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“It’s time to get your shit together, Brandt,” I muttered to myself, as I grabbed two more beers from the fridge and made my way back to Duncan’s room to put some real clothes on. I may be a guest too, but he was my brother, and I intended to make myself at home here in his place. Chinese takeout, baseball, and beers on the couch sounded like just what the doctor ordered for tonight. Dealing with the wild cat blond down the hall could wait until tomorrow. I had to admit, though, I didn’t quite feel the need to sulk any longer.
Text Interlude
Duncan (4:13 AM): H, I got your email. Fucking Bethany. I can’t believe she screwed this one up this badly.
Duncan (4:14 AM): Margaret mentioned someone from Holly Ridge needing a place to stay, so I had her go through Bethany for the details and I never heard another thing about it.
Hayden (4:15 AM): So you were fucking her when she was there?
Duncan (4:17 AM): Real mature, Hayden. You know I don’t dip my pen in the company ink… anymore.
Hayden (4:18 AM): Why are you texting and not calling me? I set an alarm for 4 am so I’d be awake.
Duncan (4:19 AM): On my way to a meeting and I’m booked in the quiet car of the train. So, the girl says she has nowhere to go?
Hayden (4:21 AM): The girl is Charlotte. And yeah, she said she’s an intern and said something about her stipend and trouble finding anything affordable… I don’t know. It was at the end of a very long day.
Duncan (4:23 AM): Got it. I can’t believe she threatened to call Margaret. This girl’s got some balls.
Hayden (4:25 AM): You’re not kidding. I thought she was going to attack me with her handbag when we *literally* ran into each other in the hallway last night. They almost retracted into my body from fear.
Duncan (4:27 AM): So, do you want me to have Bradley find you somewhere else to stay?
Hayden (4:28 AM): No way, I’m not moving AGAIN. I’ll just find a way to… convince her to leave.
Duncan (4:29 AM): If I get any sort of text, call, or carrier pigeon from Margaret, that you’ve pissed this girl off. You’re on charity committee duty for 3 months.
Hayden (4:31 AM): Charity duty? That’s for interns!
Duncan (4:33 AM): Well, you’re living with one, so you’ll be ready to get on their level. Be nice, Hayden.
Hayden (4:34 AM): *zipped lip emoji*
Charlotte (6:53 AM): I need your help to get rid of a toweled intruder in my otherwise peaceful condo.
Austin (6:54 AM): Uh, shouldn’t you call the cops for that?
Charlotte (6:59 AM): Okay, intruder isn’t quite the right word. It’s Hayden Brandt, Duncan’s brother. Apparently, there was a mix-up, and he thinks he’s staying here too. He needs to go.
Austin (7:01 AM): What are you thinking?
Charlotte (7:05 AM): I need to dig into your prankster past.
Austin (7:07 AM): Pranks and gossip. My specialty. FaceTime tonight?
Charlotte (7:09 AM): You’re the best BFF-boyfriend’s-BFF I could have ever asked for. Talk to you at 7?
Austin (7:10 AM): *Dancing Girls Emoji* *Dancing Boys Emoji*
Chapter
Four
Charlotte
I cracked open my bedroom door and peeked into the hallway. I listened hard for a moment, but didn’t hear signs of anyone moving around in the kitchen or living room. It seemed either Hayden was a late riser, or he had already left for the day. Opening the door the rest of the way, I carefully made my way to the front door, walking lightly so my shoes didn’t make any sound on the hardwood floor. Thankfully, the office had a coffee machine in the kitchen. I wasn’t ready to risk another encounter with my roomie before I had caffeine.
After the doors closed on the elevator, taking me toward day two of my internship, I breathed a sigh of relief and placed my earbuds in my ears. I was, in fact, about thirty minutes earlier than I needed to be, but I planned to use the time on the train to recenter and prepare to make today a million times better than yesterday. I wore my lucky jade wrap dress, one that managed to hug my curves, yet stay professional. The dress choice was entirely due to wanting some extra luck for a better second day, not at all in case I ran into any unexpected condo-sharers, shirtless or not, between my room and the building’s exit.
