Muttering an oath, she drew back, rubbing her bruised skin. Had she drifted that far to the right, or was this from Avery’s apartment? She would pay better attention to the tour today.

She crossed over the east side of the house. To her left was her home office, and across from it was Avery’s room. She skimmed her fingers lightly along the walls and, when she felt Avery’s doorframe, knocked. At first, she heard nothing, so she knocked harder.

“What?” The word rushed over Avery’s lips, breathless and slightly frantic.

“It’s Jordan.”

“Is everything okay?” Avery asked.

This was too much work and effort for a phone call that she once could have processed in seconds. “I received a phone call.”

“Okay, who was it?” Her voice was heavy with sleep.

“I don’t know.” Her adrenaline had ebbed, and in its wake flowed frustration. “If I knew, I wouldn’t be here. I would be in my room dealing with it.”

“Don’t get bitchy with me.”

Jordan gripped her phone. “I’m sorry. It’s just really frustrating.”

A light switch clicked. “Let me look.”

Jordan held out the phone. “And did you move a table?”

“I told you I moved some of my stuff back.”

“I wasn’t listening.”

“And you couldn’t find your cane as well?” She snatched the phone from Jordan’s grip.

“I could not.”

“Today, maybe you’ll be a better student when Sally comes by and offers helpful tips.”

Jordan gritted her teeth, resisting the urge to shout. “Can you just play back the message?”

“Because you’re going to be a better student, right?”

“When did you become such a hard-ass?” Jordan snapped.

“I remember a moment when I was doubled over with cramps while I was detoxing. I don’t remember a lot of sympathy from you.”

“I didn’t intend to lose my vision.”

“I didn’t intend to be a substance abuser.”

An edgy silence filled the space between them. Avery had moved home, and Jordan did not want them to be fighting. “You’re right. That was a shitty thing to say. I should have been nicer to you when you were using and nicer to you now.”

Avery grunted. “You’re feeling trapped right now. I know how that feels. And if you’d been nice to me two years ago, I’d be dead.”

“Which means you’re going to ride my ass until my sight comes back.”

“If it comes back, Jordan. We both heard what the doctor said.”

“I’m staying positive. He said there was a slim chance. And slim is better than none.”

“Staying sober comes with the same odds.”

“You’re beating the odds, and I’ll do the same,” Jordan said. “Now play my message.”

Avery typed in Jordan’s passcode and opened the voicemail.