Four Fun (Four)

I go off to deliver drinks, but the next time I’m at the counter, Christine asks, “How’s your sister, by the way?” I have two sisters, but I know she’s referring to Rachel, my younger sister, who lives with our mother, and who she thinks I’m staying with. Our older sister moved across the country several years ago and hasn’t been back since.

“She’s fine, getting ready to graduate soon,” I say, feeling a pang of guilt because, with everything I’ve had going on, I haven’t checked in with her in almost a week.

“Oh, wow, that’s this year?”

I nod as I pour two glasses of soda.

“Oh, circling back to your apartment,” she says, “I wanted to mention — you should ask for your security deposit back. Maybe there’ll even be other money for tenants from the building’s insurance policy, once they sort all of that out. Did you have renters insurance?”

I shake my head. “No.”

She waves a hand. “I’m not even sure that would have applied in this situation, but you should definitely check with your rental company about what money is due back to you since the building became uninhabitable.”

“I’ll do that. Thanks. I hadn’t thought of that.”

She gives me a smile before going off to serve customers seated at the bar.

Twenty minutes later, I get a text from Jade asking me to call her when I can. I step outside to phone her during my break, expecting that she wants to make arrangements to pick up our furniture and other belongings from the apartment, or talk about new rental options, but instead, she breaks some news.

“I hope this won’t cause any problems,” she says, “but Justin has invited me to move in with him … permanently.”

I’m stunned into silence. I never imagined Justin would be ready for that kind of commitment, and honestly, I think Jade can do much better than him, but she sounds so excited that I wouldn’t dare voice any concerns, or let her know how her move affects me.

“That’s great!” I say, proud at the amount of enthusiasm I muster.

“Are you sure? What will you do? Will you be okay finding a place on your own?”

I’ll have to be. “Of course. Don’t worry about me.”

“I can help you look for an apartment, if you want, and Justin and I will definitely help you move, when you find a new place.”

“Jade, it’s fine.” She’s trying to compensate for feeling guilty, but there’s no reason for her to feel bad. It’s not as if I thought we’d live together forever. “I need to get back to work, but let’s talk tomorrow.”

“Okay,” she says. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

20

Let’s play truth or dare

Despite the busy start to the night, business slows down dramatically after my break when it starts raining outside. It’s not a torrential downpour like the storm the other night, but apparently it’s enough to keep some people home. Things get so slow that Valerie, the manager, sends me home early.

Still, it’s after eleven when I get to the house in Whitman. My drive was slow, thanks to the rain, which seems to be the steady kind that’s going to settle in for days. I also had to pull over at one point to deal with a long, irritating text message.

Since I have a key to the men’s house and can let myself in, I wonder if they’ll be in bed, but they’re all still up, watching TV, eating pizza, and drinking beer.

After a quick shower, I put on shorts and a tank top and come back downstairs to join them. Khalil gives me a look, the kind of look that does things to my insides, but he otherwise acts normal.

“Want some pizza?” Devin asks. “We saved a few slices for you.”

I wave it away. “No, thanks, but I would love a beer, if you have any of those left.” I make a mental note to buy a case of their preferred brand of beer. If they’re not going to accept rent money, I’m definitely going to find a way to repay their generosity.

Money concerns, family issues, and worries about my living situation have been swirling around my mind, resulting in a steady gnaw of stress that definitely calls for a beer. I’d ask for something harder if I wasn’t trying to be a considerate guest.

“We heard you were cleaning the house today,” Shane says as Devin twists open a bottle and hands it to me. “Don’t do that.”

I’m hit with a couple of new worries. Does he think I was snooping? I almost felt like I was, even though I swear that wasn’t my intention. It must have been Khalil who told him, and I can’t help but wonder what else Khalil said about finding me.

“Cleaners come twice a month,” Shane says, his tone firm. “You don’t owe us any favors for staying here. We have plenty of space.”