13. Chapter 13
13
From Bad To Worse
“Guys, this book was everything to me,” I say as I wave my Kindle around.
“I knew you were going to say that, Ells. It had literally all your favorite things,” Paige tells me, and I can’t even argue because she’s right.
Not only did our book club pick this month have a slightly tortured main male character, but it was also a reverse harem that featured double penetration. “I just really like characters I can fix.”
“You could fix him, Ella. I believe it,” Hads tells me, and I put my hand to my chest.
“Thank you so much.”
“I thought it was really fun!” Paige says, her eyes lighting up as I know what she’s about to say. “My favorite part was when they killed that one guy. He was an asshole.”
“Paige, when is your favorite part of these books we read not the murder?”
She thinks for a second. “You’re right.”
You would think finding a dead body and almost getting killed by a serial killer—correction, two—would deter this girl from liking stuff like this, but it doesn't. I guess therapy really does help in the long run. I’m proud of Paige and Hads. They’ve both seemed to go in the right direction after some bad shit happened in college. I can’t see myself ever going to talk to someone about my problems.
As the oldest daughter, I don't need therapy. I’m way too self-aware with what’s wrong with me; it probably wouldn’t help. So, I deal with it all on my own, and for now, I’m doing an amazing job at it. And yes, I’m aware that’s my toxic trait, and no, I don’t want to talk about it.
“Before we move out of book discussion, I’m going to try calling Ames again,” Paige says as she gets off her couch and heads to a different room.
Hads and I look at one another, the silence all too deafening as we sit. Both of us know Amelia isn't going to answer, but neither of us wants to burst Paige’s bubble.
“She’s not coming back, is she?” Hads says under her breath.
“I don't know.” I really don’t. Normally, it takes Ames about a week to answer us, but the longer it gets with her blowing us off all the time, the more I think she’s actually ghosting us from across the globe.
Paige pads back into the room, her eyes drooping. “Voicemail.”
“Leo and I have been having a prank war at work for the last week.”
Paige’s eyes light up, and when she looks at me from her floor, I know she wants to know more.
“You guys have been doing what for a week?” Hads asks as I shift the topic off of our friend and onto a better one. Well, better for them, not me, but I’ll do anything to get the vibe in here back up. Plus, I’m done talking about someone who clearly doesn't want to talk to me. I’ve put in effort. I’ve tried calling, and if the unanswered messages have taught me one thing, it’s that I'm not going to beg someone to be my friend—even if I thought the four of us were forever.
“A prank war.”
“Oh, I need more details right now.” Paige smiles at me.
“I kind of started it, but only because this fucker and I are competing. I wanted to lessen the stress we’re both under. He’s always tense and brooding across from me in his office, and his mood was dampening mine.” That’s only partly true. If fucking with Leo Zimmerman was a full-time job, I’d sign up immediately. It’s way too fun watching him get pissed off.
“I forgot you guys are competing for the contract,” Hads says. “So, how did you start it?”
“I put sticky notes up all around his office. I covered everything . It was funny and harmless, but he got pissed. The next morning, I came in, and my office was gift wrapped.”
“Wait, your entire office?”
“Yes, P. He wrapped every little thing, including my staple remover.” And the worst part was, it looked gorgeous. I might hate Leo, but I can appreciate his gift-wrapping, from one pro to another—even if it pissed me off.
Again, another thing the fucker doesn't have to work for or practice at. He’s just good at it.
“Damn.”
“Then, I changed his Microsoft Word to be British English rather than American English. Some of his reports were turned in with some spelling errors. And what did he do? He covered my entire office in glitter.”
“Was it red glitter, by chance?” Paige asks me.
“Please don’t tell me it's on this outfit too.” I thought I had finally gotten rid of it all.
“It’s on your left sleeve,” Hads tells me, and when I look down, I see it taunting me on my arm.
“Of course, it is.” I shake my sleeve. It’s not that I hate glitter, but how the fuck does it get into every crevice? He only smeared the loose glitter all over my work area, but somehow, I keep finding it in my closet.
“What did you do in retaliation for the glitter?” Hads asks me.
“I covered his office in googly eyes.”
Paige and Hads laugh, and I metaphorically pat myself on the back. Leo might think he bested me, but he has no idea how far I’m willing to go—well, to a certain extent. I’m not about to get fired from my job over a stupid prank war.
“So, what have you guys been up to?” I see these girls once a week, sometimes more, but it never really feels like enough. I hate the feeling I’m missing out on some piece of their life or worse, I hate missing the parts where they need me. Not being there for one of them if they’re going through something is quite literally my worst nightmare.
Honestly, the subject of me and Leo has taken over most conversations lately. The same thing happened before Hads and Grant were dating—book club became a weekly rant session about how much he annoyed her, and now, they’re dating.
The same thing happened with Paige and Oliver, though it was a bit more on the down low. Those two were attempting to solve a whole ass murder—which they did, so props to those psychos—but we always checked on Paige every week. And now, she and Oliver are dating, soon to be engaged. The fact that Leo and I are the main focus… I’m determined to break this pattern. Leo Zimmerman and I will never be anything more than coworkers.
“Oliver and I have started watching a new show! Other than that, nothing has been going on besides work. Same old, same old.”
“Grant recently came up with a plan for his birthday in October. He really wants to go to a trampoline park.” Hads sounds so unimpressed right now, but I know she loves that man. If he wants to go to a trampoline park for his birthday, she’ll make it happen. “He asked if we could get a small trampoline so he can start practicing his backflips.”
