Page 52 of Under Pressure

Her shoulders lower a bit, making my chest puff. “That’s a tomorrow problem, I guess.”

“Yeah, it is. Just focus on sleeping tonight,” I murmur.

Unable to help myself, I pinch the same piece of hair that’s fallen out of place at her cheek and curl it around my finger. She doesn’t tug it away and instead lets her lashes flutter a bit, like she’s battling falling asleep right here. I exhale, struggling not to lift her clear off her feet and tuck her beneath the thick black blanket.

“You need anything, Quinn, you let me know, yeah?”

She nods. “Yeah.”

“Alright.”

After tucking her hair back again, I stroke her cheekbone and then drop my hand. My steps are forced as I set a water on the dresser and leave the room, shutting the door behind me.

Only once I’ve gotten into my own room do I realize the hand I used to touch her is trembling.

19

Callie

A little heads-up next time!!! I thought you were dead when you didn’t answer my call. Do you know when the last time the coffee shop was closed during the week was? TWO YEARS AGO!

I nearly called the cops.

Stopped by and Ruthie told me the suspected diagnosis. Real talk now that I know you’re alive. How are you?

Eli

Usually I’d say enjoy the day off, but I don’t think you’re getting one. I’ll enjoy mine enough for the both of us.

There’sa GIF of a cartoon frog throwing its ass back attached to the message. It’s disturbingly realistic despite it being a goddamn frog.

I ignore his message and call my sister instead of sending a bunch of texts back. She answers after the second ring, soundingout of breath.

“Finally! I was considering calling the cops for a second time.”

“What a waste of our tax dollars that would have been.”

“Yeah, well. What’s going on?”

“Did Ruthie say if she stayed long?” I ask instead of answering.

The coffee shop is deserted, a sight that hasn’t stopped bothering me since I got here half an hour ago. It felt all kinds of wrong to tell the few regulars who were lingering by the door that I wasn’t opening, and even worse when I locked it behind me. There’s no way the place can run today, though. Not with the water remaining turned off throughout the entire building.

I glare at the clock above the door for the fifth time in the last ten minutes.

“No. She found the note you left in the kitchen once she got to the place and you chatted on the phone.”

“Did she seem mad?”

“Not like it matters, but no. You sound exhausted, Quinn.”

“I am exhausted. The water started gushing in the middle of the night, and I got here at nine thirty. I’ve spent every minute since on the phone, trying to get someone in here ASAP.”

“How’s that going?”

I scrub a hand down my face. “Terribly. The insurance company is backed up, and it’s going to take at least a few hours to get an adjuster out, and then who knows how long before they can get their own contractors over to do a quote. I don’t know how bad everything is, but with my luck, it’s going to take months.”

“It won’t take months. A week, maybe. Two tops.”