Page 116 of New Growth
I looked over to see Hope calm and almost bored. She sat on the edge of the bed, legs crossed, looking like she had better places to be.
Esther frowned. “Why are you even here?”
“I want Ellie to do my hair for this birthday dinner I’m going to tonight.”
Esther scoffed. “The salon is closed on Sundays, idiot.”
“Duh. Do her hands stop working on Sundays, too?”
“This ain’t the damn salon!”
And just like that, they were off, arguing like kids in the backseat of a long-ass road trip. Their voices rose, clashing over each other, but I wastoo drained to care. I groaned and shoved my face into Esther’s pillow, wishing I could suffocate myself with it long enough for them to leave me alone.
Then the doorbell rang.
Esther huffed. “Can you at least get the door while I try to get her out of bed?”
“Hell no,” Hope said, leaning back on her hands. “This is your house.”
Esther clenched her fists like she was about to wring Hope’s neck, but instead, she let out a frustrated groan and stormed out.
“I have to do everything around this motherfucker!”
Hope barely reacted. She just turned to me with an expectant look. “So… no on the hair?”
I lifted my head just enough to glare at her.
She rolled her eyes. “Fine.”
A minute later, Esther came back, looking… hesitant.
“Um, Ellie? El’s here to see you.”
I groaned and flopped onto my back. “Tell him I’m busy.”
“Are you crazy?” Hope gaped at me. “Tell him to come up!”
Esther scowled. “Will you shut your thirsty ass up?”
Before we could argue about it, footsteps started climbing the stairs.
“Elliot? You up here?” El called out.
No way.
My eyes widened as I sat up and whisper-yelled, “You let him in any way?”
Esther gave me a blank look. “What was I supposed to do? Shut the door in his face? I left him sitting on the couch.”
“Elliot?” he called out again. His voice was closer now.
I grabbed Esther’s arm. “Get rid of him. I’m not in the mood for this.”
“What the hell am I supposed to do?” she whisper-yelled back. “Do I look like your personal bodyguard? Get up and handle your shit.”
I squeezed her arm. “No! I want to be left alone!”
Hope rolled her eyes and called out, “She’s in here, El!”
