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“Or maybe you’re just looking for excuses to end things before someone gets too close?” I offered, my tone warm, yet serious.
I caught a glimpse of pain roll over his features before he visibly shrugged it off and deflected.
“Enough psychoanalysis, book girl. Let’s get down to you and your issues. How’s the roomie today?”
I glanced toward the door, wondering if Hayden was still in the kitchen and just how far Austin’s loud voice might carry.
“He’s… interesting. He was a complete prick last night, which is why I texted you, but today, he was actually interested in my internship and the work I’m passionate about? I dunno. Maybe he just needed the endorphins from his run this morning?—”
“Oh, Mr. Roomie is a runner? Does he only focus on leg day, or does he remember arm day too?”
I rolled my eyes widely, making sure Austin picked up on the gesture.
“So not the point, friend. In any case, I don’t know, this evening seemed different. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad sharing the space? It’s only until December anyway and it seems like his job is pretty high-level and will keep him plenty occupied.”
“Wait, what is this? You’re giving into sharing the space with him? This look of acquiescence is new on you… Do you like him? That’s new on you too. You know, in the almost two years of our friendship, I have really held up my end of the dating stories while you have lived like a nun…”
I held up a hand, trying to stop this A-train before it ran off the rails.
“Stop, stop. It’s nothing like that. It’s his brother’s place. He has a claim to it too, and his brother only said I could stay here because Margaret intervened. It’s just not my place to rock the boat. And it might be kinda nice to know someone in the city. Have someone who knows when I get home and knows where I come from and all that.”
“It might also be nice to have someone lick out the cobwebs from your …”
“Oh, look at that, Mom’s calling. Gotta go!” I interjected as my phone buzzed, the call waiting notification appearing at the top of the screen, stopping Austin from saying the rest of that sentence. Unfortunately, there was no stopping the image from popping into my mind.
“Convenient timing, Mrs. Reid,” Austin said, a devilish look on his face. “Tell her I said hi, and let me know if you need this prank document. I spent a good hour compiling it during my shift this afternoon.”
“Will do. Love you, A.”
“Love you right back, Charlie Brown.”
The smile from another one of Austin’s ridiculous nicknames faded as I clicked on the answer button for my mom’s phone call.
“Hi, Mom,”
“Charlotte, hello. I assume you got settled all right?”
I guess I had “forgotten” to call after I got all my stuff settled a few days ago.
“Yeah, Mom. I did. Sorry I didn’t call. It’s just been a busy few days figuring out my route to work, buying a Metro card, finding the store, and all that. You know how it goes.”
“A perk of never moving out of the town you were born in is you never have to worry about any of that.”
I winced. I set her up for that one.
“How’s the store?” I asked, knowing it was a double-edged sword. I wasn’t sure I really wanted to know, but I also knew it would hurt her deeply if I didn’t ask.
“Things are fine. We hired another girl to take over your shifts. The first one you trained quit. Something about the Point-of-Sale system being too hard to manage. Hopefully this new one will stick.”
“You know, if you considered one of the new POS systems I got the demos for, it might be a little more user-friendly and would allow us to take online orders and?—”
“It’s all right. It’s just for four months and then you’ll be back in time for the last few weeks of the holiday rush. We’ll stumble through until then.”
I tried to hold in a sigh as we rehashed the same conversation for the fiftieth time since I told her about the internship.
“Well, that could be true, Mom, but remember, I’m really hoping the internship will turn into a job offer, which would mean?—”
“All right, well, I’ve got to go. Mrs. Morris just walked in and needs her new Harlequin serial for the week. Talk to you soon. Stay safe.”
