Page 18 of Never Stop

“Aw man.”

She leaned against the breakfast bar and looked down at the floor as well. I sat on the couch, letting Bailee take a minute to absorb the information. “I should go see her,” she stated.

“I hope she’s going back to New York to get back with Avery soon.”

“Is that what he wants? Is that whatshewants?”

“I think so… I hope so.”

We stayed in silence for a few minutes as I took in Bailee’s apartment. There were a few boxes here and there, but a lot of it was in order. My baby sister was an adult. Granted, she was a college graduate, so she didn’t have much. She had a blue couch that so far was not that bad to sit on, a square particleboard coffee table that had seen more wet glasses than coasters, and one single fern near the window that was adjacent to a medium size boxed TV.

“And this is why I don’t date,” she finally said.

My gaze flicked to hers. “I’ve known you to have boyfriends.”

“Not serious ones,” she clarified.

“You’re too young anyway.”

“Speaking of men, you haven’t shown me your ring.” She walked over, and I held my hand out to her. “It’s fucking gorgeous.”

I felt my face heat up as I stared at the princess cut diamond in a halo setting. “He did good, huh?”

“Yes, he did.” She rounded the breakfast bar of the open floor plan and went to the fridge.

“I should have brought you a housewarming gift or something,” I blurted as I eyed the plant by the window again then back to Bailee.

Her eyes met mine and then she said, “About that… I was wondering if maybe you could buy me a coffeemaker?”

I shook my head in disbelief and smiled at her. “You don’t have a coffeemaker?”

She shook her head, grinning as she handed me a bottle of water.

“For the love of God, tell me you have bacon for tomorrow morning?”

She looked away then sat at the far end of the three cushion couch.

So… maybe my little sister wasn’t growing up.“Bailee Rose!”

She shrugged. “I thought we could go shopping together.”

Any other time I wouldn’t mind going shopping with her, but I needed a nap. I was surprised I was still upright at this point, and if we were going to go to a bar later, then I definitely needed a nap. “Bai, the side effects from radiation are really kicking my ass. How about you go to the store while I stay here and take a nap? Then I can be ready for tonight when we go to The Bell in Hand.”

“Radiation is over, though.”

“Yeah, but I still have side effects for up to three months, and I’m actually more tired now than I was while I was getting treatment. Plus driving today…”

“Okay, I understand. I didn’t realize. You can use my bed in case Maddie comes home from work. I’ll get us everything we need and then some. Even some pre-going out cocktails.”

“Perfect.”

There was not a chance I was going to be able to function in the morning without coffee, so before Bailee left for the grocery store, I gave her money to get a coffeemaker. She needed more than a coffeemaker to fill the apartment, but right now we needed to prioritize. We could grab coffee at Starbucks in the morning, but after a night of drinking, I would rather stay in bed, drink our cups of java and eat our breakfast. Not brave the streets, tired, and maybe hungover if I let myself drink too much. I wanted to have fun and not think. I knew my limit, and I could handle it…

I hoped.

“I spent most of my first paycheck, but I got us everything for Moscow mules before we go out tonight, breakfast for the morning, and snackage while you’re here,” she called out while I lay in her bed, waking up from my nap. “And a kickass coffeemaker.”

I stood and walked to where she was in the kitchen. “Did you say you spent your first paycheck on all this?” I motioned to all the bags on the counter.