Laughing, she swung around and sat back in the seat. “I love that you still call me that.”
I grinned. “Well, you were a hellion, what was I supposed to call you?”
* * *
Violet stoodoff to one side of the door, smiling and waiting. I toyed with the key, and finally slid it into the door. I’d stood staring at the apartment door for a good five minutes, seeing my name, Mel’s name, and David’s name on the plaque next to it.
“It’s a brownstone,” I whispered, pushing the door open. “I can’t believe they rented a brownstone.”
“You said you approved the price.” She raised her eyebrows.
“I did. It’s…well in my budget.” I turned and stared at her. “Jesus, Vi. I can afford something like Taylor has if I wanted. This is mind blowing—I used to live in old subway tunnels just north and west of here. Now I can buy an apartment in one of the most famous buildings in New York.”
She patted my hand, then motioned for me to open the door. “Go on. Let’s see how your friend did.”
I pushed the door open into the apartment.
Immediately on the right was a full bath and as we walked in was the small, but well thought out kitchen. We walked into the living room just ahead and discovered there was a sliding door at the back to a back garden.
“A garden?!” I yelled.
“A garden,” Mel said, appearing on the stairs on the left.
“Stairs?!” I yelled again.
“Two floors,” David said, peeking out from behind him. “Our bedroom is down there, yours is straight back. And our new guest has one downstairs with us. It’s long and skinny, but Ikea has some awesome loft beds to make the most use of it.”
“Is it here? With my brother in Manhattan?” Violet put her hands on her hips. “It could be a cupboard under the stairs, for all I care.”
“Potterhead!” David laughed and pushed his mountain of a boyfriend out of the way. “Hi. I’m David.”
Violet held her hand out and introduced herself while I walked further into the apartment. There was a clever table bolted to the wall, that folded out for meals. There was enough room for a couch, a loveseat, and a chair. Next to the sliding door was another door, and I pushed it open into a mostly naked room, save a wrapped mattress and box spring up against the wall.
I looked out the window and was amazed by the size of the garden we had. There was a patio at the door, covered with a simple roof with two sunlights, then a big grassy area, and a raised bed along the side for vegetables.
“We can grow food in the middle of New York City,” Violet smiled and hugged me. “Thank you for not making me stay there.”
“Of course,” I answered.
“Come on, Vi,” David called from the top of the stairs. “Lemme show you the shoe box.”
She traipsed over to where he had disappeared down the stairs, and followed. Mel walked over to stand next to me at the window. “Did we do well?”
“Hell yes, Melvin. You did amazing. You really did,” I smiled. “I’m so glad you did. We can use the patio through most of the spring and fall and we can have a barbeque with everyone.”
He slapped a hand on my shoulder. “Thanks for letting us tag along, Aaron. I didn’t know how to get us a place without breaking the bank and I was sure we were going to end up in Poughkeepsie and commuting every day.”
“I thought that we would too,” I admitted.
“Are you still thinking about PhD programs?”
I stared out at the green lawn that was ours to walk on. “I’m…not. I’ve got a good thing with the guys, and I don’t see why I can’t ride this. I love my chemistry, but the chance to make music at this level is all new and so different from sitting in band or orchestra. I like it. I like being on stage. I can’t wait to cut the album.”
“I am so glad to hear that.” Mel grinned. “Also, hearing Maddox call you his boyfriend? That was kind of awesome.”
“Felt kind of awesome, too.” I smirked to myself, but I changed the subject. “I’m going to need yours and David’s help. Violet is pretty messed up about what happened with her and our parents. She’s going to intensive therapy starting in three days. Every day, until the therapist feels like she can start cutting back. When I can’t be here, I want someone to keep an eye on her. Obviously, we can’t all be here all the time, but I’d like to not leave her alone too long.”
“You don’t even have to ask, man. Of course we’re going to take care of her.”
