Page 10 of Stroked Long
“Bodi, when is this going to stop?”
I grip my hair and try not to pull on it too hard, hating the way my stomach is in knots right now.
Ignoring her, I ask, “Are you in for the night?”
There is no use fighting with me, she knows the routine. “Yes.”
“Are your doors and windows locked?”
“Yes.”
“What about your alarm system, do you have it set?”
“Yes, Bodi.”
The tension coiling inside of me releases just a shred. “Will you send me a picture of your alarm panel?”
“I do every night.” She does; that’s not a lie. She puts up with my demands, my idiosyncrasies that would drive any other person insane, but not Eva. She understands where my panic comes from; she was there. That night.Thatnight.She’s my everything.
“Is Lauren home?”
“Yes, she says hi, and she wants to know what you think of Ruby.”
“What does that matter?” I ask, turning away from Ruby a little more so she can’t hear the conversation.
“Come on, Bodi. She’s pretty, she’s funny, and she has a beautiful personality.”
“So?”
“So . . . you should ask her out.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose from my sister’s relentless attempts at setting me up. She wants me to find someone like she’s found Lauren but I’m not interested in opening up that part of my life to anyone. I’m content with my routine, with who I am.
I don’t want to be looked at as a . . .freak.
“Not interested, so drop it,” I answer sternly.
“Bodi . . .”
“Eva, I’m not getting into this right now with company. Now send me the damn picture and have a good night.”
She huffs, clearly not happy with her little brother dismissing her. “Fine, I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
I hang up and stare down at my phone, waiting the expected thirteen seconds it takes until the photo I need comes in. Thedingindicates she has done what she was told, and I check the picture. Everything seems to be in order; I can rest easy.
Turning back to Ruby, I stuff my phone in my pocket and say, “Sorry about that. Just had to check up on some things.”
“No problem. Have to check in on the missus? That’s cute.”
“Missus?” My eyebrow raises in question.
“Your girlfriend, it’s cute.”
“What? No.” I shake my head and sit back down. “I don’t have one of those.”
“One of those?” She giggles at me, causing my head to shoot up to meet her eyes. Her laughter is all in good taste, I can see it in how soft her eyes are as she observes me. “Sorry, but the way you phrased that was funny.”
