"Gemma, she's been sleeping on our sofa for a week."
"I know. I live here, too, remember?"
"Is she ever going home?" Levi inquires.
"At least the apartment's clean," I point out, eager to change the subject. I don't know when Alyx is leaving. I'm no happier about the situation than he is, but I don't have the heart to kick her out.
When I invited Alyx to stay at my place for a night, I quite literally meant one night. She seems to have misinterpreted my offer. She's been helpful, though. Since she's jobless and can't contribute financially, she's given herself the title of our own personal housekeeper. Our countertops have never been so shiny. Levi doesn't love the fact that his boxer briefs smell like lavender, but I'm just happy I don't have to do laundry.
She doesn't want to see Benson, which I get, but he is my big brother, so I feel inclined to take this side. I've talked to him a few times since Alyx unofficially moved in. He feels awful about what happened and just wants her to come home.
"I realize I royally screwed up," he confessed to me the other night. "I miss her so much, though, and I'm worried about her and the baby."
I promised Benson I would keep an eye on Alyx. She may be an adult, but she still needs someone to take care of her.
"Look, I feel bad for the girl. It seems like she was dealt a really crappy hand," Levi goes on. "I don't mind helping her out. I don't even mind if she stays here. I just think we need to set some ground rules."
"That's fair," I reply. "What did you have in mind?"
"First of all, no more mindless cleaning," he says. "We are not neat people, Gemma. I need to be able to cook food and take a shit in my own apartment without being afraid of giving Alyx an attack."
"I don't think she has OCD. I think she just wants to feel useful," I tell him, recalling what she said to me at Benson's condo.
"Either way, it has to stop. She doesn't need to earn her keep. If she's staying with us, it's because we're nice people who want to do her a favor, not because she's giving us something in return."
"Noted."
"Also, if she's going to cook for us, she needs to eat, too. Have you noticed that she prepares just enough food for you and me and then watches us devour it?" he asks.
I bite my lip and think about every meal Alyx has made for us this week. I don't remember her touching any of it.
"Oh, and one more thing." His blue eyes meet mine. "I think it's great that you want to help Alyx, but"—he glances around the room, double checking that no one else is listening—"I have to ask... are you being so nice to her because you want to, or are you trying to make up for Raelyn?"
I shake my head. "No, this isn't about Raelyn."
Except maybe it is, and I just haven't realized it yet.
The door opens. I've never been so relieved about an interruption. Alyx, with two grocery bags in hand, ambles toward us. She flashes a cheery smile and empties what I assume are the ingredients for tonight's dinner on the table.
"Hey, guys," she greets us.
"Alyx, hey," I reply. "What's all this?"
"You guys were running low on food, so I picked up a few things."
"Here, let me pay you back."
"No, it's alright! I just put it on my credit card," she tells me. "Trust me, it was no big deal."
YOU ARE READING
What She Left Behind ✔️
Mystery / Thriller"I'm assuming that little speech was meant for me?" "It was meant for everyone." "But mostly me. Is it because I called her selfish earlier? Are you still hung up on that?" "I'm not hung up on anything, Gemma." "Then why would you go up there and sa...
