The Heart System

Chapter 927: Chapter 927

It seemed like Kayla would be staying with us longer. Her landlord had called earlier to tell her the infestation was far worse than they first thought. The previous tenant who kept an ant colony had lied to the authorities. There weren’t just a few colonies, there were enough ants to fill an entire room. The crazy bastard had bought more insects than anyone realized. The building was going to need serious treatment, and the timeline kept getting pushed back.

I opened the balcony door and stepped out. Kayla was sitting on one of the sunbeds, just looking at the city. Even though the balcony was enclosed, the air was freezing. She had pulled on a long hoodie and a pair of thick socks Nala had lent her.

Yesterday with her had been intense. Really intense. I wanted her to stay here... actually live with us. I just hoped she was starting to feel the same way.

"Hey," I said, sliding the glass door shut behind me.

She glanced back. "Oh, hey, Evan."

I walked over to the other sunbed and sat down. She was facing the front glass, watching the rain hammer the city. I sat sideways so I could look at her, hands linked loosely between my knees. She looked sad. The bad news about her apartment was clearly sitting heavy on her.

"Wanna talk?"

She took a deep breath, held it, then puffed her cheeks and let it out. "Ah... I don’t know. I just..."

She rubbed the back of her head and leaned back against the sunbed. I mirrored her, lying down on my own sunbed so we were both facing the rain-streaked glass. She stayed quiet for a while, eyes distant. The mood around her was heavy.

"My mother and I used to fight," she said finally. "I didn’t move out until I was eighteen. She’d always nag me. Calling me a freeloader, saying I should move out. That I was an adult, blah blah."

"Eighteen?" I said. "That sucks, Kayla. Moving out in this economy... nah."

"She didn’t care." Kayla shrugged. "So I... just couldn’t help but think of myself as a freeloader. Like I was living there for free and taking advantage."

"That’s not true."

"Well, it felt true to me when I still lived there. So I moved out as soon as I could and never looked back." She exhaled slowly. "And now... once again, I feel like a freeloader."

I turned my head on the sunbed to look at her properly.

"You’re not a freeloader, Kayla. Not even a little bit."

She gave a small, tired smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "I’m sleeping in your place, eating your food, using your stuff. My apartment is unlivable and I have nowhere else to go right now. That kind of makes me one."

"No," I said, firmer this time. "That’s not how this works. You’re here because we want you here. There’s a difference. A big one."

She stayed quiet, staring out at the rain.

"I’ve been thinking about it since yesterday," I continued. "Not just because of the ants. I already wanted you to stay longer before that call even came. The infestation just made the timing obvious. You don’t have to rush back the second the building is cleared. You can stay. Actually stay."

Kayla’s brow furrowed a little. "Evan..."

"I’m serious. We’ve got the space. You’re not in the way. You’re not taking anything from anyone. If anything, the place feels better with you in it." I shifted so I was propped on one elbow, still facing her. "You’re not eighteen anymore, and this isn’t your mother’s house. No one here is keeping score or waiting for you to leave. You’re allowed to accept help without turning it into some kind of debt."

She let out a short breath that was almost a laugh. "You make it sound so simple."

"Because it is simple. You need a place. We have a place. And more importantly, we want you in it. That’s it. No hidden conditions."

The balcony door slid open behind us. Tessa stepped out, wrapped in a thick cardigan, hair still a little messy from being indoors. She took one look at the two of us and raised an eyebrow.

"What’s going on out here? You both look like someone died."

"Kayla’s landlord called," I said. "The ant situation is worse than they thought. She’s going to be stuck without her apartment for a while longer."

Tessa walked over and sat on the edge of the sunbed near Kayla’s feet, pulling her cardigan tighter against the cold. "That sucks. How much longer?"

"They don’t even know yet," Kayla muttered. "Could be weeks."

"Then stay here," Tessa said immediately, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "We’ve got rooms. You’ve already been here. What’s the problem?"

Kayla looked between the two of us. "I just... I don’t want to overstay. Or make things weird. Or feel like I’m taking advantage."

Tessa snorted. "Bitch, please. Shut your mouth. You’re welcomed here."

I nodded. "She’s right. You’re not imposing. If anything, I’m the one who’s been hoping you’d stay longer. Yesterday wasn’t just... fun. I meant it when I said I like having you around. Not for a night. Longer."

Kayla’s eyes flicked to me, then away again toward the rain. She pulled the sleeves of the hoodie over her hands.

Tessa softened a little. "Look. I get the freeloader feeling. I used to get it too whenever I stayed somewhere that wasn’t mine. But this isn’t that. No one here is keeping a tally of how many meals you’ve eaten or how many nights you’ve slept over. We like you. We want you here. That’s the whole reason the offer exists."

I reached over and rested a hand lightly on Kayla’s ankle, just above the thick sock. "You don’t have to decide everything tonight. But I want you to stop carrying this idea that you’re somehow burdening us. You’re not. You’re wanted. And if the ant situation gives us an excuse to make it official for a while, I’m taking it."

Tessa nodded. "Same. Stay. Use Minne’s old room, or crash with Evan, or float between couches, I dunno girl. Just stop thinking you have to earn the right to be here. You already have it."