Until Cece (Happily Ever Alpha World)

“I love you too. I’ll see you in the morning for pancakes, unless you want to have your talk with the girls alone.” She leans back to look me in the eye.

“I think it might help them having you there.” I let her go.

“Then I’ll be there,” she promises before turning off the TV and grabbing her cell and empty can on the side table.

“Mia,” I call as she drops her can in the recycle bin.

“Yeah?” She meets my gaze.

“Thank you… for everything.” I rub my lips together as I fail at holding my tears at bay. “I never want you to feel like I’m taking advantage of you.”

“What you need to get, Cece, is I’m your sister. If you need me, I’ll be here. I will always be here,” she tells me, and my heart feels like it triples in size as I head to bed. I feel a closeness, a connection with my little sister, an openness that wasn’t quite there before, even though she’s the best friend I’ve ever had in this world.

I hope I can learn to trust it, to feel comfortable enough someday to spill all my secrets, because it physically hurts to try to keep it all in.

18

Cece

“Any luck?” Mia asks Sunday afternoon, nodding at the listings I have open on my laptop, where I sit at my kitchen island looking at houses for rent.

“I’ve found a couple places that might have potential. I’m just not sure I can afford a four bedroom right now,” I reply as she squats down to give her dogs some scratches behind their ears when they circle her feet.

“I’m sure Lola and Kate will be okay sharing a room. Why not look for a three bedroom?” she suggests, and I eye her.

“What about you?” I ask, my voice sounding nervous even to my own ears.

She looks up at me. “Even if you guys end up staying in this house, I’m going to eventually want my own place. I love you, but please don’t worry about me while you’re making this decision.”

I swallow thickly. That might be all well and good, but the thought of being in this house or anywhere without another adult fills my gut with anxiety. I’ve never lived on my own before. The little bit of time that passed between the night Mike told me about his affair and then me calling Mia was it. “Are you sure? I mean, you came here because—”

“Because I love you and my nieces,” she cuts me off. “I don’t regret moving here.”

“Okay,” I say quietly, trying to come to terms with the idea of living on my own. Sure, I’ll have my girls, but what about the nights they’re not here, when they’re at their dad’s house?

“When Mom and Chaz get here, maybe they can keep an eye on the girls one day, and you and I can go check them out,” Mia suggests.

“I’d appreciate that,” I agree, a little relieved I at least won’t have to go searching for a new place to live without a second opinion. What if I choose wrong? What if I accidently choose a bad neighborhood? I’ve never had to look for a home before. Mike and I had this one built while we were engaged. “Are you heading out now?” I ask her when she stands.

“Yeah, Talon said he’d be home at four,” she replies, and I look at the clock then return my gaze to hers, raising a brow after seeing it’s still thirty minutes before he will even be home. “Don’t even start.”

“I didn’t say anything.” I smirk at the fact that she’s so anxious to go see a guy. He must really be special to be getting through to my sister, the queen of keeping her heart distanced from the opposite sex. “Are you staying the night with him again tonight?”

“No, I’ll be home.”

“Don’t feel like you have to come home. I planned on taking the girls to school in the morning tomorrow.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” She rolls her eyes. “What are you going to do until the girls get home?”

“Laundry, and I might order Thai for dinner. Besides that, I’m going to catch up on schoolwork so I won’t feel overwhelmed this week.”

“Fun.”

“So much fun.” I laugh, and she smiles then looks at the clock. She’s adorable in her quiet excitement. “Wow, you’ve really got it bad.”

“I know,” she admits.

“Go see your guy. If I don’t see you tonight, I’ll see you tomorrow.” I get up and walk with her to the door, and she stops long enough to give her pups some goodbye scratches.

“If you need me, my cell will be on,” Mia says.

“We’ll be fine without you.” I open the door, and as she steps out onto the front porch, a large truck pulls up to park behind my minivan, and I swallow thickly.