“Coming from you, practically the same thing.”
Our food arrived, and I immediately stole a fry off Kylie’s plate, despite having a pile of my own. After our discussion about my annoyances, I couldn’t help myself. She just rolled her eyes, which was all I’d been hoping for anyway.
“How are things going with you?” Kylie asked as though she’d only just thought to inquire, which she probably had.
“Pretty good. Work’s fine. The house is fine. Everything’s fine, basically.”
“Uh huh.” Kylie’s nose wrinkled. “Can’t believe you’re still putting up with roommates. That used to drive me crazy.”
“Yes, but you’re a hermit,” I patiently explained. “Any people drive you crazy.”
“That’s not true. I just need them to not, like, be around me, is all.” Kylie waved her arms. “When I’m home, I mean. When I’m-”
“When you’ve retreated to your cave for solitude?”
“Goddammit, Ty. Now I’m a bear?”
“A hermit bear,” I confirmed. “A bear even more lonesome than the average bear. Off in your magical cave in the sky where-”
I ducked as a bit of french fry was pinged at my face with impressive accuracy. It caught me on the temple and glanced off. I grinned like the shit of a little brother I was.
“Ass,” Kylie said.
My grin broadened.
****
“Let’s get you some groceries,” I said on the walk back to Kylie’s place.
“Nah, not right now,” she said.
“You have literally no food. You should have some. Even magic hermit bears need food.”
“I want to get back to painting,” she whined.
“And you can. Right after shopping. It won’t be so bad. My car’s parked right outside your place. We’ll pick it up, throw some things in a cart, drive back, done. Easy peasy.”
“Ugh.”
“My treat?”
“You know money has nothing to do with it.”
“I do.” I shrugged. “But you never know. The offer sometimes works on you anyway.”
Kylie’s eyes narrowed. She was still silent as we approached my car. I unlocked the doors, then held the passenger side open for her. She stood indecisively for a moment.
“Fine,” she said. “But you’re not paying.”
“Excellent. I don’t have any money on me anyway.”
That was a lie, but it made Kylie roll her eyes again, and even got a baby smile out of her.
****
I felt better as Kylie and I stocked her fridge and cupboards later on. Rationally, I knew she wouldn’t actually let herself starve for the sake of finishing a painting or avoiding the outside world, but emotionally I shared some of the same concerns Mom did.
I’d already texted Mom not to worry about Kylie, that she was fine. I’d received a text back asking me to get Kylie to call her. I’d ignored it.
Kylie padded off before we’d finished putting everything away. I chased her down a few moments later, and she was already back to her painting, heedless of the potential damage to her ‘good clothes.’
“Ky, your outfit?” I reminded her.
“Oh, yeah, right.” She frowned as she noticed the same bit of green on her shoulder that I had earlier. She picked at it, but it was old and not coming off easily. “I probably need new clothes too, at some point,” she admitted.
“Well if you want-”