Where had January gone? Honestly, Dakota didn't know how to be home alone anymore. Life was better at Nav's. She didn't know why. She smiled all over when she thought of him and spicy dinners they sometimes ate right out of the pot. Oh, to have so much with so little.
Now she felt lost in her apartment, not sure where to put her undies. She sighed; she was missing something. There was something she was supposed to do.
Her bed was made. Nice enough for company. She stared at it for a moment, realizing Nav had never slept here. Was that it? She needed him to come over. She shook the thought as she touched her chapped lips. Winter lips, she supposed.
She cringed at the idea of the cold. Winter was never forgiving. Yes, she should do something. Something sweet for Nav. However, a knock came to her door, and she was stunned to see who it was.
"How did you find me?" She winced as she hugged herself. No way would she give that wayward step-brother of hers a hug.
"It wasn't easy," he shrugged. He had someone with him, and he pulled her in as if she might be his bugger. Of course, she was a skinny little thing, wobbly with those Bambi eyes.
"God, really Cole? Is that all you have to say?" Dakota heard her big sister's voice then. It wasn't like her to be so rattled, but Cole certainly could push her buttons the wrong way.
"We..we need a place to stay."
"Seriously?"
He told her Lizzy was from California.
"Well, it's crowded there, but surely-" Dakota began, but soon realized she was talking to weary travelers who'd just traveled across the states. She told them to sit down. She'd find something for them to eat. She got out the last of her generic sodas and sliced up some cheese and crackers.
"What happened?" She watched the girl as if maybe he'd kidnapped her.
"I was so in hopes Mumzie would have been more understanding." Cole's worried look made him a bit fragile. All he'd ever done was to go to one prep school after another. It felt so familiar to Dakota, but she didn't feel the need to keep in touch. They weren't even related.
"You know, she never liked me." Dakota felt Cole was on his last straw.
"Look, I'll ask around," Dakota said. She wasn't sure she could help, but at least she could give them lodging tonight.
"So, you know I care," Han shrugged when Ezra came over. These days, Han was never invited to Ezra's, but he didn't seem to mind since Delia usually had him preoccupied. There were a couple of hours in the day when he could catch up with his friend since high school.
"About what?" Ezra looked at him blankly. He didn't look underdressed nor as casual as Han.
"I'm not sure, but I do." Han went to get his friend something warm to drink. "Delia tells me you're quitting at the library."
"So, I've moved on." Again, Mr. Straight Face without an emotion insight, until he almost spewed the old black coffee that had been in the pot since last night. "What is this!" Suddenly, Ezra's face was an ugly scowl. It made Han smile.
"See what you get when you don't tell me anything," Han smirked back and shuffled back to the kitchen in Delia's bunny slippers to make fresh coffee. He was in his usual fit, track pants, and an offbeat graphic tee.
He didn't have a real job yet, but was doing rather well, making some money online with a few side gigs. Not quite an influencer, but a very intelligent slacker.
"Why do I need to tell you anything?" Ezra snarled back, pouring the rest of the black coffee down the drain. In fact, he made the coffee for them, edging Han out of the kitchen. "I got on, at the University in research. The pay is good with benefits."
"Oh, so you can't be a blondie there, huh?"
"I was tired of it, OK." Ezra didn't look happy, to Han.
"Whatever." Han went to turn on the TV ever so nonchalantly and leaned back in his favorite cushioned chair, perfect for his long arms, and waited for the coffee to drip. "So what's up?" He looked back at Ezra, who was taking up the couch, thumbing through the stack of photo magazines on the coffee table. There were a couple of magazines with Han's photos, but they weren't paid gigs. He doubted Ezra could spot the photos.
"I bet it was that blue-haired girl's idea," Han pointed out. Ezra only smirked, but didn't say a word about her.
"So when are we going to meet her?" Han's asked.
"You're not."
"Why? Couldn't the four of us go out, on occasion?" Han wanted to know, but Ezra was silent again.
