"Emma, can you take Chase to school today?" mom asked. Half awake, I snuggled tighter in a ball beneath the comforters. "I have an appointment two towns away and they are one of our most valuable clients," I muttered incoherent words that I couldn't even comprehend. It was probably something along the lines of "Fine" and "Whatever" and "Go away." "Great! I'm heading out. Smooches!"
Seconds later, I was smacking my alarm off when it buzzed, falling back to sleep comfortably. Then Chase ran in, vexing me when he jumped on my bed. "Make me pancakes!" he demanded, pressing his weight on me. I turned over to push him off tiredly and he accidentally jammed his elbow in my stomach. The muscles in my jaw tightened and a sour liquid coated my tongues like a red carpet for the vomit arising. "Pan—w
