seems a little too eager over the fact as she leaves with Juliet to go answer.
I finish applying my mascara and add a light coat of lipstick before putting it back into my small bag and storing it under the sink.
Arlo’s laughter greets me as I make my way out to the living room. He’s dressed in a dark blue shirt that hints at being teal and dark washed jeans, his dark hair styled and parted to one side and back. His gaze meets mine, and his laugh softens as we share a silent greeting.
“Guess what happened now?” Rose says.
“What?”
“Arlo’s house has a leak. Right over his bed.”
My eyebrows jump with surprise. “Seriously?”
He nods. “The insurance company is going to send someone out tomorrow to look at it and see if they can patch it or what, but the ceiling in my room is a goner. It’s all bowed and cracked.”
“That’s horrible. Is your stuff ruined?”
“I skipped class today to move all my stuff out of my room.”
“You should have called. We would have helped,” Rose says.
He shakes his head. “It’s not a big deal. I couldn’t move the furniture because I’m still not supposed to lift anything over twenty pounds, so my roommates did most of the work.”
“Where’d you move it to?” I ask.
“The living room. We’ll see what happens. Paxton’s room has a yellow spot in the ceiling, so we think there might be a leak in his room, as well.”
“That blows,” Rose says. “Where are you guys going to stay?”
“For now, I’m just sleeping on the couch. If they have to replace the roof, then I’ll figure something out.”
“You’re sleeping on the couch?” Rose asks. “Do you even fit?”
My heart skips a beat, knowing exactly where her line of questions is leading. “We should get going,” I say. “Whitney stresses out when people are late.”
“You’re always late,” she tells me before turning back to Arlo. “You should stay here. Our couch pulls out into a hide-a-bed.”
Thoughts pile up too fast as I try to recognize why this overwhelms me.
Arlo’s gaze dances to mine, his expression unreadable—likely due to the avalanche of thoughts in my head that are making it impossible for me to decipher others. “I don’t want to put you guys out.”
“You wouldn’t,” she says, her answer calm and cool—the definition of my best friend. “This is what friends do. If you need a place to stay, you’re welcome here. If you like the couch at your place, though, do it. We won’t be offended.”
I tell myself I won’t care, that I don’t care, and grab my purse.
Juliet meows, chasing me as I reach for my coat. I bend down to pet her, and she instantly purrs. “You’re pitiful,” I tell her. “You don’t need us home. You just sleep the entire time we’re here.”
Rose laughs. “She’s working so hard for your affection. Cats always know who doesn’t want their attention and then seek them out. It’s like her personal mission right now to win you over.”
I don’t admit to them that I’ve begun sleeping with my bedroom door propped open because otherwise, Juliet spends the better half of the night reaching her paws through the small gap under my door and crying. Or that she’s been sleeping in my bed for weeks.
Rose drops a couple of treats into her food bowl and makes kissing sounds. “Good girl. We’ll be home soon.”
I intentionally sit in the back seat so that Rose sits in the front beside Arlo. I need a moment to recharge before doing family dinner.
“Are we going to ask your dad about Ellen?” Rose asks, twisting around in her seat and not only engaging me in conversation but pushing me out to center stage. In the rearview mirror, Arlo’s gaze flashes to watch me. I can’t tell if he’s surprised to learn I told Rose about Ellen or about how Rose doesn’t know how to wear kid gloves to any situation.
I shake my head. “Not tonight.”
“So we’re just going to sit on this?” Rose asks.
“Yup.” I turn my attention out the window. The truth is there hasn’t been a single second in the past couple of days that I haven’t thought about and stressed over the news of Ellen and the possible implications. Nothing fits. But nothing doesn’t not fit, either. I’m exhausted, and tonight I don’t want to think about it or talk about it because if my dad reacts at all like he had at the mall when I saw Miriam, it’s