SINFULLY YOURS

(6). Baby steps

I'm totally cramped when I wake up.

I stretch and yawn before I sit up on the couch, and I lazily gaze at the wall clock.

A little past eight in the morning.

I'm still wearing last night's dress and I have just the tiniest hint of a headache.

The delicious aroma of pancakes makes my stomach growl. I hardly cook around here. I can't cook to save my own life, and I'm too too lazy to take some classes, so I depend on take outs and the occasional homemade meal from Hazel.

She's not a perfect cook but a beggar can't be a chooser. Mia and I always gobble up everything with pure relish.

I get up from the couch and I walk into the bedroom. The bed is neatly spread but the boxes are still unpacked. Savannah just stuck them over each other in a corner.

Even with the boxes in the room, she somehow made the room very neat. The windows are open and sunlight is streaming in, and there's a faint scent of air freshener hanging about.

I get rid of my dress and I carelessly toss it in the hamper. I'm taken aback when I realize that the hamper is empty. I'm very sure it was full of dirty clothes yesterday. The cleaning lady comes in on Saturdays, and it's Saturday morning, so I'm sure she hasn't been here yet.

I head over to my closet and I pull it open.

All the clothes are clean and they're neatly arranged.

Ugh, Savannah! Why is she doing this?! I'm trying not to like her!

I blow out my breath as I step in the shower. If she's trying to win my affection, this is not the way to do it. It's not gonna work.

I change into a pair of shorts and a white tank top. I hold my hair up, then I sit down to send a text in the group chat.

R: What are you guys doing today?

"Riya? Breakfast is ready!" Savannah calls from the kitchen.

Hazel: I'm okay, thanks for asking.

I snort. Hazel is the manners detective around here.

R: Hi ma'am?

Hazel: Better. I'm going to the mall to get a dress. Wanna come?

R: What's the occasion?

Hazel: Family s**t tonight. Dad called.

Mia: Guys, I'm having lunch with Kol. Have fun at the mall.

Hazel: like a date?

R: You're gonna get yourself heartbroken.

"Riya? Come on! Breakfast is ready!"

Mia: Says the one who was crying in Reid's arms last night. What were you thinking?

R: That's the problem. I wasn't thinking at all. It was impulsive and he was saying all the things that I wanted to hear. Plus, it was just a hug.

Mia: A hug that ended with him driving you home? After he led you to the car with his arm wrapped around you to infinity?

R: I was drunk, and he didn't want me to fall over. He was being a gentleman.

Hazel: You never drink too much. And even if you did, we were there. We'd have taken you to the car. Just admit it. You found him charming.

R: HE IS NOT.

Mia: Good, because you're already screwing his brother.

R: Guys, come on. I talked to Reid for the first time last night. I'm not planning on doing that again, okay?

Mia: Be careful.

R: Will be. Have fun with Kol. I'll be waiting for the dirty details afterwards.

Mia: And I'll be waiting for a photo of the dress.

H: What time do I pick you, Riya?

R: How about right now?

Hazel: On my way.

Mia: Good day, losers.

"Riya?" Savannah calls from the doorway.

"What?"

"Are you hungry?"

"Not really."

"I made enough breakfast for two."

"I'm fine."

She shrugs.

"Fine. I'll sleep on the couch tonight."

"Why?"

"Because I know you're not comfortable with me in your bed. That's why you took the couch last night."

"You take the bed. It's fine."

"Buy why?"

"Because you're going to tell my mom that I make you sleep on the couch. When that happens, I might as well kiss my allowances goodbye."

She shrugs, almost dejectedly, then she turns and walks out of the room.

A pang of guilt slices through me.

Why am I even cold to her? She moved in with me, and that sucks, but it's not her fault. It's my mom's. That's the person I should be mad at.

I heave myself out of bed and I pick a small bag from the closet. I place my phone, earphones, sunglasses and my cards inside before I walk to the kitchen.

Savannah is tucking the food away.

I stand in the doorway for a few seconds. The kitchen is spotless clean. How does she even do that?

"Aren't you going to eat?" I ask her, and she turns to look at me.

"I'm not really hungry. I only cooked because I thought you'd want some food."

"Let's eat." I say nonchalantly while walking in. I don't know what I'm doing, but I feel like s**t when I hurt her feelings.

"You weren't hungry a minute ago."

"I am now."

She hesitates before she serves breakfast. She pulls a seat opposite me and I watch as she pours syrup on her pancakes.

She's pretty; very pretty, and she has really beautiful hair. She is quiet this morning, which I find rather odd. She's the type that's always bursting away with energy.

I feel bile rising in my throat when I imagine this could be my fault. I think she's scared of me.

Should I apologize?

Ugh!

"Um, we're going to the mall. Wanna come?"

I'll regret this later.

She looks up in surprise.

"Really?"

"Sure. You can buy a dress or two."

"I don't have much money."

"I'll pay."

Her brow creases as she carefully places her fork on her plate.

"Why are you being nice to me?"

"Look, Savannah, I'm not a good person and I don't pretend to be one. I'm only doing this because I feel terrible for being a jerk to you. You don't deserve it."

