It won’t be better tomorrow, but I love that she looks at things that way. We cross the street to our apartment building, and a song about how the sun’s coming out tomorrow from Annie plays in my head.

“So you don’t think I’m losing it?” I open the door for her.

“Nope.” She smiles, wiping under her eyes, and we both walk in.

Brody’s asleep with the TV on. I don’t bother turning it off and walk into my room, kick off my heels, and drop into bed, hoping the sun truly does come out tomorrow.

Chapter Thirty-One

RAVEN

What is that noise? I roll over and sit up. It sounds like the upstairs is coming down on us.

“Brody? Cher?” I call out. A loud groan comes from Cher’s room, but nothing else.

“Are we having an earthquake?” Cher yells.

Leaving my room, I walk out to find Brody.

“No, I think it’s construction.” Moving to the window, I look down at a bunch of workers coming in and out of the building.

“Did we get a notice that the building is getting a makeover?” I call out. Looking out the window, I spot Brody crossing the street with coffee cups and a bag. Thank God for him.

Cher stumbles out, still in her clothes from last night also, looking like Spot the dog with one eye covered in mascara.

“Is that a jackhammer I hear?” She points to the ceiling.

We’re a fucking mess, and I let out a snort. “Yep.”

Cher is the worst morning person. “Well, we’re moving if this carries on.” She huffs and rubs her head.

Brody walks in. “What happened to you two?” He looks from me to Cher. “Rough night?” He laughs, dropping the bag from under his arm, then handing us each a coffee.

“You could say that.” Cher yawns.

Brody grins and leans against the counter. I’m still amazed at what sun can do for a person. He looks like a different man. His hair is growing out, and now that he’s doing yoga on the beach, he’s kind of got the lean surfer-slash-hip-professor thing going on.

If only I could fall back in love with him. Not that I was ever truly in love with him. It would be so much easier though. No more pain, just a mutual respect for each other.

“So.” He takes a sip of his coffee and motions with his eyes to the ceiling. “The building got bought by a rich American. He’s redoing all of it, apparently, starting with the upstairs, because he paid all four of the upstairs tenants a ton of money to move.”

I choke on my coffee. “What?”

Brody reaches for my arms and says, “Raise them over your head,” as if I’m a toddler choking on a toy.