Page 76 of Under the Influence

“We aren’t having an argument. You don’t know Edith well enough to know if you’re supportive of the relationship. Once you’ve spent more time around her, you can take a stand.”

“Deal.”

“But you love her,” Clover says and leans between the seats. “You yelled that out after sucking on her face and nearly getting tackled by Ike Mooney.”

“I didn’t yell,” I correct, allowing the other information to go unchallenged. “And I do love Edith. Like stupid, goofy, ‘is she thinking about me because I’m thinking about her’ kind of love. It’s obnoxious, and it’s not going away. You might need to stock up on barf bags, kiddo.”

Clover throws her head back and laughs way too hard at my dumb joke. I assume she’s stressed and needs time to adjust.

Once we drop Erin at her house, Clover and I separate at our place long enough to shower. I’m checking my phone on the couch when she appears wearing sweatpants and a 49ers Jersey.

“Should I think about getting my own place?” Clover asks and drops onto the couch next to me.

“No.”

“How come?”

“I like having you around to deal with the mail and dishes. If we ever get a new dog, I’ll need you to clean up its crap.”

Clover grins. “Edith is young.”

“Don’t make me feel shitty,” I say and set my phone down on the side table. “I’ve had a long day.”

“Did you worry her dad was going to beat you up?”

Grinning at her fake concern, I say, “I figured he might try. But Donovan’s got a decade on me, so I planned to use his age against him in a fight.”

Clover scoots closer. “I like Edith.”

“Me too.”

“But she’s scary.”

Fighting a frown, I ask casually, “Scary how?”

“She’s the shiny kind of pretty.”

“So are you.”

Clover narrows her gaze and mutters, “Don’t patronize me.”

“Well, okay, then, your sister and Tuesday and all those other girls are shiny pretty, too. You don’t seem to mind them.”

“If I didn’t know Roxie, I’d find her intimidating. She’s shiny pretty like Edith, but she’s also awkward like a kid.”

“Is it just Edith’s looks that intimidate you?”

“No, she seems cold.”

Nodding, I try not to get my back up and come off as overly defensive.

“Edith gets fussy. Like how Tuesday talks too much. Or Lola can seem bitchy. That doesn’t mean it’s all they are, but it’s the armor they use when nervous.”

“Like, how I walk away to avoid dealing with things that make me uncomfortable?”

“Isn’t that why you’re thinking of moving out?”

“Maybe. But I also think it’ll be for the best if Edith plans to live here,” Clover says and studies me. “That’s what happens next, right?”

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