My Last And My Only

Chapter 167: Home

There was no rush to get dressed.

No alarm reminding Aiah she had to be somewhere.

No laptop waiting for her the moment she woke up.

Instead, she was greeted by the familiar smell of breakfast drifting through the house.

Aiah stepped out of her room, still tying her hair into a loose ponytail.

"Morning."

"Good morning," Ivy replied from the kitchen without looking up. "Perfect timing. Breakfast is almost ready."

At the dining table, Gwen was slumped over with a notebook, her phone, and what looked like three different printed course lists spread out in front of her.

Aiah raised an eyebrow.

"Should I be worried?"

Gwen sighed dramatically.

"Classes."

"That explains everything."

"I don't want summer to end."

"It has to end eventually."

"I reject that."

Aiah laughed as she pulled out a chair.

"You sound exactly like Christine."

"I know."

"That should concern you."

"It doesn't."

Ivy placed plates on the table before sitting down with them.

"You two have been saying the same thing since you were kids."

"Because summer was always too short," Gwen argued.

"You'll survive the semester."

"I absolutely won't."

Aiah smiled into her coffee.

"Give it a week before you're looking forward to seeing everyone again."

"I can see everyone without assignments."

"You're going to school for the assignments."

"I strongly disagree."

Ivy chuckled.

"You'll both survive."

Breakfast stretched into an hour of easy conversation.

Gwen complained about early morning classes.

Ivy reminded her that waking up before sunrise was part of being a responsible adult.

"That sounds like something you tell yourself every morning," Gwen said.

"I do."

"Does it help?"

"Not particularly."

That made both girls laugh.

Eventually, Gwen looked across the table at Aiah.

"How's work?"

Aiah leaned back in her chair.

"It's good."

"Just good?"

She thought about it for a moment.

"No."