71. Chapter Seventy-One

Chapter Seventy-One

Beth

C atherine comes home a little later than usual, while I'm using her exercise bike on the living room rug. Turns out, when I've got nothing to do and I don't want to think about things, cycling helps. I stop and turn it off, wiping the back of my hand across my brow and wincing at the sweat I pick up.

"I'm home!" Catherine calls out. "I got groceries so I can make you a burger or something."

I climb off the bike and move to the living room doorway. "That sounds good."

"I thought it might," she admits. "Did you know there's an undercover cop pacing around this floor? I asked what he was doing, but he said he couldn't talk about it."

"That's weird," I tell her, avoiding the question.

"Isn't it? I hope we don't have a drug dealer living here or something. I'd hate to have to move, but if it's not safe …"

"I'm sure it's fine. It's probably a white-collar criminal thing if it's just one guy."

She nods slowly. "You, know, that's a good point."

I follow her into the kitchen. "So, you're going to cook burgers tonight?"

"That's not what I said," she says with a laugh. "I said I'll cook you a burger, if you want one."

"Damn," I murmur. "Where's the sister who used to share a bag of MnM's with me whenever she came to visit?"

She puts the grocery bag down and puts her hand inside, bringing out a sharing bag of MnM's.

"Tada!" she exclaims, passing it to me.

"This is awesome. You're going to share these with me?"

"After dinner," she says. "We can watch a movie like we used to, too."

"Awesome." I put the MnM's down on the table. "I'll just need to put the bike away and grab a shower."

"I thought I heard you cycling when I came in. It's a fun work out, right?"

"I wouldn't go that far."

She laughs. "So, you want the burger?"

"Sure."

"With salad on the side?"

"Not my first choice but I'll take it."

"Great. You go shower while I cook."

I put the bike away carefully first, making sure I don't scrape her floor.

Then, I step into the bathroom and close the door behind me.

At least my night will go fast now.

I won't have time to think about tomorrow.

It'll do me good to clear my head before then.