Chapter 3
Chapter three
Tinted Windows
Somehow, I managed to make it through the rest of my shift without any other collateral damage.
I texted my sister Kat to see if she was done too. If not, I could help at her store.
It was the least I could do.
‘We?’
Oh, scrubs. Her boyfriend Victor must’ve taken a break from managing the Westbrook Cineplex to keep her company.
If I left them alone for too long, I was going to have to sanitize the seat.
I hurried through security, re-entered the mall, then high-tailed it to the movie theater parking lot, where the moon cast a silver glow on my sister's glossy black car. Steam curled out the tailpipe like a beckoning finger.
She must've tinted her windows recently, because they reflected my bundled-up face. The locks clicked upon my approach.
I opened the passenger’s side, which was thankfully empty. But so was the driver’s seat.
“Hello?” I called tentatively.
A dark, rumbling voice replied, “Greetings, Tori.”
My skin broke out in goosebumps. Victor was always polite, but I got the feeling he knew how to get rid of a body.
I tried to stop my teeth from chattering. “Are you two done, um, warming things up?”
Kat giggled. “We’re only snuggling. Very PG.”
I briefly checked to make sure her version of ‘snuggling’ meant they met all criteria for public decency.
Not that she’d purposely do anything in front of me.
But I still remembered what I'd interrupted in the movie theater lobby when they first started flirting.
She'd been dragging him closer by the key card on his belt, and his ravenous grin was dangerously close to her lips. I couldn’t imagine being so brazen nor so passionate in public. Especially in his workplace.
At that point, she hadn’t even known his name. Now, I was pretty sure they'd crawled inside each other's skin to learn everything. It was kind of romantic. Although, maybe it was good to keep some element of mystery.
I couldn't help but wonder if one day someone would inspire that kind of eager curiosity in me.
Kat draped herself over Victor’s lap while he absently stroked her legs through the decorative tears in her opaque tights. Her plaid skirt was in order. Belted, even. Maybe they really hadn't gotten up to anything in here while waiting for me.
“So, you two were just getting cozy,” I clarified.
He hugged her possessively. “I always escort her to the car and ensure she gets home safely, even if she’s not leaving with me.”
Guilt lodged in my throat. Was I stealing time from them?
Kat tugged her boyfriend closer by the silver chain hanging around his neck. “Jinx and I will be at home waiting for you,” she told him, then kissed his angular cheek.
He gazed at her with a sentimental softness, as if he was telepathing how much he loved her just by blinking slowly like her adoring cat.
“Tori, look away,” she teased, then leaned in to kiss him.
I rolled my eyes and faced the front. It wasn’t like I was a prude for not wanting to walk in on them exploring each other’s anatomy.
After a lingering smooch, Kat clambered toward the driver’s seat, most likely to avoid facing the bitter cold outside.
Victor hurried to help her so she didn't knock her knee or trip over the console. It would've been sweet if not for the reverent way he eyed her backside and the cheeky look she shot him over her shoulder.
I didn't realize it was so easy to third-wheel from the passenger's seat.
The science behind love, stress, and physical reactions was all kinds of miraculous. Not that I’d experienced anything quite like that.
I pulled my sleeves over my palms and sighed.
I supposed a guy like Victor was perfect for Kat. He had a dark, brooding vampire vibe about him with the passion to match.
My ideal partner was yet to be determined.
Kat dropped Victor off at the curb and squeezed his hand farewell. He lingered outside the theater’s glass double doors to watch us leave the parking lot, steam curling from his lips. Their love must be all-consuming.
I huddled into my oversized jacket. “Is he still asking you to move in with him?”
She smiled and turned the heater vents toward me for a warm breeze. “Yeah. Right now, we do sleepovers as often as we can. We’ve even brought Jinx. He has a whole setup at Victor’s place, and I got my own closet.”
That sounded pretty serious.
“Are you talking about marriage?” I asked.
She grinned wider. “We’re talking about forever.”
Already? They'd only been dating since Halloween.
I clasped the top of my zipped jacket. “I like you and Victor, but our brains are developing at a rapid rate throughout our twenties. You have time to learn more about each other before making a big commitment.”
“You're so wise for someone with a less ‘developed’ brain than me,” she teased.
