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"What?" I ask.

Her face scrunches slightly. "Maybe we can stop at the house first? Since you don't have meetings?"

"Okay," I say, my brow creased.

She looks back out the window, her shoulders falling from her ears. "I think we should talk to Mom about everything. Just in case."

I try to hide my surprise as her eyes flick toward me before darting away again.

"Yeah," I say, only she isn't looking. Maybe she doesn't need a response.

I continue anyway.

"Yeah, V. We can do that."

2

Lenny

"Ihave a surprise for you, Lenora. You're gonna be so excited, Lenora. Just wait until you see the placement I got you, Lenora."

I scoff, rolling my eyes as I drop the last of my bags onto the floor. "Yeah, thanks, Kent." My gaze wanders over my new, and thankfully fully furnished, apartment as I huff out a breath. "What a dream."

Stepping through the entryway over oak floorboards that are expensive enough laminate to almost pass as real hardwood, I scan my new kitchen. It's compact but functional—off-white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, a small island long enough for two stools.

Plenty big for just me.

And way more than I need considering how little time I plan to spend cooking.

Thank you, hospital cafeteria food.

I drag my hand across the grey-speckled countertop before spinning around to take in the living space. The couch is fine—big enough to fall asleep on during a post-shift episode of Alone, but not soft enough to wake up there hours later after watching a grown man pick ants off a log for "protein."

There's a TV, a coffee table, an area rug I'll somehow have to keep white, and a bookshelf shoved into the corner that might be nice for another renter planning to stay long enough to fill it.

I contemplate plopping down on the sofa in lieu of unpacking. My two suitcases, one duffle, and half a backpack—most of its contents spilled in my trunk and are now destined to stay there—are breaking all sorts of fire codes stacked in front of my door. But when I reach behind me to slide my phone out of my back pocket so I don't sit on it, I realize it's not there.

"Shit," I mumble, assuming this city is already distracting me enough that I left it in the center console of my car.

I make my way over to the still-unzipped backpack, peeking toward the hallway I haven't explored yet that leads to my bedroom for the next six weeks. Once I get there, I'm surprised—both to find my phone tossed casually inside and to see three back-to-back missed calls.

My siblings.

I exhale heavier than I should, considering I really do love my older sister and two older brothers.

The thing is… this is just the beginning.

I've had about three years to get used to having physical distance between us. Not that I necessarily wanted it—though I found out quickly I don't mind a little breathing room. I needed space to fly on my own for once.

And to be away from home.

Scrolling through the notifications, I tap my sister Bridget's name and hit send.

"Ha! I knew it!" she squeals after only one ring.

I wince, pulling the phone slightly away from my ear, not surprised I can still hear the groaning in the background.

"What the hell, Nora?"