"I'm the one who was in the hospital bed. Why do you look like shit?" Nina says.

I can't help but smile. There are plenty of reasons for me to look like shit and all of them are applicable at the moment.

When Nina settles on the living room couch, I go to the kitchen and put down some water to boil. While it's heating up I send an email to my roommate to say I'm extending my stay here.

I came to see my sick grandma. Thankfully, my grandma's condition has improved. But I've found myself another patient now. I don't want to leave Nina in her condition.

Once I'd finished the renovation in the bedroom and kitchen I've been staying in my parents' second home. I've moved Nina in with me now.

Helping me with the renovation will keep her busy, away from the drugs, and I'm happy to score some free labour any time.

————

I pull out the broken roof tiles and throw them to Nina. She crushes them to pieces and put them on a pile. I'll later use them for laying the floor on the backyard.

"Still need my help with the roof?" We hear Perry's voice say. When I look at Perry she lifts up the pizza boxes in her hand as the peace offering.

The last time I saw her I walked away from the drama on her birthday party, after she refused to break up with my brother.

There's no point in being angry at her. Plus, she has brought pizza.

I climb down and join the girls for a quick bite. "I shouldn't have brought you into my problem with your brother," Perry says as she puts down her half eaten slice.

"There's only so much you can bear alone," I tell her.

"But seriously, why don't you just leave him?" Nina asks her.

Perry says, "I tried a couple of times. But I couldn't stay away from him. I know it sounds silly after everything he'd done but I still love him."

"It's not silly," Nina says, "it's sad."

I agree. "Do you think my brother will change after he permanently mates with you?"

Perry nods. "Isn't that how it usually happens?" she says.

Our understanding of the final mating, when the man marks her woman, is that after it the mates won't feel attracted to anyone else but each other.

But whether that's true or not, we can only know when we've mated ourselves. So far, we've never heard of infidelity among permanently mated pairs.

But I wouldn't be surprised if my brother becomes an exception.

And speaking of the devil, my phone rings with the devil's name displayed across the screen. I take Rick's call and listen to him.

When the call is over, I hastily get up and tell the girls I need to leave. Worried, they ask me why. I assure them I'll tell them later and waste no time to drive out.