Page 18 of Stuck with my Frenemy
I scrambled upstairs after about five minutes, where I opened and shut the door to my room, pretending I was retiring for the night. After a drawn-out moment, I tiptoed across the hall before curling in a bundle in the darkness outside of Ebony’s bedroom. The minute her breathing changed, I opened the door as quiet as a mouse, careful not to make a single peep. Shutting the door without a noise, I creeped inside, stretched out on the floor beside her bed, and the minute my eyes closed, I fell asleep.
Searing pain lanced my stomach,and a loud thump snapped my eyes open wide.
“Fuck!” Ebony snapped, and I realized that she’d climbed out of bed on the side of the floor I was laying on and tripped. Whoopsies.
“Morning Ebs,” I rushed out as I scrambled to my feet. “I hope you slept well. Oh, lookie, your face is totally healed. That Neosporin did wonders for that split lip, too.”
Maybe if I distracted her, she wouldn’t kill me right that second. Though, the odds were definitely not in my favor here. I’d planned to just stay in her room for a few hours, but I hadn’t realized how tired I’d been. And when I’d laid my head on the ground, even as hard as it was, I fell in a deep sleep.
Would she understand that I was just worried for her?
“Doubt it.” My voice came out so loud it seemed to echo in the large black-as-death room.
“You doubt what?” she growled, plopping back on the bed and staring at the ceiling as if it held all the answers she sought. “The fact that you will live to see the end of this assignment?”
I shrugged, not wanting to admit just how close she had come to guessing my train of thoughts. “Anywhoooo, how about we go get dressed so we can meet Ash and his brother.”
“One of these days, I swear I will choke you to death,” Ebony ground the words between her teeth, and I just shook my head.
“You’ll have to catch me first,” I exclaimed, leaping like a ninja and barreling toward the door. “And if you try in the morning, good luck. I’m perky, and you’re just … you.” Throwing a wink her way, I jogged out of Ebony’s room and to mine.
A string of curses followed me until I shut the door and blocked it out.
Heading to the closet, I rummaged through the clothing that had been provided, thankful I didn’t have to wear black again. Once was enough to please Miss Gloom and Doom. When my eyes landed on a bubblegum pink dress embroidered with glitter, I knew I’d found a winner.
Karma knows me too well.
Donning the mid-length maxi dress, I felt like a princess. Oh, who was I kidding, though? I kind of was an actual princess, being Aphrodite’s daughter and all, but they were still pretty big shoes to fill most days. Most of the time, I really didn’t know if I managed it very well, either.
Sadness tried to creep in my heart again, so I quickly changed my line of thought, instead focusing on the six-inch gray peep-toe heels I’d decided to match with the outfit. Using a little magic, I fixed my makeup and hair in an instant and happily went to find Ebony, who I heard coming out of her bedroom.
“Are we ready?” I asked as I stepped out to meet her in the hall.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Ebony replied drily, and I almost laughed. She had to try so hard to hate me, and it made me wonder why. It was easy to see she pushed people away, and there had to be a story there, so I would make it part of my mission to find out what it might be.
I’d get answers if it was the last thing I did.
“Where are we going?” I questioned the minute we stepped onto the front porch.
Ebony said nothing, fully ignoring me until we were halfway down the sidewalk. Then she pulled out the ripped piece of paper Ash had written the address to B&A Antiques on and eyed the street name we’d just passed as we jogged across a crosswalk that was turning to a “Do Not Walk.” sign.
“This way.” Without waiting on me, she powerwalked left.
Bustling noises rang around us, from zooming cars to loud honks to the chittering of people talking. It was city living, and it was a busy morning. Humans were such fascinating creatures.
“Interesting.”
“What is interesting?” Ebony asked, quirking her eyebrows at me.
Shrugging, I threw a grin her way. “Just thinking out loud.”
Ebony shook her head. “When you get to the point of understanding that what you do is not thinking but coming up with stupidities, let me know.” Her hands flung to the sides. “She honestly believes she’s actually thinking,” she muttered under her breath.
Smacking her shoulder, I threw my head back and laughed. “That was a good one, Doom and Gloom. Look at you actually making jokes.”
“It wasn’t a joke,” Ebony corrected, and that only made me laugh harder.
“Gosh, you really are funny this morning.”
