Page 86

“Well, that’s a sour face.” Enid stated. She was carrying two very large and sugary looking drinks. “Who’s put that look on your mush?”

Faith hadn’t told Enid of Carmen’s mood. “No one,” she lied.

“Cut the shit, kid, what’s going on? Are you regretting your decision to come back?”

“It’s not me who’s regretting it,” Faith snapped. It was unlike her to get snippy, so Enid’s raised eyebrows were warranted.

“I think this is the first time I’ve seen you act like a petulant teen. I like it.”

Faith grinned. “Sorry, Enid, I shouldn’t have snapped.”

“You didn’t. You’re clearly upset with someone though, so out with it.”

Faith huffed. “I think Carmen wishes I’d stayed in Cali.” There, it was out in the open and already Faith felt better for voicing her concern.

“Bullshit,” Enid laughed.

“Enid, you haven’t been in the house. Carmen doesn’t talk to me. Heck, she barely looks away from her laptop. She doesn’t want me there.”

“Oh, love, it’s not about you,” Enid soothed.

“Like hell it isn’t,” Faith growled. Where was this anger coming from?

“Alright, feisty,” Enid chuckled. “Have you asked her?”

“When do you suppose I do that? In the millisecond I see her when she goes from her room to the bathroom?”

“She’s really that bad?”

“Yup.” Faith’s shoulders dropped. “I think I’ll just save us both any more issues and pack up. Molly will be cool with me going back.”

“Right… wait there.” Faith didn’t have time to open her mouth before Enid shuffled out of the house at surprising speed. To her horror, Enid returned less than five minutes later with a harassed-looking Carmen. The only way she could have looked more scolded was if Enid held her by the ear like a naughty child.

“Sit,” Enid barked, directing Carmen to the sofa. Faith’s face paled. “Right, now repeat what you just said.” This time, Enid was talking to Faith.

“Um, it’s…”

“Come on, out with it.”

Faith swallowed the lump that sat in her throat. “Um, I said I was going to pack up and go back to Cali.”

“What?” Carmen whispered. Faith dragged her eyes from the carpet to Carmen’s face. What she saw was raw sadness and surprise, which confused the hell out of her. “Why?” Carmen choked.

It was time to bite the bullet. “Because Carmen, you’re clearly not happy I’m here. You’ve barely uttered a full sentence to me, and all you do is work in your room. Look, it’s okay. I get it, having a whole other person to look out for is a big deal.”

“No, Faith, it’s not a big deal.”

“Obviously it is,” Faith snapped. Carmen reared back a little. Closing her eyes, Faith admonished herself for being so short. “Sorry,” she mumbled.

“No,” Carmen began, letting out an enormous sigh. “It’s me that should be apologizing. You’re right, I have been acting like a jerk since we left California. But Faith, I swear it has nothing to do with you being here. I’m so happy you are. Really!”

“Then what’s wrong?”

“I think I’ve just had some stuff I need to work through.”

“Did you and Molly fall out?”

“What makes you think that?”