"Who is this Sofi?" she asked.
"She's my sister-in-law. She's an Oracle who can see the future."
"Wow, really?" Bianca asked.
"She's cool. My brother's in Europe, but she had to stay here. She and Dusty take care of me. It's really hard, and they're really good to me."
"Will I get to meet the others in your organization?"
"Yes," he said then sighed. "I'm not allowed to take you anywhere. Dusty said you're safer here than anywhere. You'll get outta here soon. Then you can meet everyone."
"I met Jenn," she said. "I really liked her."
"Jenn is so hot!" he exclaimed. "Oh my god is she hot. She's Dusty's fuck-buddy. He's got it so good."
The news startled her, and she wasn't sure why it made her feel … bummed. He looked up, a surprised expression crossing his face, as if he'd told her something he wasn't supposed to.
"It's not serious," he said. "It's just physical, because they don't have time to have real relationships."
"If he wants to have a relationship with her, it's his choice," she said with a shrug.
"I know but … just so you know, it's not a relationship. She's on fuck-buddy status."
"I don't think there's a difference."
"Oh, god, I fucked this up!"
"What? They're adults. They're allowed to do what they want."
Jenn was beautiful. It was no mystery to her why Dusty would want her, though she couldn't help but feel disappointed. Maybe she'd hoped his parting words in the morning were serious. Maybe he screwed every woman he ran across. Maybe he wasn't the kind of man who would commit or put any woman above his rigid sense of duty. Maybe every man out there was like Aaron, unable to commit to one woman.
Darian was gazing at her in earnest, torn.
"Darian, it's okay," she said, smiling at him. "You didn't say anything wrong."
"I have to go." He sprung up and grabbed the cookies. "Can you make peanut butter tomorrow?"
She nodded. He disappeared, and she stared at the place where he'd been, wondering why he was so upset with himself. Healing his scars made her feel a familiar sense of exhaustion, and she retreated to the couch in front of the TV, content to doze and recover.
Awhile later, the sound of furniture crashing against the tile floor startled her, and she sat up from where she'd been dozing in front of the TV. At first she thought it was the thunderstorm she'd fallen asleep listening to.
Dusty and Darian, both drenched and covered in what looked like seaweed, were in the foyer. Both breathed hard, and she noticed a red slash across Darian's face. He sat on the floor, hands covering his face, while Dusty stood.