The Heart System

Chapter 560: Chapter 560

I forced myself up from the couch and shuffled toward the kitchen. The apartment was quiet, way too quiet compared to last night. I opened one of the lower cabinets near the fridge where Minne usually kept Mik’s stuff. Sure enough, there was a big sealed bag of dry cat food sitting there, along with a small plastic scoop resting inside a container.

I grabbed the scoop, dipped it into the bag, and filled it up halfway. Didn’t want to overdo it and get lectured later. Then I crouched down and poured it into Mik’s bowl. The dry pellets rattled against the metal, instantly grabbing her attention.

She didn’t even wait. The second the food hit the bowl, she dove in like she hadn’t eaten in days.

"Yeah, yeah... you’re welcome," I mumbled, standing back up.

I placed the bag and scoop back where I found them, closed the cabinet, and made my way back to the living room. Just as I dropped myself onto the couch again, the master bedroom door creaked open.

Tessa stepped out, hair a complete mess, eyes barely open. Her phone alarm was blaring in her hand, some obnoxious tone that sounded way too energetic for this hour.

"Fuck..." she groaned, squinting at the screen as she turned it off. "Why is that so loud..."

"Morning," I said, leaning back into the couch.

"Yo," she yawned, stretching her arms above her head. "Need to feed the little fucker... oh."

She glanced toward the kitchen, then back at me.

"You already did?"

I nodded. "She woke me up and bullied me into it."

Tessa snorted. "Devious little shit."

She walked over and dropped onto the couch next to me, immediately slouching like her bones had given up.

I glanced toward the clock on the wall.

Three.

"We really woke up at three in the afternoon," I said, blinking slowly. "No work today?"

"Fuuuuck nooo..." Tessa dragged the words out, rubbing her face. "We are not going to work today. Not happening."

"Yeah, I figured," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "Guess I’ll make some breakfast or something."

Tessa immediately turned her head toward me, lifting a hand like she was stopping traffic.

"Oh, no, no, no," she said. "Absolutely not. We’re waiting for Minne."

I raised an eyebrow. "What’s wrong with me making breakfast?"

She gave me a look, then let out a short laugh. "Kim told me some wild stuff about you, Mr. Marlowe."

"What kind of stuff?"

"You remember when she got kicked out and stayed with you?" she asked.

"Yeah?"

"She said your fridge had three things in it," Tessa continued, holding up fingers as she counted. "Beer. More beer. And even more beer. Maybe a leftover pizza if you were feeling fancy."

I leaned back slightly, considering that.

"That might be accurate."

"Exactly," she said, pointing at me like she’d just proven a theory. "So yeah, no offense, but I’m trusting Minne with our lives here."

I let out a quiet chuckle, rubbing the back of my neck.

"Yeah... now that you put it like that," I admitted, "waiting for Minne sounds like the smartest move we can make."

A few minutes later, the master bedroom door creaked open and Eleanor stepped out, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. Her hair was still a little damp from the shower, strands clinging lazily to her neck. Since she hadn’t brought any spare clothes, she was wearing one of Jasmine’s outfits—a snug tank top that didn’t quite cover her midriff and a pair of hotpants that hugged her a little too well. It wasn’t intentional, probably, but the whole look had that careless, just-woke-up appeal to it.

She lingered by the doorway for a second, palms pressed over her face as if trying to wake herself up properly. Then she stretched, arms reaching above her head, and finally noticed us in the living room.

A small, sleepy smile spread across her face as she started walking over.

"Morning," she greeted, voice still thick with sleep.

"Morning," Tessa and I answered at the same time.

Tessa tilted her head slightly, eyeing her with a smirk. "Slept good? I saw you wrestling the blanket like your life depended on it. Was it that cold or what?"

Eleanor let out a quiet laugh as she dropped onto the couch beside me. "Oh... I move a lot when I sleep. Didn’t mean to steal it."

"I’m just messing with you," Tessa waved it off. "You hungry, by the way?"

Eleanor hesitated, glancing between us. "I can just go back to my place and eat there. I don’t want to overstay or be a bother."

I chuckled and leaned back. "Actually, we were about to ask if you could make us something. We’re starving, and neither of us can be trusted in a kitchen."

Tessa nodded immediately. "Yeah, we’d probably burn water somehow."

"Oh," Eleanor blinked, then smiled a bit wider. "In that case... sure. I usually just make simple sandwiches, though."

"I beg of you," Tessa leaned forward dramatically, reaching past me to place a hand on Eleanor’s shoulder. "Mrs. Eleanor. Please. Feed us."

Eleanor laughed under her breath and got up, heading toward the kitchen. Tessa followed right after her, already talking.

"Alright, so bread’s over there, fridge here, don’t mind the mess, Minne usually keeps it organized but we kinda destroyed it last night..."

Their voices blended into a casual back-and-forth as I stayed on the couch, leaning my head against the backrest. Mik was still at her bowl, munching away like nothing in the world mattered.

From where I sat, I could see into the kitchen. Eleanor moved around with an easy rhythm, opening cabinets, checking the fridge, pulling out ingredients. Tessa hovered nearby, occasionally pointing things out or just leaning against the counter and talking.

Eleanor grabbed slices of bread, laying them neatly on the counter. She opened the fridge and took out some cheese, sliced meat, and a few vegetables. Tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers. Simple stuff, but the way she handled everything made it look... organized. Efficient.

She worked quickly, layering the sandwiches one by one. Bread, cheese, meat, vegetables, then another slice on top. Tessa stole a cucumber slice at one point and got lightly smacked on the hand for it, which only made her laugh.

"Hey, quality control," Tessa defended herself.

"Sure," Eleanor replied, shaking her head with a smile.

A few minutes later, the sandwiches were done, neatly stacked on a plate. Eleanor looked around, opening a cabinet, then another.

"Do you have more bread?" she asked.

Tessa glanced over. "Uh... should be—" she checked another shelf, then paused. "...Okay, maybe not."

Eleanor frowned slightly. "I think that was the last of it."

There was a brief silence.

Then, without missing a beat, Tessa reached forward and grabbed one of the sandwiches off the plate.

"Alright," she declared. "We’re settling this the fair way. Rock, paper, scissors. Winner takes it."

I snorted from the couch. "You’re unbelievable."

Right then, the master bedroom door opened again.

Minne stepped out, still half-asleep, rubbing one eye as she walked into the living room. She barely had time to process anything before Tessa’s head snapped toward her.

"Oh... there she is."

Tessa immediately dropped the sandwiches back onto the counter and bolted toward Minne.

"I FUCKING LOVE YOU, MINNE!"

"E-Eek!"

Minne squeaked as Tessa scooped her up into a hug, lifting her off the ground like she weighed nothing. Minne’s arms flailed slightly in surprise as Tessa spun around once before carrying her straight into the kitchen.

Tessa set her down gently but kept both hands on her shoulders, leaning in with exaggerated desperation.

"Feed us, Minne. We’re starving. Like... actually dying here. Evan worked us so badly yesterday..."

Minne blinked a couple of times, clearly still waking up, then nodded quickly. "I-I can do that, of course."

Tessa let out a long, relieved breath and stepped back. "Yeah... suddenly I don’t want that sandwich anymore."

Eleanor raised an eyebrow at that, then casually picked one up and took a bite.

"So rude," she mumbled through the food, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Tessa stared at her for a second, then scoffed.

There was a brief pause. Then, almost at the same time, everyone burst out laughing. Even Minne, still a little confused, couldn’t help but smile as the room filled with the sound.

Well... at least we could start the day now.

Even though it was a little late for that.

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