“See you all tomorrow,” I say, going toward the stairs leading down to my guest room. I don’t bother turning on the lights nor do I bother getting undressed before I pass out.

When I hear little footsteps the next morning, I open one eye right before they try to shake me. “Who sent you?” I grumble, and Vivi and Franny laugh.

“Daddy said the coffee is ready,” Vivienne says, jumping up on the bed and getting under the covers with me. “Bonjour.” Good morning, she whispers in French, and I grab her around her waist and bring her to my chest. “Aunt Vivi, your breath smells.” I laugh and kiss her neck. Turning to get out of the bed, I spot Franny going through my makeup. “Don’t mix the colors like you did the last time,” I tell them and make my way to the bathroom. From the time they were little, they knew that whatever I had they could have, so they would always come and wake me up and then do their makeup. Matthew freaked the first couple of times, but now he just goes with it.

After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I make my way upstairs, and the sunlight hits me right away. “Why is it so sunny?” I ask. Walking into the kitchen, I see Matthew cooking and Karrie with her head down on the island, her hand on a coffee.

“There she is,” Matthew says with a smile, and it is more irritating that normal.

“Shut up, Matthew.” Glaring over at him, I grab a cup and fill it up with coffee, drinking it black.

“What’s up with her?” I motion with my chin.

“She hates me,” Matthew says, and Karrie grumbles in agreement, but her head doesn’t come up. “She is never drinking wine again.” He then leans in. “And I broke her vagina.”

With that, Karrie raises her head a bit. “That he did.”

I throw my head back. “God, I’m thirsty.”

“You’re drinking coffee,” Matthew says. “How can you be thirsty?”

“I just am. You can be drinking and still be thirsty,” I tell him, walking over to the stool next to Karrie. “It’s a girl thing.”

“You are probably dehydrated,” he says, turning to continue making pancakes.

“You have no idea,” I say quietly and then take a sip of coffee. Matthew finishes breakfast while Karrie just tries to lift her head.

“Karrie,” I tell her, and she looks over at me. “I’ve decided that if you die, I’m going to marry Matthew,” I tell her, and she just looks at me, her eyebrows pushing together.

“Um, thanks, I guess,” she says.

“You’re welcome,” I say to her. “Besides, you don’t want him to get with someone who will actually love him, do you?”

“True …” she starts to say.