Dirty Dealers

BAM BAM BAM! I bolt upright in my bed with a little squeal, dream shattered.

“Kass? Are you in there?” It’s Ava. She’s outside my door banging on it. “Kass! Let me in!”

I’m only wearing panties. “Hang on!” I shout, sliding out of my bed and grabbing a shirt from my middle drawer. What the hell is she doing here?

The long-sleeved Henley is over my head, and I swipe a pair of boxers off the floor. Pausing a moment, I turn my head around the room. It’s bright from the morning sun, and I don’t detect anything out of place. Still, his scent… It seems like…

I shake my head. “Vivid dream,” I say.

Logan isn’t here. Although, if Ava’s outside… Quickly, I rake my fingers through my hair, hoping it doesn’t look like a bird’s nest. I slide the chain and twist the dead bolt open.

“Ava?”

Her voice is exasperated and she storms into my tiny apartment. “You totally disappeared! Worse—you ran off without even saying goodbye!”

She’s fills my room like a glamorous tornado, and my mind scrambles for an explanation. I can’t tell her the real reason I left—I couldn’t bear watching the man I love falling for her superhero sister.

“I missed my brother,” I stammer. “I missed my things… and my neighbor’s dog, and I just… Freddie said I wasn’t a prisoner.”

For a moment, I wait for her answer. She takes a few steps around my tiny studio apartment. “I’m sorry you felt that way.” She sounds hurt, and I feel awful, considering what else Freddie said about her not pressing charges. “I thought we were having fun. I didn’t want you to feel like a prisoner, but you were sort-of… being watched. And protected.”

I nod. “I know. I don’t mean to be ungrateful—”

“Don’t put it like that,” she huffs, dropping onto my bed. “That makes it sound so formal—like we weren’t even friends.”

Pressing my front teeth together, I try to think of the right words. “It was a strange setup from the start. You know this.”

“My whole life is strange,” she sighs. “I don’t even notice anymore.”

Walking toward the sound of her voice, I take a seat beside her on the bed. I chew my lip a moment. “I’ve never really had a close female friend. I started working right out of school, and then my eyes… and then my aunt… I guess I’m not very good at this.”

We’re both quiet, and the noise from the street below echoes through my window. Vendors shout at deliverymen, and metal chairs scrape across flagstone pavements as the cafés set up for business.

“I’ve always just had Zee,” she says. “I’m not very good at this either.”

“No, you’re great,” I argue.

“But you were uncomfortable.”

I can’t argue with that. I’m not even really sure what I’d say other than it wasn’t her fault. “I have an idea.” Standing, I walk to the dresser and pick up my phone. “Remember how much you wanted me to meet your sister? I’d like you to meet my little brother.”

“The musician?” She’s looking up at me, curiosity in her voice.

“He’s playing tonight at this little club down by the water—the Café Steele?”

“I’

ve heard of it!” She stands then and walks to where I’m standing. “What time? I can meet you there.”

“He usually goes on at ten.”

We step to the door, which I realize now is still open. Ava strides out onto the landing, pausing just before she descends.

“What are you going to do today?”

I take a few steps in the direction of her voice, although I can’t see anything in the hallway in this light. “I thought I’d see about finding a job.”

“Let me know if I can help you.” I hear her descending the staircase, and I reach out to place my hand on the bannister. Instead my fingers collide with what feels like a warm wall of granite covered in soft cotton.