Fowl Play (Tuft Swallow)

56. Lily

CHAPTER 56

Despite it being 85 degrees outside, Callie makes me a cup of tea in my tiny-ass galley kitchen. She hisses as she pulls the mug out of the microwave, and I hear her leafing through the plastic tub of individually-wrapped tea bags that I keep in the cabinet.

“Blueberry green tea or peach black tea?”

“I want vodka,” I mutter.

“That’s a terrible idea. You work the opening shift at the salon tomorrow.”

I grunt. She’s right. Doesn’t mean I’m happy about it. “Peach.”

“You got it.” I sit on my futon and stare at the blank wall of my small studio apartment, barely more than enough space for a bed and a TV, as Callie finishes preparing my tea and places it on the nightstand for me. She plops down beside me, then tugs on the foot of the pink canary Squishmallow I’m hugging to my chest. I hand it to her.

“This thing is so fucking cute.” She squeezes it. “I need more pillows like this for my place.”

“I don’t have room for any more.” I don’t say it like I’m upset about it. Normally, I don’t care that much about how small my apartment is. It’s the thing I can afford with my job at the salon, and I don’t even end up spending half my nights here most of the time. I prefer to live my life outside, with people, spending my money on experiences and activities. I don’t need to worry about homemaking until I find someone I can actually share a home with.

I pick up the scalding cup of tea and sigh. If only I could get that part of my life in order, none of the rest of it would matter. Even Miss Never-ever-going-to-get-a-boyfriend herself was able to find somebody. So what’s my problem?

“So. You wanna talk about it?” Callie tilts her head at me, pink highlighted hair falling across her face.

I stall, taking a sip of my tea, still wishing it was alcohol. The steam wafts into my face, making my already sweaty brow start to drip down my temples. “Not really.”

“Lily. You know I’m here if you need to get anything off your chest, right?”

“Like what?” She gives me a look. I sigh again. “Yeah, I know.”

“Just like you know you can’t actually quit the team the week of the championship.”

I almost spit out my tea. Instead, I just end up swallowing it too fast and it burns a column of scalding flesh down my throat. “Argh! What?? No I don’t!”

A little wrinkle forms between her eyebrows, and her lips turn down in a frown. “Kodi needs you.”

“No she doesn’t. She has Brian now.” I let the warmth of the mug seep into my hands. She rubs a hand in circles along my back. It feels nice. I take another painful sip of tea. “She’s just ignoring her problems, you know.”

“A lot of people ignore their problems. It’s kinda part of life.”

“Well, it’s dumb,” I grumble.

Callie chuckles, shaking her head. “Yeah, I suppose it is. But that doesn’t mean you just abandon them altogether.”

“What am I supposed to do if she doesn’t let me in? Every time she’s in a crisis, it’s like pulling teeth to get her to even talk to me. She doesn’t even want my help!”

“That’s not true. She asked you for it tonight.”

“No, she just yelled at me tonight. And then didn’t say anything.”

“I think she said plenty. You just weren’t listening the right way. She needs you. You both know she needs you.”

I down the rest of my tea in one excruciating chug. Then I steal back my Squishmallow. “I don’t know shit.”

Knock knock knock.

“I’ll get it,” Callie says, rising from the bed and going on tiptoe to peer out the peephole. “Oh!” She undoes the lock, and reveals Kodi behind the door.

She’s still in her cornhole clothes, and she has a notebook clutched to her chest. I look up, stunned. What is she doing here?

“Lily, you’re right. I’ve been an absolute idiot, and I need my best friend. Will you forgive me?”