“Okay, maybe age isn’t everything,” I admitted, my cheeks hot. “Although you’re certainly more experienced than me in some things.”
Relationships being one of them.
She shrugged and patted my knee. “You’ve got your own expertise. Such as how to be nice in the face of adversity, especially family dinners.”
I scoffed and playfully pushed her shoulder so as not to disturb her driving. “They’re not that bad.” At least not usually.
She waved me off. “I know you’re coming from a place of love. But Victor and I aren’t rushing to the altar or trying to make babies. We’re deepening our relationship and using protection when it’s needed.”
I scrunched up my face. “Too much information.”
“Aw, sorry. How about I let you pick the music today?” She switched the speaker connection to my phone. “So, how was your shift at The Closette?”
“Oh, fine. I ran into an old friend.” I winced at my slip. “Not a friend. Um, someone I went to school with.”
Kat eyed me. “What’s his name?”
“Angel,” I said, twisting the seatbelt in the hopes it'd act as a restraint. Had I mentioned that ‘friend’ was a guy or had she guessed the gender?
She played with the gothic cross hanging from her neck. “Is he angelic?”
I snorted. “No. He’s the opposite.”
She poked her tongue between her teeth. “Ah, was he in The Closette getting sexy undies for a lady-friend?”
“N-no. He was looking for perfume.” For a non-girlfriend. Someone he loved, he’d said. Not that any of us needed to know that.
I adjusted my collar and sniffed at the wafting remnants of his scent-test.
Who was his mystery girl, anyway? Our classmates had brought him coffee or begged to be his ‘study-buddy,’ but he’d never gone out of his way to get them anything.
Although he had offered me candy for my notes, once: a ‘kiss.’ I’d been so shocked by the prospect, I said that wasn’t necessary before I even realized he was referencing the chocolate snack in his bag. And he’d laughed. That idiot was always flirting. How was I supposed to know what he meant?
My cheeks warmed at the memory, and I shook my head. I had to focus on what actually mattered. “How was your day?” I asked my sister.
Kat and I chatted with easy camaraderie, listening to my pop and soulful ballad playlist until the car rolled down our parents’ street. String lights twinkled around columned porches and old trees. The suburbs could be so pretty.
My phone beeped, and a message from our oldest sister flashed on Kat’s console.
Oh, no. I wished she'd asked earlier. We were almost home.
I dragged my nail across my flaking lips.
Maybe I could use one of the family cars to do a fast food run.
But it was too late. Too dark. She could order something.
But she was trying to save money for the baby.
My college fund would survive one late-night snack run.
I checked a delivery app to see what was open.
Kat glanced over. “You’re too sweet for your own good.”
I set my phone down. “Hmm?”
My sister parked in our parents’ driveway and turned to me, serious. “You’re supposed to be using this break to take care of yourself, right? Regroup and evaluate your next steps?”
“Yes.” I tensed. I was doing all that.
She gestured to the house. “Jen’s gonna be a mom soon. She has to figure her shit out. And I don’t wanna sound harsh, but right now, so do you.”
“R-right.” I fumbled to unlock my seatbelt. “I just want to be there for her.”
“At what cost, though?” Kat knit her brows.
“I don’t know.” Surely, even on Closette pay, I could afford to get her a late-night snack.
“Think about it,” Kat said.
I squirmed, not sure what to say to that. Sure, Jen and I weren’t as independent as Kat. But this phase wouldn’t last forever.
“Do you want to come in, just for a minute? Maybe until Victor gets off?” I suggested. She could make up with our sister. Visit our parents. Raid the fridge.
“No thanks.” She switched the speaker input to her phone, probably eager to call her boyfriend and go home to her cat.
“Okay, well, thanks again for the ride.” I attempted a smile. “I should be able to drive again soon.”
“You’ll get there. And I’ll help when I can.” She gave me a sincere car hug, the kind that tightened until I wheezed something between a laugh and a sob. I wasn’t sad. Just exhausted. Relieved, maybe, that she still loved me, despite everything.
I hurried in through the garage, then pressed the button to close it again. The rattling door shook loose a few insecurities.
Would she ever want to hang out here again besides awkward holidays where she was glued to her protective boyfriend and his corset vests?
