Page 62 of C*cky Best Friend
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Samantha
“Do you think you made a mistake?” Zoe asks me as my sister pets my head, both of them on the bed with me.
“She’s crying, Zoe, what do you think?”
I burrow under my pillow so that I don’t have to see anybody anymore. “I don’t think it was a mistake. I’m just sad. Can you guys just leave me alone?”
“No way am I leaving you like this.” Lexi adjusts herself next to my head, lifts my pillow and peeks underneath. “You’ve been in here for three days. If we didn’t bring you food, you wouldn’t be eating.”
Zoe sighs, “Ralphie is pawing at your legs.”
“I know, I can feel him through the comforter. Pick him up for me.”
Lexi reaches over, grabs our fluffy, white cat, and pushes him in my face. “How can you stay depressed when this kind of beauty is staring right at you? And he actually left Zoe’s room to come see you! He can tell you’re depressed!”
Rolling over, I pull him onto my chest. “I’m just not feeling very good, guys. Can’t you just leave me be for a few months or so?”
They both say, “No.”
“Let’s go for a drive,” Lexi suggests.
Why does everything feel so damn end of the world apocalyptic? Even with them here, I feel alone.
I let go of Ralphie and groan, “I’m allergic to water. And soap.”
Lexi stands up and shakes out her red hair. My depression must be rubbing off on her because she didn’t straighten it today. It’s become more curly as she’s gotten older, much to her chagrin. The battle is waged on a daily basis with every new product that comes out. I don’t think she realizes that she looks great with it curly. No matter how many times we tell her. What you perceive in the mirror is not what other people do. “We’re driving!”
With a hopeful smile Zoe offers, “What about the gardens?”
Lexi rolls her eyes, “Listen flower addict, not everybody gets off on plants the way you do.” She walks to my mirror and straightens the green sweater I bought her for Christmas.
Our cousin runs out of the room and returns with Sally Ashes, soft, ashen fur squished between her fingers. “You need two cats to love on, here!” Sally joins her boyfriend as he climbs over my chest, gracefully leaps to the floor and prances out of the room with his tail in the air.
Lexi mutters, “Even Ralphie is sick of this room.”
Pushing the comforter off, I grumble, “Okay, I’ll take a shower.” As I trudge out in my fuzzy socks, dirty tank and sweats, my phone buzzes on the nightstand.
Lexi calls after me, “It’s Logan!”
My heartbeat suspends, and I spin around to grab the phone from her hand. We lock eyes as I answer, “Logan?” and wave for them to leave the room.
This demands privacy.
Zoe starts to go.
Lexi doesn’t budge.
“Hey Sam,” he says, voice heavy with all that’s happened between us.
“Hi Logan. I’m sorry, can you give me a second? My sister is being nosy.”
Lexi throws up her hands and follows Zoe out. “Fine! You didn’t have to tell him!”
“Close the door, please.”
Zoe reaches back and does it, to avoid an argument.