"Yes, she knows. However, she doesn't know that he's been going through withdraws for the last five days and vomiting all over the damn place."
                          
Richard groans in his sleep, I grab Landon by the sleeve of his plaid shirt and pull him into the hallway.
                          
"Withdraws? From drugs?"
                          
"Yes, and alcohol."
                          
"He hasn't found your liquor yet? Or has he already consumed it?" Landon raises his brow at me.
                          
"I don't have any liquor here anymore, dick."
                          
He peers back around the corner to the sleeping man perched on my couch, "I still don't see how I fit into this."
                          
"You're going to babysit him." I inform him and he takes a step back.
                          
"No way!" He tries to whisper but it comes out much more like a hushed scream.
                          
"Chill," I pat his shoulder. "It's only for one night."
                          
"No way, I'm not staying here with him. I don't even know him."
                          
"Neither do I." I counter.
                          
"You know him better than I do, he would be your father-in-law someday if you weren't such an idiot." Landon's words hit me harder than they should. Father-in-law? The title sounds odd when repeated in my mind.
                          
"I want to see her." I plea.
                          
"Who Tess?"
                          
"Yes, Tessa." I correct him. "Who else?"
                          
"Why can't she come here? I don't think it's a good idea for me to stay with him."
                          
"Don't be such a pussy, he's not dangerous or anything." I tell my step-brother. "Just make sure he doesn't leave the apartment. There is plenty of food and water here."
                          
"He's not a dog." Landon remarks.
                          
"Might as well be at this point." I rub my temples in annoyance. "Are you going to help me or not?"
                          
He glares at me, "For Tessa?" I use her against him, knowing it will work.
                          
"One night only." He agrees and I turn from him to hide my smile.
                          
I don't know how Tessa will react to me breaking our "space" agreement, but it's only one night. One short night with her is what I need right now. I need her. Phone calls and text messages are sufficient enough during the week but I need to see her after my nightmare. I need to confirm that her body holds no marks from anyone other than myself.
                          
"Does she know you're coming?" Landon asks me.
                          
I search the floor for a t-shirt to pull over my bare torso. "She will once I arrive, won't she?"
                          
"She told me about you two on the phone."
                          
She did? "Why would she tell you about us getting off over the phone?" I wonder.
                          
"Woah! What! I wasn't...Oh God." He groans. He tries to cover his ears but it's too late. His cheeks are a deep red and my laughter fills the bedroom.
                          
"You have to be more specific when it comes to Tessa and I, don't you know that by now?" I grin, relishing in the memory of her moans coming through the line.
                          
"Apparently I don't." He scowls. "I meant that you two have been talking on the phone."
                          
"And.."
                          
"Does she seem happy to you?" He asks me and my smile disappears.
                          
"Why do you ask?"
                          
"I'm just wondering, I'm a little worried about her. She doesn't seem as excited and happy over Seattle as I assumed she would." Worry spreads over his features.