“So, is everything really gone?” Lucy asked. “Owen and I drove by earlier and it looked pretty bad.”
“It’s all gone.” Nora nodded solemnly. “I literally ran out with the clothes on my back. I didn’t even have shoes.”
Lucy winced. “Theo said you were lucky to get out before the roof collapsed.” Then turning to me, my sister added, “You’re crazy to run into a burning building, by the way. But I’m so thankful you got Nora out and you’re both safe.”
“I’m glad I got there, too,” I said, swiveling in my seat to face them better now that I was invited into the conversation instead of simply eavesdropping.
“Did you buy this today?” Lucy looked back at Nora, reaching for the flowing skirt of her dress.
“Theo actually let me borrow it from Alisha’s things.” Nora tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze flicking briefly to mine.
Lucy went still for half a second. Then searching my face, she gently said, “That’s really sweet of you, Theo,” like she thought I might break.
“I was glad there was something in there that she liked,” I said with a shrug, trying to make it sound like it hadn’t required more thought than it had.
Was it strange seeing Nora in something Alisha had once worn? A little.
But I couldn’t even remember when Alisha had worn this dress. It wasn’t tied to any core memories of our time together. So, if it was going to sit untouched in a closet… someone might as well show it some love.
“I see your dress survived, though,” Nora said, making a show of eyeing Lucy’s pink gown.
“Yeah…” Lucy admitted, looking faintly guilty. “I brought it to Owen’s house yesterday when I decided to stay over.”
“Lucky you,” Nora teased. “I bet you even had all your makeup and hair stuff with you, too.”
“I did.” Lucy scrunched her nose guiltily.
“And your phone. And wallet,” Nora continued lightly. “Oh, and not to mention your car keys.”
Lucy frowned. “You didn’t grab any of those things on your way out?”
“There was no time.” Nora shook her head. “As soon as I realized what was happening, I just ran.”
“Geez.” Lucy exhaled. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Nora’s eyes drifted to me again, softer this time. “Theo helped me get most of the necessities this afternoon. So now the only really pressing things on my to-do list are replacing my license and ordering a new key for my Jeep.”
“If only we’d thought about getting renters insurance when we moved in,” Lucy muttered.
“I know, right?” Nora said. “That would have saved your brother a lot of money.”
“My brother?” Lucy looked back at me with curiosity in her blue eyes.
“He pretty much paid for everything I got today,” Nora said, her smile sweet when she looked at me. “Whipped his Black Amex out every time I tried to bring up my digital wallet.”
“Well.” Lucy’s brows lifted slowly. “Isn’t that nice.” Then turning to look sweetly back at me, she said, “How do you feel about taking me shopping next, big bro? You know that gymnastics camp isn’t exactly funding my designer dreams.”
“How about I just transfer some money to you instead?” I huffed a laugh. “I don’t think I have the stamina to wait forty-five minutes for you to debate the various pros and cons of identical pairs of socks.”
“But you didn’t seem to mind shopping with Nora.” Lucytilted her head, narrowing her eyes on me like she was putting together some clues I’d rather she didn’t pick up on. “Why is shopping with her better than shopping with me?”
“Nora knew what she needed,” I said evenly, keeping my expression as neutral as I could. “We were in and out.” I snapped my fingers once. “Efficient.”
“Is that so?” Lucy asked, glancing between Nora and me like she suspected there was more to that story.
“Plus, Charlotte will be back tomorrow,” I added with what I hoped looked like a nonchalant shrug. “So I won’t exactly have time for shopping after that.”
Translation: Please just drop it.