I take enough painkillers to take the edge off of the pain in my ribs and I take my time in making sure I look good. My lip has sealed up but the swelling and the bruising is officially at its worst and I need a lot of makeup to not look fucking hideous. I pull on jeans and then one of my dad's sweaters. It looks as though I’m trying to look edgy and vintage but really I just… I need him with me today.
If I can’t wear Tomi’s hoodie then you can be fucking sure I need my dad’s sweater.
I pick Poe up from the library, a little worried about her skipping school but she shrugs at me like it’s nothing.
“Lips called Thorn. I’ve got free rein for a few days to hang out with you.”
I cringe. “So Thorn knows about… all of this too? Isn’t he supposed to come arrest me or whatever?”
Poe tips her head back and cackles. “No, dumbass! I told you, he’s a cool cop. He was more pissed that he didn’t talk to you a little more, find out what was going on with you a bit sooner. Forget about it! Forget about dumbass boys, let’s buy a fucking house!”
She’s cute as hell about it and starts talking about school and Law being a dick since his dad came to visit. She also talks about Trink but at the look on my face she shuts that down fast.
I don’t want to think about Callaghans. None of them.
The realtor is unbelievably accommodating. She is the picture of politeness, talking to me like I’m some fucking superstar and I try not to freak out over it. I’m guessing she really needs the commission because any questions I have about the place she practically falls over herself to answer.
I fall in love with it instantly.
Poe… doesn’t.
She pokes around like she’s afraid of catching a disease. “I mean… it’s not the worst house I’ve ever stood in but fuck, that bar is low.”
I scoff at her. “The neighborhood is safe. It’s well below my price cap and I could fix it up in a big way with the difference.”
She nods. “It’s a bit small though. Are you going to have enough room here?”
I peg her with a look. “It’s bigger than my car, Poe. And I’m living here, alone, until I die. It’s fucking perfect.”
She nods again and shifts to look out the back door. “The deck is fucking perfect for drinks and if you get a fence up around the whole place you’d be even safer. Maybe get a dog too. The neighborhood is really good, quiet and close to the library and school. That shit is important.”
The realtor nods along like this is all fucking fascinating to her and I try not to giggle at her.
It’s not until I leave that I realize Lips has done a lot more than just arrange this viewing for me. No, the realtor is shitting herself over the entire thing because if I want the place, it’s mine. There’s paperwork for me to sign and the settlement is being taken care of for me but the moment I lift the pen away from the paper there’s a set of keys being pressed into my palm.
I wait until she’s driven off before I arch an eyebrow at Poe. “What the hell was that? I have the money for this place, I’m paying my own way.”
Poe rolls her eyes. “I know! Lips said she’ll sort it out with you later, she just wanted you somewhere safe like today, not in two months time. I kind of agree with her so like… humor me.”
I could argue with her. I could, but I won’t because I’m beyond fucking tired and the thought of dragging all of my shit here and sleeping in a house that’s mine? Fucking blissful, so instead I smile at her. “Thanks. Thanks for being here and for being my friend.”
She grins back at me. “Thanks for trying to die for me, that was real sweet of you.”
Poe insists on helping me move my trash bags of clothing into the house. It’s almost embarrassing but she does everything with a grin and a long stream of funny stories about everyone she’s ever met and… I think she’s relieved to have someone she can finally talk to about her sister.
She doesn’t talk about her brother.
Thank fucking God, because I’d probably drop dead if she did.