Page 52 of C is for Comfort

I sigh. It’s not that I don’t want to call Spence, but that I don’t want my business to automatically be Archie’s. To be fair, it’s been that way our whole lives. Most of the time, we can’t even so much as breathe without the other two knowing about it. They’re also a lot more open about the details of their sex lives than I’ve ever been comfortable with.

“I might.”

We look towards the door when we hear a thumping sound. Lexi is walking down the stairs, deliberately dragging her little suitcase down every step. She’s got a worn rabbit plushie under one arm.

“Do you want a hand with that?” I ask her.

“Nope.”

I cringe as she comes down the last few steps.

“I’m ready,” she says in a miserable tone.

She flops onto the sofa and turns the TV on. Archie starts to piss himself laughing.

“It’s not funny,” I hiss.

“Sure it is. I love her attitude.”

“Don’t encourage her.”

“Call him,” Archie says, changing the subject. “Spend the afternoon getting your brains fucked out. You need it.”

He stands and washes his bowl and spoon before disappearing upstairs. I tug my phone out of my pocket. Chances are, Spence is still asleep after his night shift, but I send him a text anyway.

Corey:I’ve got an unexpected child-free day. Are you around at all before your shift?

Unsurprisingly, I don’t get a response.

My gaze is drawn out the front window as a large blue car pulls up on our normally unused drive. I take a deep breath, steeling myself to face Caroline’s parents.

“They’re here,” I say to Lexi.

She lets out a dramatic sigh as I go to answer the door.

Caroline’s parents, Alfred and Sadie, smile as I let them into the house.

“It’s good to see you, Corey,” Alfred says. “Where’s our little tadpole?”

“Through here.” I gesture to the sitting room.

Trust Lexi not to come running out to greet them with a big smile on her face like she’d have done for my parents.

Alfred and Sadie go through.

“Oh, you poor thing,” Sadie says. “Does your arm hurt?”

“No,” Lexi says without taking her eyes off the TV.

I take the remote from her and turn the TV off, earning myself a cold glare.

“We’re going to have a lot of fun today, tadpole,” Alfred says.

Lexi glances at me.

Be nice, I mouth.

She fakes a smile. “Can I have a new teddy bear?”