ADDICTED

62

LEAH

"I'm gonna miss this furry fleabag."

"What?" My head snapped up from the DVD player. "She does not have fleas!"

Julia shrugged and pulled Foxy into her lap, burying her face into the feline's thick black fur.

"She may not have fleas," James declared as he entered the room, carrying a massive bowl of popcorn, "but she sheds like a fucking beast."

"That . . . is true," I ceded reluctantly. "Maybe I should invest in a Roomba? I mean, I vacuum every day but I can only outsource the fur ball gods for so long."

"Can you program the Roomba to just follow her around?" Julia asked. "If not, probs not even worth it."

I chuckled. James settled onto the couch beside his sister and stroked a hand over Foxy's spine, following up her delighted tail. She nestled into his lap.

"Hey, that's my emotional support animal," Julia protested.

"You have too many issues for a support animal," he teased.

"Nah, you're probably right. A dog would probably be better."

"Isabelle loves dogs," I added.

Julia gasped.

"Don't fuel her delusions," James chided me. "She doesn't need another thing to take care of."

The TV suddenly blared the movie intro and Foxy jumped into the air. She hissed at the TV before bolting out of the room. I slapped the mute button on the console and then cupped my aching ears.

"Sorry." Julia flashed me a meek look. "I was jamming the other day. Forgot to turn it down."

"It's fine. I can't hear anyway."

"I can!" James sputtered. "You know what, I change my mind. Go be a nuisance at your girlfriend's."

Julia pouted. She was so especially susceptible to James' antagonistic remarks, which had become more frequent recently.

His passive aggressive tendencies were to mask his concern for her leaving. They'd been through a lot together and, while they butt heads living together, I think he preferred having her around over losing her completely.

I rose to my feet and planted my hands on my hips. "This is our last night with your sister," I reminded him, arching a brow. "Be nice."

He held his chin up stubbornly. Julia groaned and threw her arms around him.

"I miss you already, you little shit," she muttered.

His posture softened. Sighing, he hugged her back.

"You're going to call me if you need anything," he grumbled.

"Yes, sir."

"And you're going to be a respectful roommate to your girlfriend."

"Yes, sir."

"And you're not going to get in trouble or go to jail."

"You're so dramatic."

"Because you've give me gray hairs."

She scoffed, throwing him off of her. "Leah, it's not too late. You can escape with me too."

I chuckled and shook my head. James stuffed his hand in the bowl of popcorn and brought a fist of fluffy popped kernels to his mouth. Julia and I both laughed at his antics.

"What are we watching?" he huffed.

"Pretty Woman." I grinned, looking between the Muller siblings.