Page 64 of Sunny Goes Cold Turkey
“No.” Tillie gasps and her hand covers her mouth. Her smile tells me she’s hamming up her response for her son’s benefit.
Anders' grin is devious. “Yes.”
“It isn’t what it sounds like!” I defend myself, even though I know the truth: There is no defense. “Besides, you have to admit this is next-level crazy.” I gesture to the walls. He even has a Mariah Carey Merry Christmas poster. “What in the Ted Bundy is happening here?”
Tillie laughs, even though I’m only half joking. “Will you be able to sleep in the presence of all this?”
“I can’t take Anders’ room. Let me take the couch.”
She shakes her head. “Not a chance, honey.” She fluffs the pillow and turns down the blanket.
It’s settled, then. I’m learning that there’s no point in arguing with any member of this family when they want something.
A few hours later, the house is quiet and I’m staring at the underside of the top bunk, completely wired. How on earth did I end up here—in Anders Beck’s family home, sleeping in his bed, staring into the many faces of Mariah Carey?
This family is not at all what I pictured. I like Anders’ parents. They talk, love, tease, and bicker like a normal, healthy family. I curl my toes in the cold sheets, finding strange pleasure in the fact that they are slightly pilled, kind of scratchy, and smell like Tide. There is no pretense here, despite their son’s megastar status.
Now I’m thinking about Anders and Imogen, sharing the bunk bed in the room next door. I wonder if he took the top or the bottom, and smile at the mental image of either option. Imogen had begged to take the top bunk with me, but I was relieved when Anders told her he wanted to have a sleepover with her. My efforts at remaining detached from either of them have been obliterated by both parties. They’ve stormed through my weak defenses and I’ve barely put up a fight. They’re just too hard to say no to.
For example: I rode in a tin can airplane across the country to a destination I didn’t plan. I have no idea what tomorrow will bring because I have no schedule. This weekend is not what I had envisioned and I am loving everything about that. Is this what adventure feels like? Because I need more of whatever this is.
“Goodnight, Mariah,” I whisper through a contented sigh as I force my eyes closed.
Of course, my phone immediately buzzes on the carpet where it’s plugged in next to the bed. I’d ignore it, but what if Nizhóní is on fire? I swat around, find the charger cord, and reel in my phone like a trout.
ANDERS
Comfy?
SUNNY
Yep
ANDERS
Because I can come in there and tuck you in
ANDERS
I know all the tricks to that bed
SUNNY
Anders Beck Abrahamson. What would your mother say?
ANDERS
It was her idea
That makes me laugh outloud before I can stop myself. I slap my hand over my mouth.
ANDERS
I heard that. Coming over
“Stay where you are!” I whisper-shout through the wall, praying it’s not loud enough for Tillie or Johan to hear. I hope they're heavy sleepers.
ANDERS