I peeked over my shoulder. A cell phone cast a severe glow on Kat’s dark features, but when she glanced up, the moon highlighted her whole heart-shaped face. She grinned and waved, waiting for me to get in okay.
I smiled and waved. One day, she’d come in. I was sure of it.
I just had to work a little harder to mend the hurt between all of us.
Once I was inside, the reclining chair in the living room squeaked as I removed my shoes.
Jen’s voice warbled over the television. “Tori? Did you get me anything?”
“Um, no. We were almost home. But I can order something,” I said, keeping my tone upbeat.
The chair squeaked, and she sighed.
Was she upset or hangry? Hormones did weird things.
I padded to the living room, guilt bobbing in the back of my throat at my sister curled-up in a chip-dusted blanket, her listless gaze fixed on a rerun from a teen show long since canceled.
She must’ve had a rough day.
I fluffed out the blanket to cover her swollen feet better. “What do you feel like eating?”
“I don’t know. Pickles. Mangos. Ice cream. Cake,” she said.
“With a list like that, we might be better off getting groceries.” I giggled.
Jen stared at me. Apparently, her cravings weren't amusing.
Mom came downstairs with a load of laundry propped on her hip, wearing the golden earrings Dad had gotten for her birthday, and smiled upon seeing me. “Hey, hon. How was work?”
A pair of underwear slipped from the laundry pile.
I moved to help her, but Mom shooed me away. The garment plopped onto the floor.
My heart raced with the memory of Angel and the thongs from earlier today. It hadn’t been the first time someone supposedly threw their underwear at him. At least my ammo wasn’t dirty. Just my thoughts were, occasionally.
I looked away and loosened my coat to relieve the building, uncomfortable heat inside. “Um, work was fine. Do you need anything from the grocery store if I make an order?”
“No. We just went,” Mom said, trying to hook the dirty undies with her foot.
Jen waved the remote. “We’re out of chips.”
Mom frowned. “You ate the whole bag?”
Jen fluffed the blanket, scattering crumbs across the area rug and hardwood floor. “I’m sorry. I’m growing a whole human, and it needs to eat.”
“You have to think of what you’re feeding the baby,” Mom said.
Not to mention gestational diabetes. But one bag of chips wouldn’t do that.
Jen scowled, her eyes glassy with the reflection of the television. “The baby will be fine. No one cares about me or my needs.”
“Oh, please.” Mom gestured between us with the gathered laundry. “Tori, you went to med school. Can you tell her something?”
“About what?” I squeaked.
“Anything,” she insisted.
What was I supposed to do? Tell my pregnant sister what she could eat? Grab the vacuum? Address the awkwardness with her baby daddy?
“We, um, we love you?” I tried.
“Yes. We do. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be doing your laundry,” Mom said, shaking the dirty undies at her.
“Thanks.” Jen slid deeper into her nest to sulk.
“Rest now, because things are going to change after the baby,” Mom said. “Parenthood means you have to take more responsibility. No more binge-watching shows when you’re supposed to be working remotely. No more mindless scrolling your phone or sad-snacking.”
“No more fun," Jen grumbled.
Not that she was currently having any.
“It shouldn’t be that bad,” I said. “Sure, you’ll be sleep deprived in the beginning, but I’ve heard it’s kind of like longer rotations at the hospital with one cute, fussy patient, and you can sit down or listen to music whenever.”
“At least you’re all here to help me,” she mumbled into her arm.
“Right.” My throat tightened.
Help. For a while.
Even when it was hard. Even when it meant putting off our dreams.
“I think we have ice cream in the freezer if you really need a treat. Good night, everybody,” I said, then booked it to my room before Jen could ask me for anything else.
Maybe I wasn’t the best sister I could be. To be fair, neither was she. Especially lately. But love and determination would help us pull through.
I peeled my clothes off before crawling into bed, the sweet aroma of perfume enveloping me along with the foggy, powerful memory of Angel’s nose brushing mine.
What would’ve happened if he kissed me?
A spark?
A slap?
Something…interesting, at least.
I nuzzled the pillow, my brain fuzzy with an imaginary bed of flowers and a pretty, winged man lying beside me.