Chapter 3

After the hospital, I put some of my luggage in storage.

When I got home, Yvonne was already there.

Tony walked over like he owned the place.

"Jared, we're out of slippers. Use the disposable ones."

I looked down.

My slippers were on his feet.

Yvonne had bought them for me.

Size nine.

Tony's feet barely filled them.

They didn't fit him at all.

But he wore them around anyway.

Just to piss me off.

I looked past him.

Yvonne and her friends were gaming like they hadn't heard a thing.

I said nothing.

Just bent down and changed into the disposable slippers.

The second I stepped inside, cold air slammed into me.

My allergies flared, and I sneezed three times in a row.

Someone had dropped the thermostat from seventy-seven to sixty-four.

This time, Yvonne noticed.

She took the remote from my hand.

"Tony runs hot. He can't handle it any warmer. Just deal with it for now."

It sounded like a discussion.

But she'd already decided.

Then she turned back to her game.

Tony glanced at me, snorted, and joined them.

No one looked my way.

I stood there, completely out of place.

Like a stranger in my own home.

A shiver ran through me.

"How long am I supposed to deal with it?"

The game sounds died down.

Yvonne turned, impatience all over her face.

"Two hours max. Put on a jacket."

"I have rhinitis. I can't handle the cold air."

"That's your problem."

Her grip tightened on the controller, like she wanted to snap it in half.

The room went awkward fast.

The others traded looks and jumped in.

"Jared, why don't you hang out in the bedroom? You can change the temp in there. We're leaving soon."

"Okay."

I went to the bedroom.

The next second, laughter broke out outside.

"Why are you being nice to him? Can't you tell Yvonne doesn't care?"

"He does look kinda pathetic."

"Pathetic people usually ask for it. I hate guys like him. Always acting above everyone. But can he even leave Yvonne?"

"Exactly. Nobody knows how to crawl better than Jared. Hahaha!"

Their mockery was loud and clear.

Yvonne didn't say a word.

So she agreed.

I checked the time.

Tomorrow was Monday.

I dragged out the last of my luggage and walked out of the bedroom.

The laughter died instantly.

Yvonne's face darkened.

"Do you have to be this dramatic? All because I wouldn't let you change the temperature?"

Tony stood, eyes going red.

"My fault. Jared, you don't have to leave. I'll go."

Before he could move, Yvonne shot up.

"Don't. If he wants to leave, let him."

Even her friends looked sick of me.

"It's just an extra layer. Why make it a whole thing?"

"Does he think the whole place revolves around him?"

"No wonder he's an orphan. Anyone would get tired of that personality."

My body locked up.

I swallowed the ache in my chest and slowly turned to Yvonne.

Her face was ice-cold.

She didn't care at all.

Looking me straight in the eye, she said, "If you walk out that door, don't come back."

Even now, her first move was a threat.

I couldn't tell if I felt relieved or liberated.

A laugh slipped out.

Then I walked out.