I made the new decision to extricate myself pronto. “I don’t get a say. It isn’t my house.”
This was a bad decision.
“What do you mean it isn’t your house?” Ralphie snapped.
I looked at Ralphie. Ralphie looked angry.
“Well, what I mean is –” I started.
“You sleep here, don’t you?” Ralphie asked.
“Yes, but –” I tried again.
“Your clothes are here,” Ralphie pushed.
“Yes, but, what I mean –” I kept trying.
“You shower here, put your makeup on here, watch Veronica Mars here, come home after work to, um… I don’t know? Here! Don’t you?” Ralphie pressed.
“Yes, I guess so, but –”
“You guess so?” Ralphie’s eyes had narrowed.
“Ralphie, you wanna let her talk?” Buddy cut in.
Ralphie sat back, crossed his arms on his chest and glared at me.
“All I’m saying is that I’m a guest and as a guest I don’t have any say in these kinds of decisions,” I explained.
Ralphie looked at Buddy and snapped, “She thinks she’s a guest.”
“Sadie –” Buddy started.
Ralphie interrupted, “What? Are you moving out?”
My gaze slid to Hector who was now smiling at the remains of his chocolate almond torte. I wanted to throw my plate at him.
I, of course, did not.
Because, even though he deserved it, that would be rude.
I answered Ralphie, “Well, yes.”
Hector’s head came up and his smile vanished.
“What? When?” Buddy asked sharply.
I looked at Buddy. “I realized last night that you guys have been looking out for me for awhile now so it’s probably time to get out of your hair.”
“Buddy doesn’t have hair,” Ralphie clipped.
“You know what I mean,” I said quietly to Ralphie.
“No, Ms. Sadie Marie Townsend, I do not know what you mean.” Ralphie didn’t take a hint from my quiet tone.
“Maybe we should talk about this later.” Buddy was eyeing the now completely unamused Hector.
“That would be good,” I said with relief.