
I sigh. “Yes.”
His face lights up.
“But, no.”
His shoulders sag.
Scooting over, I wrap my arms around his waist and squeeze. “Thank you for wanting to, though.”
“Did you at least bitch him out?” he asks, hopeful.
“Of course! You know who you’re talking to, right?”