The Beginning

Tess

"Hey Jeff, this is Tess Bowen. I'm calling again about the apartment. Give me a call back when you can." It was third call I'd made to my landlord and still no answer.

I released a frustrated growl.

"I don't think Jeff wants to talk to you." Chrissie noted, sucking melted marshmallow off the end of her metal spoon. Once clean, she dunked it back into her hot chocolate.

"Christine." Star scolded.

"Do you blame him?" Veronica quipped over her own cup of hot chocolate.

It was strange to see such a battle axe of a woman sip happily on a mug of sugar and cocoa powder. Stilettos off, short legs dangling above the floor, she looked... softer. Unfortunately, she still sounded rougher than sand between your butt cheeks.

"That's what I'm worried about." I mumbled, ignoring her. "I'll just call the hotel. I'll get a room for a couple nights."

"Good idea." Veronica muttered.

"Why?" Star and Chrissie asked in unison.

I looked up from my phone at the girls.

Chrissie swam in Santi's shirt and sweats, where Star, who stood much taller, looked like she was wearing her teenager's clothes.

Veronica sat on a barstool at the island, separated from the group.

"You and Uncle Nicky are dating, right?" Chrissie wondered. "You can stay here as long as you want. He's really nice like that."

"Yes, Christine. Please encourage her to take advantage of my cousin."

"You know what--" My rant ended as rapidly as it came up.

"What are you doing?" Star cut in.

"I'm not relying on—"

"Shut up."

Taken aback by her words, I put my phone face down beside me and sat forward on the couch. "Shut up?" I barked heatedly.

"You heard me, Tess. You're about to make some excuse to keep yourself hyper-independent and alone." Star didn't move from her lounged position. "Nicky literally doesn't have a red flag in sight and you're running away? Again?"

"Ouch, firstly, and secondly, you are way off base." I argued.

"Oh, am I?" She replied sarcastically. "You don't allow anyone to take care of you. Remember that time you tried to tow your own car?"

"I watched a video. I could've done it if that lady would've moved out of the way."

"It was her tow truck, Tess." Star reminded me. "When you let Nicky take you home, I thought..." Star shook her head, shrugged then snickered. "I thought you were—"

"Chrissie, can you watch this upstairs for a minute?" I asked, pausing her video.

"I'm fine. I'm not listening."

"That means you're absolutely listening, Chris. Go, please." Star supported me.

In a huff, Chrissie took the stairs one at a time very slowly.

Once she disappeared up the stairs, I moved to Star's side of the couch. "He is." I admitted. "He's sweet and kind." He was funny and incredibly smart. His domineering ways both frustrated and excited me in ways I'd hadn't felt in a long time. He'd begun to mean more to me than I expected.

"That's the problem?" Veronica bit.

"Yes, Veronica. People like you think I'm in it for the money and the things, and I don't need him for that. I don't need him for anything."