"No. Dad was out during the day, visiting friends." She rolls her eyes on the word "friends." "Mom got drunk early and went to nap and never really woke up. Weird night." She's lying but I don't know why. She's been so weird this last year, acting like someone I don't think I know. And the worst part is I can't be sure if this is the real Sami and she's been hiding it all her life, or this is some act or crisis.

"Did you see Matt?" He's the addition to her life I worry about the most.

"Matt." Her eyes widen. "Uh yeah," she whispers again.

He's a terrible combination of Brady and Sami. Rich and dirty. I don't even understand how he and Brady are friends. The only time I ever really see Matt is when there's something going on and Sami invites him to hang out. He and Sami's relationship is strange and still referred to as a thing. It's noncommittal and yet strangely monogamous on her part. I doubt on his part though. She's far more into him than he is her. Every time we're all together, her feelings are obvious. And Brady let it slip once that Matt had done something with some PF at a party Brady was at, and it got back to Sami. I don't know if it's true or not. Brady pretends like he doesn't know what I'm talking about when I bring it up and Sami hasn't ever told me. But if it is, I will hate him forever.

"Is he with you now?" Is that why she's whispering or did he make her cry?

She presses her lips together briefly, before she answers, "Yeah. He's sleeping on the sofa."

"He came to be with you for Christmas?" He doesn't strike me as a Christmas-loving guy. He's always so casual with her. I don't know that he's capable of anything else.

"No. I sort of came to see him."

"Are you in London?" My insides tighten and I forget about the key in my pocket.

"Dude, what is this, an inquisition? Yeah. I'm in London. It's one in the morning. I'm tired, and I just watched a sad movie with my maid while Matt slept on the couch next to me. Why are you being so weird?" She scowls.


      
        
          
        
         

"You don't cry over movies."

"Well, I did this year, okay? It's a Christmas-fucking-Miracle. Are you okay? You're being weird."

"Yeah." I believe her for the first time since the phone call started and remember why I called. I reach my fingers into the pocket and pull the key out. "My Christmas gift." I hold the key up so she can see it but the delivery of the surprise seems ruined.

"Bro." Her eyes widen. "Did he buy you a house?"

"No." I laugh. Her gift expectations are so unreal. "He got an apartment and asked me to live with him and I get to have a games room."

"A I'm really happy for you. That's the best news." Her expression of true and actual joy flashes across her face, lasting a second before it turns to a wicked grin. "How did Darlene take the news?" She cackles.

"I haven't told her yet." I wince.

"Chickenshit."

"Whatever." I lift a middle finger. "I don't want her drama to ruin Christmas. Brady's mom is so nice and the sister-in-law is pregnant and about to pop. The stress would be bad for her."

"Wow, you have really thought out your reasons to avoid telling her. Nice."

"Do they sound reasonable?" Worry floods me.

"They are absolutely reasonable. Your mom's insane. Her meddling is beyond. This is your only hope. And in fact, I wouldn't even tell her when you move. Just act like you're still at my place and then lie about us getting into it, and you had to get away from me." She knows my mom too well.

"Yeah. That's a good plan. She's so crazy and her freaking out needs to be kept from Brady and his family for as long as possible. All I can do is hope she will try to act like an adult when I tell her, safely from my phone when I'm back in Manhattan and completely moved in. Maybe in a year from now."

"When are you guys back home?" She yawns, covering her mouth. A giant diamond ring flashes across the screen, the light hitting it and nearly blinding me with the glint.

"WHAT IS THAT?" I scream.

She freezes, dropping the hand mid yawn.