Page 33 of Read With Your Heart

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” My heart continues to hammer. My brain is questioning why I’m putting the brakes on this suggestion.

Jess looks over at his sister’s house. “I don’t mean to be vague, but I’d feel better if someone were in that house with her.” He glances back at me, his gaze scanning my body and noting my physique.

“What’s the story with her ex? I don’t need any trouble if he wants his wife back.” In referencing Trent, it clicks that he was the one I saw standing in the road last night, watching her place. Something prickles over my skin. I recall the truck following her home from the high school the night we shot hoops. It had to be him. “She safe from him?”

“I don’t know,” Jess says, glancing back at his sister’s place. “I just don’t, but there’s no chance she’s going back to him.” He shakes his head like he’s ashamed he doesn’t know the situation, and it reminds me of what Tricia said to me. Tenderness and girls and siblings. I also remind myself she told me the divorce proceedings had begun.

“I don’t think your sister is a fan of mine,” I offer, lowering my voice and giving him fair warning. Despite her kindness, I don’t think she’ll agree to roommate arrangements. “We haven’t exactly seen eye to eye lately. She’s kind of pushy.”

Jess laughs, a good-natured bark. “I know someone just like that.”

His laughter makes my lips twist into a half smile, and I recognize the look of a guy happy with a pushy woman.

“Let’s look at that furnace. I’ll call Mrs. Drummond and give her the bad news, then I’ll remind her your lease is now void as she isn’t providing the house she promised.”

Shit. My head lowers, and I shake it slowly side to side. I cannot get a break. Not one fucking break.

Within minutes, Jess and I stare at the old metal beast. “It looks original,” he marvels, “but dangerous. You’re lucky this didn’t explode.”

“That’s what Joe said last night.”

“Well, Joe’s often right in his assessment. He’s going to shut this house down.”

“I’d love to buy it and fix it all myself, but I just don’t have that kind of cash,” I admit, hating how I’m thirty-five and still at zero.

“My sister’s doing the same. She struck a deal to rent until the divorce is over. Then it’s a rent-to-buy situation. She’ll cover all repairs and updates as she goes.”

Nice deal, I consider and realize Tricia has that kind of pull. She knows Mrs. Drummond. I do not. I’m a guy with a ton of tattoos, a dark look, and a name Mrs. Drummond can’t pronounce correctly.

“We’ll take care of this,” Jess assures me, nodding at the furnace.

“I’m thirty-five and failing at everything,” I say for no reason. I don’t know this man, and I sound like a fucking sap.

“I’ve been there, man,” he admits, and my head shoots up. Minus the 1970s ponytail, he looks like he has it all together. He told me he had a little girl, and he lives in a house a few blocks over. He seems happier than the last time I saw him, and I wonder if the pushy woman he referenced has anything to do with the expression on his face. “It gets better.”

His assurance doesn’t give me much hope.

“Talk to my sister. This could be a win-win for both of you.”

“Yeah,” I mutter because I sure could use a win somewhere.

Lesson 14

Lots can happen before midnight.

[Tricia]

Suddenly, I have three renters instead of one. I couldn’t argue with the deal, as Leon was adamant he would pay more than half because he was moving in three people. He argued he was paying full price next door but staying with me was a cut in his expenses, which he could use because of the addition of his sisters. He didn’t need his name on the lease. Given that Jess stands beside Leon while he presents his proposal, I don’t say no, even if I’m hesitant about this arrangement.

My main concern is I shouldn’t draw Leon into my drama, but Trent was here the other night. I saw him outside lurking in the street, and I didn’t like it. I also noticed him following me home from the high school a few nights back, so I drove to my mother’s instead of my place. I can hardly sleep some nights knowing I might never be truly safe unless I leave my hometown, which I don’t want to do.

My second issue with our arrangement—I’m highly attracted to my neighbor turned roommate.

The first week has awkward moments, like dinnertime. I suggest we eat together. I sense the Ramirez siblings already uphold this as a family practice, or at least try to, but Lys has hinted it’s often disrupted by a fight between Lena and Leon. Dinnertime can be chaos, I recall from my own upbringing, but it’s also an important time to reconnect and check in with one another.

“So,” I begin after three nights of quiet meals. “Tell me one sweet and one sour from your day.” I make this suggestion as a way to start conversation during dinner because I can’t stand the silent tension. My current kitchen table is too large for the room, and I shoved it up against the wall, removing two of the chairs for more floor space. The arrangement was fine for just me, but with four of us in the house, I set the dining room table each night and purposely place Leon and Lys facing Lena and me.

“Don’t you mean sweet and suck?” Lena murmurs. That is the name of the game in some places, but suck has a sexual connotation, and it’s not a good word to use with high schoolers. I’ve learned these things the hard way—hard being another troublesome word, along with balls and shaft, just to name a few.