"Oh, she went for groceries and stuff," Brittany said, glancing toward the window. "The rain had let up a little now, so she'll probably be back soon."
No sooner had the words left her mouth than thunder cracked loud outside—sharp and booming, rattling the windows. The rain hammered harder against the glass, turning from a steady pour into a full downpour again, sheets of water slamming the building.
We both looked at each other, then at the storm.
"I guess Mom's gonna be late after all," she said with a small laugh, biting her lip as her eyes flicked down to the bundle of clothes I was still using to cover myself.
The air in the apartment thickened, the sound of the rain filling the silence between us.
And just like that, the plans for my shower took a very different turn.
"I should hop in the hot shower," I said, shaking water from my hair like a dog. "Don't want to catch a cold, right?"
Brittany laughed softly, nodding. "Yeah, go ahead. Towels are in the cabinet."
