Her icy exterior thaws the smallest amount. “Is everything okay?”
I nod but it morphs into an unsure tilt of my head as I grimace. “I’m figuring it out.”
Lexi comes bounding into the store from somewhere in the back. There are a few books in her arms but she drops them at the register and walks toward us.
“Hey, Liam,” she greets. “Took you long enough to show up.”
Calypso rolls her eyes. “He was about to tell me why before you interrupted.”
Instead of giving us space, as Calypso most likely meant, Lexi hops onto the counter and grabs the iced strawberry matcha waiting for her. “Let’s hear it.”
I ignore her and turn back to Calypso. “I have forty-eight hours to move out of my apartment, but I’m not staying for another night.”
I don’t care if aspergillus isn’tthatserious, or hasn’t shown signs of spreading to my side of the large building since there are multiple HVAC systems in place. I’m not going to sit and hope for the best, especially not when I have Rosie to think about. She’s in the apartment more than I am.
Quickly, I explain about the infestation and how much I hate my landlord anyway. Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise.
Without mentioning the name of the apartment or owner, Lexi asks dryly, “Is his name Jeremy?”
“Uh,” I say and nod. “Yeah, that’s him.”
Calypso sneers in disgust. “You’re living at the Beach Bay Apartments? Why the hell would Lucas and Mia let you sign a lease there?”
I take another sip of my black coffee and Calypso clocks the movement. Wordlessly, she starts moving around the coffee area.
Lexi chimes in, “No, seriously, what the hell?”
“To be fair,” I say and look at Lexi, “they warned me, but we were out of options due to the time of year.”
She bobs her head in understanding. As a localanda business owner, she’s well aware of the tourist season.
“I can stay with Lucas and Knox for a while, but there aren’t any rentals open until the beginning of September.”It’s only three weeks, I remind myself. “It’s not ideal but…” I trail off with a shrug, trying to act as nonchalant as I normally feel. My frustration is boiling again.
Calypso crinkles her nose. “I love Vivi and Grady—his daughters too—but she’d be my last choicebecauseof Daisy and Stella.”
Lexi grimaces, looking guilty. “Same, but if you ever repeat that, I will kill you.”
I raise my brows, but her expression doesn’t flinch. There’s always a spark of amusement in Lexi’s eyes that gives her away.
“She’s serious,” Calypso says. She slides a fresh drink and walnut brownie toward me. Before I take a drink, I know it’s a dark chocolate strawberry latte—still my favorite, even a month later.
“Already forgot about it.” I take a sip of the latte and wink at Calypso. “You understand why I’m not thrilled about the arrangement, though.”
Lexi hops down and walks toward us. She stays on the other side of the counter next to Calypso, turning her full attention to her business partner.
“You’re not going to askyour boyfriendto stay with you?” Lexi asks with a shit-eating grin.
I thought Knox was the biggest instigator I would ever meet, but Lexi has him beat. Barely.
Calypso slowly turns her head to look at Lexi, but doesn’t say anything. Her blank expression is one she wears when she’s losing patience with someone—other than Asher, Lexi is most often the recipient. I take a sip, watching the interaction. Bunking with Calypso wasn’t an option I let myself entertain. Even now, I’m not getting my hopes up.
“You’ve been dating for, like, two months,” Lexi adds.
Calypso scrunches her nose. “Month and a half.”
“Close enough.” She swats the correction away. “What’s three weeks?”
With a sigh, Calypso rolls her head toward me. She looks defeated and dramatic—it’s adorable.
