button near the top and pressed it. Music blared from the Bluetooth speaker, and I jumped, causing me to knock into the table again.
“Shit, shit, shit, shit.” I tried pushing the same button again, but the music didn’t stop. I think it actually got louder.
Panic began to set in. I smacked the remote into my palm repeatedly, as if assaulting the damn thing would get it to do what I needed it to. When that didn’t work, I moved toward the speaker, only to stub my toe on the couch three steps into my journey.
In a move that would’ve impressed a seasoned ballet dancer, I twirled around on my good foot while holding my other and landed on my back on the couch, which made a loud thump when all my weight came down on it.
“Fuck my life. And this couch.”
As I lay there groaning and clutching my injured toe, a light flipped on, and I craned my head around in time to see Sophia turn off the speaker before putting her hands on her hips and glaring at me.
She really had the “if looks could kill” vibe down. I’d bet she could deter a mugger with the force of that look alone.
“Are you auditioning for the circus in here? Seriously, what the hell? It’s the middle of the night.”
I laboriously moved around on the couch until I was sitting up. “Sorry. I just got home, and it was like a comedy of errors on the path to disaster.”
“Comedies are funny. Making so much noise it sounds like the apartment is being ransacked isn’t funny.”
“I said I was sorry.”
She stared at me for a second longer before taking a deep breath. “Listen, I know what you do is none of my business, but I have a GPA to maintain. Also, marketing majors are a dime a dozen, so I have to stand out. And I’m assuming part of the deal with my brother is that you actually pass his classes. So maybe being out till all hours of the night isn’t your best move.”
Despite the fact that I was being lectured at, what she said gave me pause enough that I didn’t immediately defend myself. While it had never occurred to me not to pass Brody’s classes, Brody had never actually requested that I pass them, probably because he wasn’t used to passing any himself. He’d made it clear that I had to go to class, but he never said I had to put any effort into it beyond that. His complete lack of concern for his future was almost enviable.
“Whatever,” Sophia muttered as she spun to go back down the hall toward her room.
I must’ve taken too long to respond, and she’d taken my silence for the “screw you” I kind of wanted to say out loud because what the fuck?
“Wait,” I called.
She stopped short and slowly turned around, as if she was doing me a big favor by listening to me. They must teach rich girls this shit in etiquette school.
“I wasn’t out at a rave. I didn’t stumble in wasted. I had to work tonight, I’m exhausted, and it was pitch-black when I came in. I was trying to be quiet, but I’m not the most graceful guy in the world. It won’t happen again.” After I thought about my last statement for a second, I amended it. “Well, it might, but I’ll try to avoid it.”
Even though I shouldn’t give a shit what this girl thought about me, I felt myself waiting for her response like it mattered. I couldn’t figure out why it was important to me that she knew I wasn’t some immature punk. Sure, we’d be living together, but I didn’t have any intention of getting to know her. Not really. But it was important, and I watched her anxiously as I waited for her to reply.
“I didn’t realize you had to work. I’ll try to remember to leave a light on for you so you don’t wake the whole neighborhood next time you come home.”
It wasn’t the most bountiful of olive branches, but I’d grown up with enough crazy sisters to know I’d better accept it for what it was—insulting wrapping paper with a small apology nestled inside.
“I’d appreciate that.”
She nodded once at me before turning and going into the bedroom. I heard the snick of the lock on the door after she closed it. She clearly still hadn’t ruled out the possibility of my being a homicidal lunatic.
That was okay. We’d