I felt trapped—or maybe that was just Kira’s depression and anxiety rubbing off on me—my skin was drier than all get-out, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe because there wasn’t one ounce of humidity here unless it was early in the morning. And we were in motherfucking California. My shoulders fell, and I wondered for the fiftieth time today why I’d ever thought this was going to be a good thing.
Turning around, I looked at our condo and blew out a long breath. It was nice, but only held the basics. Even being in here for over a week now, I still wasn’t used to it—and I didn’t know if it would ever feel like home, no matter how long we were here.
I walked over to Kira’s room, but instead of knocking, I stood at the door and listened to her pained sobs before deciding against trying to talk to her again. After wandering around for another minute or two, I sank down on the couch and stared at the dark TV screen. I didn’t make a move for the remote, and I didn’t care that I was staring at nothing. I was afraid that if I turned on the TV, I would see commercials for things in California, and it would depress me even more.
I couldn’t hold back a relieved sigh when my phone began ringing—but my happiness at the distraction was short-lived after I dug it out of my pocket and stared at the unknown California number.
“Motherfucking California,” I muttered just before I hit the button to accept the call. “Hello?”
“Hey! Just wanted to make sure you knew how to get to the gym.”
My brow scrunched in confusion. “Uncle Eli? What number are you calling from, and what gym? Do you know who you called?”
He laughed softly. “Yes, sweet niece of mine, I know who I called. This is my office phone. And what do you mean, what gym? The gym you and Kira have an interview at in less than an hour.”
“What interview?”
“The one—son of a bitch,” he murmured, and let out a heavy exhale. “Did Mason not tell you that you both had interviews today?”
“No, he didn’t! What gym?”
Uncle Eli said something unintelligible and groaned loudly. “A friend of mine has openings at his gym for the drink station, and was kind enough to agree to interview you. But I should’ve known that Mason wouldn’t say anything. He doesn’t exactly like the guy who set this up. Can you be ready soon? The interviews are supposed to be at twelve thirty P.M.”
“Seriously? I don’t know! How far away is it?” I asked as I ran to Kira’s room. Throwing open the door, I didn’t wait for her to tell me to leave—as she had so many times this week—I just shouted, “Stop crying and get ready! We have interviews!”
“I’m not going,” she said automatically, without looking at me.
“Yes, you are,” I hissed. “Uncle Eli set these up for us. You’ll go and thank him for it later. Get ready!”
“It’s not far from you; ten, fifteen minutes tops,” Uncle Eli said distractedly. “I’ll text you the address, try not to be late. But I’ll explain it if you are.”
“Thank you! I love you!” I said quickly before hanging up and running to my bathroom to fix my makeup and hair. I didn’t check on Kira again; if she ended up not getting ready and deciding not to go, then that was on her. I needed this. I needed to get out of this condo so I wouldn’t continue feeling the way I had been. I needed something to look forward to that wasn’t a new day of moping because I was in the wrong state.
May 29
Liam
“GIVE IT UP, old man,” I said on a laugh as Dad got ready to throw the wadded-up paper from his sandwich into the trash. “You never make it anyway.”
Wadding up my own wrapper, I eyed him as he stared down the trash can for a few more seconds before carefully tossing his wrapper—and missing. I immediately tossed mine in and grinned mockingly.
“Bastard,” he scoffed.
“Don’t take the loss too hard, it’s not the first time.”
He smiled and rolled his eyes before checking his watch. “Tell me about these girls coming in. You didn’t say much on the phone.”
I held my arms out to the side, then dropped them. “I don’t know anything about them other than they’re Eli’s nieces, and twenty-two. He just said he wanted them to try to find something to do here, or get some friends. Apparently they’re not happy they’re here.”
My dad gave me a look. “Not happy they’re here?” he asked, and when I nodded in confirmation, he shook his head. “If they’re twenty-two and not happy here, why don’t they go where they are happy.”
“Question of the week, Dad. I have no clue. But I owe Eli, so I told him I’d arrange the interviews. You don’t have to hire them, I really don’t care either way . . . I know you’ve already had a handful of people apply; so does Eli. I think he’s just hoping that if they get out once, they’ll continue to do so.”
“Jesus, you’re making them sound even worse. I’m expecting awkward, shy girls who never leave their house.”
The phone in his office beeped a second before one of the receptionists told him the girls were here for the interviews, and Dad exhaled heavily as he stood up.
“I’m sure this will go over well,” he mumbled sarcastically, and slapped at my shoulder as he passed by me. “Thanks for the lunch, bud. Go see your mom soon, she’s been complaining about how long you’ve been gone.”