The Rebound Game

Ten

While Shirley and I have totally different personalities, we like to sleep in. Right now ,she is sleeping peacefully and her dark hair resembles a bird's nest. I am even tempted to take a picture and post on my Insta story just to annoy her. I unlock my phone and check for any notifications like it's the daily paper.
       
I have one new email from dad. He is not a fan of sending text messages and either calls or sends emails.
         From:rufusEdwards01@yahoo.com
         
To: kateforealEdwards@gmail.com
       
 Re: spend summer in Virginia?
       
Hey kiddo. Your brother and I were talking about you the other day and I wanted to interest you in taking a vacation and come visit your old man for a few weeks. If you like the break, you can work for me. That spot will always be reserved for you. Karen says to pass her regards. Take care.
       
Love, Dad.
       
I have not been to Virginia in months. Since New Years actually. Perhaps dad is right. I need to take a break from this post break up shit and do Christmas shopping for him even though it's still July.
         
I could escape reality for a while. Like I always seem to do so effortlessly.
     
  I am surprised Karen passes her greetings this time. We have never really warmed up to her since dad married her in freshman year. They celebrate their seventh anniversary in two months time. Wow. How time flies.
     
 It is not in our nature to be selfish and not want dad to be happy after mom. In fact, we rooted for him and a certain Paula who was a charming petite lady in her early forties but their on and off relationship did not make it to the altar. Then dad met Karen, a twenty seven year old blonde and even Alex commented that there was something off about her.
       
In our defense, we only felt that way because we never pictured dad marrying someone so young.
      
The only explanation was of course, the money. We then we came to learn that bitch came from a wealthier family so we did not know where to place her intentions. When we first met her, Karen made a genuine effort to be civil with each one of us but deep down she must have despised us equally. She dropped the act when she walked in on me making out with her super cute nephew the same weekend during Thanksgiving. I had apologized profusely but she still hates me with the fire of a ten thousand suns.
     
Karen must me popping champagne now that she knows from dad that I broke up with Ollie and I am currently broke and unemployed. However, I suspect that she is slightly bitter that dad is paying for my one bedroom flat.

 The next notification is from my Whats App and I skim through the texts and only open Christian's text:
     
Good morning.
    
It's sent at five freaking am. He is offline but I reply anyway.
     
Good afternoon is more accurate.
   
 I make my way to the kitchen and decide to surprise Shirley with pancakes. I am a good cook but the image of the aftermath that is a sink filled with dirty dishes always puts me off. I rarely cooked for Ollie unless we had visitors over or if he offered to help. I am on my third pancake when my phone vibrates. I see Christian has replied and I read it out loud, a bad habit I picked from Jess:
       
Busy day?
     
 Not really, just woke up.
   
  Let me guess, you take it seriously the doctor's instructions to get as much sleep as possible. How accurate is that?
     
 I would say 100% but then who knows, maybe I was out clubbing till dawn?
     
You don't strike me as the type.
   
  How do you figure?
     
  Fuck, what's that smell? It can't be the abandoned pan, right?
   
   I read people
    
Surely you have better things to do with your time.
    
Ok. I cheated, I don't read people. The first statement is a give way, it usually is the truer of the two statements with most people.

He does make sense. Sort of.

 I am almost done with breakfast. I need to exercise a little self control with the chats before I burn this whole building to ashes. I am sure I don't have the insurance cover for that.