Chapter Twenty-Five
Tera
Max:Good morning.
I stare at the text with a frown. He’s texted me every morning since I’ve gotten back. I’ve asked him several times if we could meet up and talk, but he’s been too busy. Or so he says.
Me: Morning. Moving day.
Max: You got the apartment?
Me: Yup. I might be a little excited about it.
I take a picture of Shade glaring at me with my bag over his shoulder and send it quickly.
Me: My help is not so excited.
“That better not be going to Andi,” he snaps and tosses the bag onto the couch.
I don’t know why he’s so grumpy. He’s the one with all the crap to move. I just had to move a car and a duffel bag. I shouldn’t complain, though. He’s the one who called the person I was renting from and told them I wouldn’t be back and refused to pay for the rest of the year. It was supposed to be month to month with the option to leave at any time. Shade said there was no paperwork, so they effed themselves and hung up. One more contact deleted.
Max: Why didn’t you call me to help?
Me: You’ve been really busy. Besides if we’re going to be roomies he’s going to pull his weight.
I tuck the phone back into my pocket with a small smile.
Having Shade move in with me did not sound like a good idea until he told me he needed to get away for a while. My single-bedroom apartment turned into two real quick as I contemplated double homicide.
“Hey,” he waves a hand in front of my face before dropping next to my bag. “Who did you send that to?”
“Max,” I shrug and start making a list of the groceries we will need if we want to eat more than junk food in the future.
“Is he still jealous?” He grins, folding his hands behind his neck as he gets comfortable.
“I don’t get it. We’re practically related at this point. How is everyone blind to that fact?”
“Not everyone is as perceptive as you, Tera.”
“I call bullcrap,” I disagree.
“When are we getting your computer back from Satan?” He changes the subject abruptly. Should I feel bad that he calls him that because I do?
I wince and shrug again, hoping he drops this subject. I wrote that computer off when I ran. Shade is convinced we need to get it back because supposedly Satan has built a shrine around it.
“Do you ever tell people you’re bi?” I ask seriously to derail his current train of thought. I open the empty fridge to note how much room we have there as if I’m not purposely throwing a wrench in whatever speech he has prepared.
“I think we should get it tonight.”
Dang it. “Does anyone know you bat for both teams?”
“I’d say it’s striking while the iron is hot, but it’s been there for a while.” I know he’s baiting me so I’ll get mad, and I am not going to fall for it.
“Do the other guys even know? How deep does this identity crisis go?”
He laughs at me. “The guys know, even if they’re acting like they don’t for some fucked up reason. They’re suddenly convinced that you, and I quote, ‘Permanently flipped my switch to straight.’”
“What idiot said that?” I gag at the thought of Shade in any sexual sense and glare back at him over my shoulder.
“Ira.”
“Of course,” I roll my eyes and slam the fridge shut. Triple homicide? What’s the prison sentence for that in this state? Shade can settle for Brody instead, right?
“No one can picture us as best friends. It’s insulting.”
“I don’t see us as best friends,” I taunt but smile as I say it. He kind of is a friend at this point, whether I like it or not. Or an adopted, yapping little dog.
“I don’t trust your vision anyway,” he shrugs it off, and I giggle as he grins.
My phone goes off in my pocket again, and Shade leans forward, “Tell me he’s ranting because I’m living with you. It’ll make my day.”
“He isn’t ranting,” I roll my eyes and take it out to check.
Max: Trevor has your computer. He’s asked if you would mind meeting him at the bar to pick it up.
My heart twists as I reread the text, and I swallow hard.
“What the fuck did he say? You look like you’re about to cry,” Shade snaps as he leaps up and snatches the phone from me.
He scowls as he reads through and types something, hitting send before I can think to stop him.
“What are you doing?” I reach to take the phone back as it chimes again, but he easily holds me at bay, typing one-handed while cursing under his breath.
“Shade, stop it! Give me that!”
Andi walks in as he presses his palm into my face to hold me back.
“You two get along so well,” she laughs and throws herself onto the couch. She was supposed to be helping, but she only carried a bag of new dresses for me that made me wince at the bright colors. She even bought me a huge supply of my old shampoo and soaps.
“Look at this shit,” he rants, waving the phone in front of her face. She takes it from him without pause, her frown getting darker as she reads.
“What the fuck?”
“Right?” He snaps in agreement.
“What are you two freaking out about?” I know why I’m freaking out. They’re cutting ties with me, which feels like a kick to the ovaries. Yeah, I was planning on doing the same, but I’m not ready yet. I figured they”d both be happy they wouldn’t have to deal with Max or Satan again, not upset. They didn’t leave a good impression on Andi’s group.
“Trevor is trying to get you alone to talk. That can’t happen yet. You already told me that,” Andi says and begins typing herself.
“Would everyone please stop texting as if they’re me for a second?”
“No,” they say simultaneously.
I huff and sit beside Andi as Shade hovers from the armrest.
Me:What time
Max: He’s headed there now to get the day started.
Me: Not good for me busy
“Punctuation is a thing, Shade,” I gripe as I continue reading.
Max: Ok. What time should I tell him?
Me: He just wants to slide me that sweet???? He better have condoms.
“Andi!” I shriek in her ear this time, but she’s unfazed. The three dots of Max’s typing come up and go away several times before the phone starts ringing. Without a pause, Andi answers.
“Tera’s phone, Andi speaking,” she puts on a professional if irritated, tone and begins examining her cuticles.
I can hear Max’s angry voice but can’t understand the words. When I try to lean closer to listen, she hops up and walks away, Shade following her. The way they have their heads pressed together they look like conjoined twins.
“Oh, no. She’s way too busy to have a conversation with anyone. Kind of like you, huh? She’s getting ready for work, and I don’t want to bother her. No, I have no idea where she works. Can I take a message? Sure, sure. I don’t have a pen on me, but I’m sure I’ll remember. Toodles!”
She hangs up as his voice gets louder, and when it starts ringing again, she sends it to voicemail.
“So, that’s mine for the night,” Shade takes the phone from Andi and sends another call to voicemail. “I’m going to enjoy this.”
I could fight them on this. I should put my foot down and demand my phone back. Dr. Robinson would not approve of this method of communication at all.
Instead of standing up to them, I say, “I kind of need that. It’s my first night at work, and I can”t call anybody if there’s an emergency.”
“I’m dropping in to check out the toys anyway. I’ll bring you something to eat, too,” Andi shrugs.
I shrug right back and get ready for work.