“Where are you going to fit a trampoline?” I ask, knowing their place could never fit one.
“In the imaginary backyard we don’t have.” Hads rolls her eyes. “I don't know. I think he was joking, but sometimes, I can’t tell.”
“Or he’s buying you a house!” Paige says, and the rest of us laugh.
For the rest of the night, we chat about books, and I smile more than I have in the past few weeks. If there’s one thing I always know for sure, it’s that my friends can always recharge my batteries when they're starting to drain.
This week has officially gone from bad to worse. As I knock on the door of my sister’s apartment, I hope and pray to anything I can that the one person I don't want to see right now doesn't open the door. That would be the fucking cherry on top of this fucking week.
“Leo? What are you doing here?”
“Is Ella here?”
My sister looks at me like I’ve grown four heads. “No, she’s at Paige’s flat for book club.”
“Thank God,” I say as I step into their place.
“What are you doing here? And why do you look so,” my sister does a once over of me, “disheveled?”
“I need your help,” I say as I sink onto her couch. I can’t remember the last time I said that to someone. It feels odd coming from my lips.
“Please tell me you didn't get a girl pregnant, Leo. The last thing I want is to become an Aunty from some one night stand you had.”
“Well…”
“Leo Zimmerman, you did not get—”
I put my hands up in defense as she grabs one of her sandals from by the door. Is she about to throw that at me? “I’m joking! Fucking hell, sis, you should see your face right now.”
Then, she smacks me in the face with her shoe.
“For God’s sake, Liss, not the fucking face!”
“Never do that again, Leo. I mean it.” My sister throws her shoe back to where she got it. “God, you’re the reason my heart rate is so high.”
Me getting a girl pregnant is quite literally the last thing that could happen. In order to get someone pregnant, you would have to have sex—unprotected, might I add. Not only do I always wrap my dick, but I haven't had sex in months.
Maybe that wasn't the best road to go down, considering what I came over here for. Whatever. I’m sure it’ll be fine.
“Okay, can we talk for real?”
“Spit it out, Leo. I know you don’t need money, so what is it?” she asks me as she takes a sip of her drink. I’m not sure if there's alcohol in it, but that could work in my favor. I’m also glad Ella isn't over here, because I know she would turn down what I’m about to ask my sister.
“I need somewhere to live.”
Her face pinches together. “You have a place to live.”
“No, I don’t. I got a call earlier. The flat I planned on moving into soon got delayed for a few more months. There’s some sort of leak that set the construction back. My contract is up at my rental, and I can’t extend it, since someone else is moving in right after me.”
“Shit,” my sister says, knowing what I’m asking her.
“I’ll pay a third of your rent. That’s still cheaper than what I’m paying now, and it will help you guys out a little bit while I’m invading your space.”
“You do realize Ella also lives here, right?”
Yes, I do. And if I end up moving in, Ella and I are going to be around one another every single fucking day—at work and at home. “Yes, but I’ll be nice if she is.”
“I don't believe you.”
“Please, Liss. I’ll do anything. I’m going to be homeless next week if you don’t say yes. I’ll clean, I’ll cook, I’ll pay for food, whatever you want.” I sound like I’m begging because I am. This is quite literally my last resort. The last thing I wanted was to live with Ella and my sister, but hotels are too expensive per night, and there are no other places to rent around here that have stays long enough to last me until my flat is ready.
My sister and my worst nightmare are my only choice.
Alissa sighs heavily at me. “Fine.”
“Thank you so much. Seriously, sis, I appreciate it.”
She shakes her head at me. “Don’t thank me yet, Leo. I have to talk to Ella first.”
For fuck’s sake. I was afraid she would say that. “Got it.”
“But if you did to her what you did to me, I’m sure she would come around.”
“What?”
“Beg. It was quite funny, actually. I’m totally going to tell our parents about that when they ring.”
Another thing that helps with me moving in here for a few months is my parents can talk to Alissa and I more frequently. I haven't spoken to them in a few days, and I regret that. I try to check in once a day, but with all the work and the new client Ella and I are fighting over, I haven't had much time to carve out my day for them.
“Have you talked to them lately?”
She nods her head at me. “Yesterday. Only for a bit, though. Dad had a doctor’s appointment.”
“How did it go?”
“They haven't told me how it went, but they seem alright. Healthy.”
I sigh. I shouldn't be forgetting about them, no matter how much work I have.
“Stop stressing, Leo. You’ll have a place to live, even if Ella hates it. She’s not mean enough to throw you out onto the street.”
That’s what you think . I have no doubt that Ella would rather not have me invading her personal space all day, every day. “Yeah, sure.”
“Actually, I think this could be good for you two. Maybe you’ll work out whatever differences you have. If not, at least I’ll get some good in-person reality television.”
I only roll my eyes at her. Of course, my sister would like watching Ella and I bicker.
“Don’t get your knickers in a twist, Leo. I wouldn't want you smoking because of how stressed you look right now. Oh, also, none of that if you live here.”
“I know, sis.”
“Good,” she says as she turns the television on and gets comfortable. “Now, get out. Ella is coming home soon, and we have a self-care night planned before she kills me for asking if you can move in.”
“Got it. Well, thanks. I appreciate it, Liss.”
“I know, I’m the best sister ever. You don't have to tell me.”
I stifle a laugh before I walk out of her apartment—soon to be our apartment if Ella says yes.
I know just how to persuade her, and as I head back to my rental, I’m sure my plan will work.