stairs and demand some answers. “Aurelia, please stay. Sit with me.” Sera’s still smiling as she unloads two water bottles from her brown grocery bag. She puts them on the coffee table and sits next to me. I raise my eyebrow. This makes no sense. Chad always stocks his fridge with beverages. Even when he’s away, it’s always stocked just in case one of his twin brothers stays over. An unfinished bottle of Orangina, my favorite drink, is still on the side table. My gaze moves down to the Persian rug. Sera doesn’t have shoes on, but house slippers. She’s made herself at home in what I always
...more
