“And why not?”
My jaw tightened. “Maybe because people keep interrupting me?”
Gus hesitated for a moment, then grinned through lips that were cracked and chapped. The smile he returned was crooked, like he could appreciate the jab.
“Alright, then fine,” he sighed, his eyes going over my shoulder. “Because if you were thinking of staying here—”
“Church Street.”
My landlord blinked at the interruption. “What?”
“That’s where I’m staying. I have a loft apartment on Church Street.”
His eyes narrowed again, even more than last time. “Really?” He cocked his head. “Because it’s expensive over there, no?”
“It all depends.”
“Where on Church Street?”
I opened my mouth for a second and then closed it, before shifting uncomfortably. The last thing I was doing was giving this creep my actual address.
“Did you need something?” I deflected, crossing my arms. “Because the morning’s slipping away and I was just about to get some work done.”
“We gotta talk,” said Gus.
“About what?”
“Rent.”
“But we’ve already established rent.”
“Yeahhh…” he allowed slowly. “To a degree. However—”
“And I’m paid up for the next three months,” I interjected.
Gus didn’t answer immediately. Instead he stood there, looking weird and wiry. He looked like he needed a shower. And a makeover. Or at the very least, an eyebrow trim.
Now it was my turn to frown.
“Gus, what the—”
DING!
Two people entered the shop, stopped short, and looked around. Upon seeing it utterly empty, they apologized and saw themselves out.
Now I was definitely in for some bad luck.
“Look, can we do this another time?” I snapped. “I’m not even close to set up yet. You’re costing me money.”
I think it was the last line that caused Gus to finally relent. My landlord’s shoulders slumped a little, and he shuffled back toward the doorway.
“We’ll talk about this another day then,” he said, as if the idea were somehow all his. “Soon.”
The bells jingled again noisily as he pushed his way out the door.
“Can’t wait,” I mumbled after him.
Ten