Page 158 of Such Sharp Teeth

“I wasn’t sleeping,” she says. “Resting.”

“Have you slept at all?”

“A little.”

She holds my hand. “Did you talk to him? To Ian?”

“Couldn’t find him,” I say, my heart in my throat. “Don’t worry about it. Are you doing all right? Be honest.”

“I’m wearing mesh underwear,” she says. “It’s essentially a diaper. It hurts to sit. Hurts to stand. My nipples hurt. Everything hurts. I’m past exhaustion. And I feel this cosmic peace, this crazy joy. But I’m also sad.”

“Sad?”

“It’s hormones. I know it’s hormones, but still . . . I’m so sick of these wild hormones. I just want things to be normal. To feel normal. I know that’s not going to happen. Not anytime soon.”

“Normal is overrated,” I say. “Take it from me.”

“I’m proud of you, too, you know,” she says, resting her head on my shoulder. “You’re the best sister I’ve ever had.”

“Same. Hands down.”

Lenny cries in the other room.

“You can have Matty bring her to me,” Scarlett says, sitting up and adjusting a pillow. “She’s probably hungry.”

“All right,” I say, getting up. “So weird you made a human.”

“I know,” she says, grinning. “And such a good one, too.”

—

I grab my vape pen and sneak away, not wanting anyone to see me and offer their company. I’m hoping to sulk in solitude.

“Are you going out for a smoke?”

It’s my mother.

“No,” I lie.

“Yes, you were,” she says, picking up her coat. She throws it over my shoulders. “I know you like to be a rebel, but you don’t need to spite the cold.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Love you, baby.”

“Love you, too.”

She opens the door for me, then closes it behind me, giving me my moment alone.

I sit on the steps and take a drag. My gaze follows my exhale across the yard and out to the street. Across the street.

Where there’s a car parked.

Ian’s car.

Only he’s not in it.

Because he’s coming up the driveway. Smoking a cigarette. He’s in the same clothes as yesterday. He’s got his head down, but I can see that his glasses are broken. There’s a crack in one of the lenses.