By the time their shuttle pulled into Sandpiper Park, Jenna had a whole page of notes on places to visit in Miami.
“Alright, Sandpiper folks, off you trot. Don’t forget any bags you may have stashed under the bus.”
Grayson filed off the vehicle with his four new companions and helped Jenna extract her overstuffed suitcase.
“What the hell did you pack?” he wheezed, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead.
“I told you. One million bath bombs.”
With a final wave, Jaime got back on the shuttle and left them to their new home.
Sandpiper Park was a little complex of four buildings, each only seven floors high. The outside was coated in smooth, cream stucco, and each apartment had a wide balcony with artistic, pale blue railings. The Earth palm trees that swayed in the courtyard were off-puttingly green against the lavender grass.
“Damn.” Tara whistled. “This place is fancy. Which building are you guys in?”
Grayson squinted at his phone, the screen dim in the bright sun. “Looks like… Building A?”
“I’m in B.” Jenna peered up at the buildings. “Oh, it’s that one, to the left. Anyone else in B?”
Jaeyong raised his hand, and the pair of them started off across the vibrant courtyard.
Tara waved and disappeared through the nearby entrance to building C.
“I’m in A, too,” Aureliano said. “C’mon.” With the extroverted girls gone, silence fell.
“What floor are you on?” Grayson asked, unable to think of anything more interesting to say.
“Sixth. You?”
“Oh yeah, me too. I’m 604.”
“602. Guess we’re neighbors. “A small smile cracked through the solemn exterior of Aureliano’s face.
Grayson was quick to return it. “This is all so different from home. I don’t even know where to go grocery shopping.”
Aureliano laughed. “Me too. Small town boy through and through. Maybe we could go out and get the lay of the land after we’ve unpacked a few things? Maybe grab dinner?”
“That would be amazing.” Grayson held out his phone. “Can I get your number?”
“Sure thing.” Aureliano tapped his number into the new contact field. “You can call me Aureli, by the way. Full name is a mouthful.”
Grayson chuckled. The small lobby area on the first floor was paneled with whitewashed wood, and little potted plants lined the window sills. Already, it felt more like home than the run-down cabin he’d grown up in.
The elevator’s gleaming doors opened on the sixth floor, revealing terra cotta tiles and vibrant yellow walls.
“Woah,” Aureli said, tugging his suitcase over the little gap. “This looks like my abuela’s house.”
There were only four doors on the entire floor, and the short hallway ended in a floor to ceiling window. Just beyond the coastal road, Grayson could see the ocean shimmering under afternoon sunshine.
“This is nothing like my family’s home,” he muttered. His apartment was on the left, with odd numbered units on the right.
Aureli offered a half wave. “Good luck settling in, see you in a few hours.”
“You too.” Grayson slid the keypad open and punched in the default code. He paused to take a slow breath before pushing the door open.
Sunlight streamed into the apartment from the sliding glass door beyond the living area. The floors were smooth, glossy tile with a faux wood grain, though the center of the living room was set apart by a blue rug.
Grayson didn’t dare blink as he slipped inside. The door swung shut behind him and beeped a cheery tune as the lock clicked back into place. There were pale wood cabinets and a matching door on either side of the entryway—storage and a coat closet. When Grayson rounded the corner, a beautiful kitchen came into view. A long, slender island separated the living and walking space from the polished granite counters and gleaming appliances. Everything was done in pale cream hues, amplifying the natural light pouring in.
