Inside, James spotted Mirabella hovering at the doorway. After a quick phone chat, she hung up. He strolled over, “Why are you just standing there?”
Mirabella gave a little nod, “You looked busy.”
“Yeah, got a bunch of stuff to sort out. Not watching TV anymore?” James glanced towards the living room.
Mirabella yawned again, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She shook her head, “Nah, it’s getting late.”
James’s expression softened, and he checked the time, “I’m gonna be a while. There’s a spare room next door; you can crash there if you’re tired.”
“No can do. If I get home after ten, Zach will give me an earful.” Mirabella waved her hand and added, “You keep working. I’ll just grab a cab.”
James was momentarily at a loss for words.
First Nick, now Zach.
He rubbed his temples. “Hang on a sec.”
He ducked into the next room, came back with a thick coat, and draped it over Mirabella. “Come on, I’ll drive you home.”
Mirabella raised an eyebrow, snuggled into the coat, and followed him.
Half an hour later, Mirabella was back home.
Zach, who’d been discharged from the hospital a few days ago, was lounging in the living room. Papers were scattered all over the coffee table, and he was typing away on a laptop balanced on his knees. When he saw his sister, he set the laptop aside and checked the time, “Mirabella, you’re back a bit late.”
“Yeah, grabbed dinner with a friend,” Mirabella replied, her expression unchanged.
“What friend?” Zach took off his glasses, suspicion written all over his face. Could it be that idiot?
Mirabella shot him a sidelong glance, dodging the question, “Zach, your bones aren’t aching anymore?”
“Don’t dodge the question.” Zach was serious and wasn’t about to be distracted.
Mirabella raised an eyebrow and nodded, “Pretty much.”
“But what’s this card even for?” Zach looked it over again, finding it impressive but with no clear purpose.
“Think of it as a discount card,” Mirabella summed it up.
Hearing that, Zach realized this was exactly the kind of thing his sister would keep. He put the card back in the box, not pushing for more details.
Mirabella casually rested her hand on the back of the sofa, remembering something, she said, “You’ve been taking the meds I gave you, right?”
Zach nodded, “I remember everything you say, haven’t missed a dose.”
“Good, then rest up. I’ll give you some acupuncture in a few days,” Mirabella mentioned offhandedly.
Zach immediately looked wary, his tone shifting, “Why the needles all of a sudden?”
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