"I don't trust you. Are you bipolar?"

"Are you coming to the mall or not?"

"I could use a dress. I don't have a lot of clothes."

"Thank you, you know, for doing the laundry and cleaning the house."

"And for making you breakfast?"

"That too."

"You're letting me live here free of charge. It's the least I could do."

"I'm not letting you live here; I'm being blackmailed."

She laughs.

"You are just unbelievable. How can you be nice for like a second then slip right back into your usual self?"

"No one pays me to say nice things. What's the deal with my mother anyway?"

"She's paying my tuition fee. I didn't get the scholarship I was hoping for."

"I never imagined my Mom to be the philanthropic type."

"I was surprised too. She can't stand my mom so it was a shocker she cared at all."

"She hates your mom? Aren't they like sisters?"

"They are, but I think they have a bone to pick. My Mom tries so hard to get along with her but yours is just impossible."

"Maybe it runs in the family. History is repeating itself through us."

She smiles.

"Maybe. And you're clearly not mad about it."

Something about her smile makes me want to smile back but I hold myself. I'm not about to get attached to a family member. I am not.

"So, what does your Dad do?" I ask her as I take a small sip of my coffee. It's too strong for me but I fight the urge to spit it out.

"I've never met him, actually. He left my mom when she was pregnant. All I've seen is a photo of him."

"He's a prick for leaving her when she was expectant."

"Where's your dad?"

"Dead."

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine. I never met him anyway. He died when I was two."

"Riya? Where are you?" Hazel calls from the living room.

"In the kitchen!"

She walks in, and her face lights up when she takes in the scene.

"Wow! Look at you, seated at the island, having peaceful breakfast with a family member. How normal of you!"

"Is she being sarcastic?" Savannah asks innocently.

"She's trying to mock me."

"But why?"

"Because I don't like people, yet here I am."

"Why do you not like people?"

"Because she's a bum." Hazel offers the explanation as she walks in. She stops behind Savannah's chair and I widen my eyes when she wraps her arms around Savannah.

"You're so cute." She coos.

"Thanks, uh.."

"Hazel. You must be Savannah."

"What are you doing?" I ask Hazel, shaking my head, and she grins at me.

"Right now? I'm looking at you."

"No, before that."

"Don't be a jerk, Riya. She made you breakfast, then she somehow convinced you to sit with her and have the meal like normal cousins. I'm in love with her."

I scoff.

"She's coming with us to the mall."

"Yay! Come on girls. Let's go."

"I'll do the dishes real quick." Savannah mumbles while pushing her chair back.

I take a very deep breath.

"I'll do it."

"You'll do it? Who the hell are you and what have you done with Riya?" Hazel laughs.

"Is she that bad?" Savannah asks her, wide eyed, and Hazel nods.

"She's terrible on a good day. Come on. Get dressed."

"I think I look okay."

"I'd rather you wore something different. You'll look sourly out of place in that."

"It's not that baaaad." Hazel counters with a smile.

"You know it's terrible, but props for being polite about it." I turn back to Savannah. "Wear something different."

She looks lost for a moment before Hazel drags her out of the kitchen.

*

I'm not even surprised that Hazel gets Savannah into one of my dresses. She looks better now and a messy bun makes everything even much better. I talk her into wearing lipstick and I almost laugh at myself as we walk to Hazel's car. I didn't want to Savannah anywhere near me a few hours ago and now see how that worked out for me.

There's something about her personality that kinda draws me to her.

And the worst part is I'm not sure if I hate it.

"So, what do you think about Reid?" Hazel asks me the moment we take the freeway.

"I don't think about Reid."

She makes a face.

"You know what I mean."

"I think he's cocky and stubborn and a bit of an ass. What kind of a question is that?"

"You opened up to him five minutes after you met him. That's never happened before."

"Five minutes? It was like an hour after I met him."

"It was an hour and that solves everything, right?"

"I was kinda tipsy and he was there, trying to make me feel better. Everything just slipped out. It's not that big of a deal."

Come to think of it, what is wrong with me? People know me as the average alcoholic with a stinking attitude and a slutty reputation. Now Reid knows something that the world doesn't, and it only took him a few minutes to pull it out of me.

I didn't give him the gross details but still..

"We're here. Stop thinking about him." Hazel jokes, and that pulls a chuckle out of Savannah.

The moment we step out of the car, I slowly turn around when I feel the intensity of someone's eyes hard on me.

A middle aged guy is staring at us, and I narrow my eyes at him, my heart skipping a quick beat when I recognize him.

I nudge Hazel in the ribs.

"Hey, remember that guy?"

Both her and Savannah turn to look at him.

Hazel's eyes narrow.

"He tried to buy us champagne at the club the other night?"

"Yeah. Why is he staring at us?"

"I don't know. He probably wants to bone you."

"Riya?" Savannah's calls quietly, her hand reaching for mine. "I think that's my father."

What?!

"What?"

She shakes her head.

"I may be wrong, but I think he's an older version of the guy in the photo that my Mom showed me."

I push my bag into her hands.

"I'm gonna go have a chat with him. I'll be right back."