managed a smile and propped my head on my hand, mirroring her. “Thanks, C. But I definitely profit off of them.”
“You’ve more than earned it,” she teased. “Maybe he’s just being rude because he has a crush on you.”
I threw a pillow at her. “That is so outdated. I want a guy who likes me to not treat me like dirt.”
Laughing, she said, “Sounds like a plan.” She yawned so wide it looked like her face might split in half.
I chuckled at her. “Get some sleep.”
“You too.” She flicked off her lamp.
Within a few minutes, she was out, snoring, but I lay awake and stared at the ceiling. There had to be more to Ray’s distaste for me than what my parents did for a living, right?
I shook my head. It didn’t matter. Not really. We were halfway through our senior year and had gone this long without talking. Or really knowing anything about each other. Might as well stick with the status quo.
After a night of restless sleep, I got up, threw on my robe and went to the kitchen to find the twins sitting at the breakfast bar and finishing the muffins Mom had made them. I glanced around the hall and saw Dad carrying bags outside. Mom came into the kitchen with a worried look on her face, talking on the phone.
“What do you mean you can’t come?” she demanded. After a moment, she said, “I don’t care if they get sick.” She paused. “What are we supposed to do?...I can’t call Shelia! She’s crazy.” Mom closed her eyes, pursing her lips together. She only did this when she was really stressed. “Look, Rosie. I’ll talk to you later.”
She pressed both sides of her phone until the screen went black, then bent over the island, banged her head on the quartz a few times.
The twins looked at each other and giggled.
I frowned. “What’s wrong, Mom?”
She looked up at me, a red spot on her forehead. “Rosie can’t come.”
“What?” Dad asked, coming into the room. He was so big and tall, the space already felt smaller.
“Rosie has the flu. She doesn’t want to come and get the girls sick.”
“She could just keep her distance from Ginger,” Dad said. “Cori’s immune system is so strong, she’d just need some hand sanitizer and she’d be fine.”
“Gee, thanks,” I mumbled.
Ignoring me completely, they carried on with their own conversation.
“I guess I can stay with them?” Mom suggested.
Dad shook his head. “You’ve been practicing lines with the twins for weeks. I’ll stay.”
“No, Daddy,” Tarra whined. “We want you there.”
“We do,” Cara agreed with a quick nod. “Please come.”
“Can’t Ginger and Cori stay with one of their friends?” Tarra asked.
“Absolutely not,” Mom said. “We don’t want to burden any other parents.”
Like I was such a burden, you know, doing my homework and going to bed every night. “We could just stay here,” I said. “We’d be fine.”
They both gave me a look like I’d sprouted a second head.
“What?” I said. “We can video chat every night—twice if you want. And if we get in trouble, we can always ask one of the neighbors for help.”
They looked at each other for a moment, and I could tell my offer was tempting them. That just made me want to stay on my own that much more.
“You’re only going to be gone for a few days,” I reminded them. “Cara and Tarra are depending on you—both of you. Cori and I can hold down the fort.”
Mom lowered her voice like we couldn’t all hear her and said to Dad, “Ginger is going to college soon...maybe this can be a test run to see how she’ll do in the dorms.”
My heart burst through my rib cage and bounced around the room. Had Birdie gotten through to them? “Please,” I said. “I’ll be so good you won’t even believe it. I can do this. I know I can.”
Dad’s firm expression faltered as he looked to Mom. “You’re sure?”
Hesitantly, she nodded.
I leapt into her arms and squeezed her tight. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
Laughing, she stepped back. “You’re welcome.”
Cori shuffled into the kitchen. “What’s going on?”
“We’re staying on our own!” I cried.
Even tired, she jumped up and down delightedly.
“A few ground rules,” my dad said, voice stern. “No parties. No friends after nine. And under no circumstances can you bring over any boys. Is that understood?”
Quickly, I nodded.
“We will be checking your assignments while we’re gone, and if anything is missing, you will be staying here next year,