Page 20 of Sleeper: The Palisades Edition

“All of them?”

“It’s a big city. You deserve a big welcome.”

“Thank you.” The way she’s blushing and smiling at me now, it’s just like when I first met her. When she was a zygote who had a big crush on me. “Well, why don’t I take one of them back to my brother’s and you can take the other four to your house? I mean, since I might be there too. Eventually.” She places four of the bouquets back into the cart.

“That also works.”

Is the lack of sleep clouding my judgment?

Is this the best or the worst idea ever?

Do I have any other choice?

No. I don’t have any other choice.

Having Nico’s hot, weird younger sister help mewith the kids and sleeping and showering in my house is the only choice I’ve got.

Fuckin’ A.

I love this day.

“Sorry we didn’t hang more,”Nico says, putting his arm around my shoulder as we carry the groceries to my car. Willa is waiting by his Jeep and sniffing those flowers with a dreamy look on her beautiful face. “I’ve got a show coming up. Maybe you’ll come.”

“Yeah, no, it’s fine. I’m glad you got to spend some quality time with yet another model in yoga pants.”

“Somebody’s gotta do it.” He grins. “Hey man, no pressure about hiring my sister or anything…”

“Not at all, man. She’s great. I’m in. I think this is happening. I’ll just have to clear it with Margo, you know.”

“Yeah, good. It’s just that she needs a job, and I don’t know if she’s ready to handle LA guys if she’s at a sales counter or waiting tables or whatever, but I trustyou.” He squeezes my shoulder, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t mean to do it in a menacing way, that’s just how my dick’s reading it. “You’ll look out for her. Like a brother.”

“Yup.”I will definitely keep her away from other LA guys.“You can count on me.”

SIX

SHANE

“So…you really didn’t get in any trouble for this?” I tape Summer’s latest masterpiece up onto the side of the fridge, above Lucky’s painting of my red board shorts.

“No. Why?”

“No reason. And your teacher didn’t say she wanted to talk to me?”

“No. Why? I did what I was s’posed to.”

“You did, baby. You really did. It’s beautiful. Yours too, Lucky. These are really, really good. I’m proud of you.” Summer did a really good job painting a big red pen and writing out the wordsMY PEN IS BIGER THAN YORS. “Really, really proud.” I toss their empty juice boxes into the recycling bin and put their snack dishes in the sink.

“What are those flowers doing here?” Summer stares at the flowers that I put in a pitcher in the middle of the kitchen table.

“They make the kitchen more homey, don’t you think?”

“Yeah. What’s homey mean?”

“A place where you feel good and comfortable.”

“Why do they smell like that?”

“I’m not sure, buddy. To attract bees, maybe?”Why the fuck don’t I know anything?“Hey, Lucky, do me a favor and find my iPad. I think it’s in the living room. We gotta Skype with your mom before she goes to bed.”