Page 14 of Playing With Fire

“Love you too, Laney Bug.”

I hang up before she can ask another question. After flipping on the game, I reach for my laptop and start searching for places. Suddenly homelessness feels slightly more terrifying than ghosts.

I lose track of time, viewing listing after listing, and still nothing. My room now smells like sesame chicken, hotel detergent, and despair.

A horn blares from the television.

I glance up just in time to catch a flash of green and black celebrating against the glass.

Bishop.

Of course.

His helmet is pushed back enough that a few damp blond strands curl against his forehead, that stupid grin stretched across his face while one of his teammates grabs him around the shoulders.

The announcer is going on about a perfect feed from the Phoenixes’ captain.

“Nobody asked.” I point a chopstick at the television and turn the volume down. “And nobody cares.” I drop the sticks into the takeout carton and keep my hopeless search for an apartment going.

My shoulders ache; my laptop screen glows, mocking me from the bed, twelve tabs open across the top.

Hotel. No availability.

Hotel. More money than my first car.

Short-term rental. No pets.

Another hotel. I start at the nightly rate and nearly choke on my pop.

Apartment. Available in November.

My fortune cookie sits cracked open beside my elbow.

I pick up the tiny strip of paper.

WHAT YOU’RE SEARCHING FOR MAY BE CLOSER THAN YOU THINK.

Hilarious.

“Read the room.” I flick the fortune onto the nightstand.

My phone pings with a missed text.

Declan: How’s it going? Mom says your location is off.

Me: Seriously? You just got your ass handed to you by Chicago, and you’re worried about my Life 360?

Declan: …

Dots dancing and then nothing.

If I didn’t know my brother better, I might think I had hurt his feelings. But it takes a lot more than a little chirping to rattle him.

I hit call.

He finally answers on the fourth ring, sighing.

“Okay, before you freak out, everything is fine.” I tuck the phone between my shoulder and ear and shove the takeout container aside.