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"You could always move back home," Blake says, and I shoot him a dirty look.
"No offence, but I'd rather live on the street than be back there," I snap.
Blake's face hardens. "That's a horrible thing to say. There areactualhomeless people, and you would rather give up a roof over your head when they would kill to haveanything."
I push my chair back, standing up. "Don't pretend like you know me, Blake. You might think I'm being difficult and selfish, but you truly have no idea what I've been through. You only know a small proportion of the relationship I have with my mother and your father. What seems like a happy home to you, is hell to me. Don't you dare judge me for wanting freedom and respect, when you did the exact same fucking thing."
I storm out of the kitchen to my bedroom, slamming the door shut behind me.
Divine intervention is fucking with me again. It's like every time I get one step forward, life pushes me back two. I didn't fight this hard for freedom, just to have it taken away from me.
I pull out my phone, scrolling through Google and community Facebook pages as I try to find rentals. I consider reaching out to the other people whose houses I viewed, but the truth is, I want to stay with my roommates. We need to find an empty house, big enough for all of us. But at this moment, I may as well be searching for diamonds in the desert.
Chapter twenty-four
Thelandlordcamethenext morning, a sad, guilty look on his face. I decided to leave it up to Carmen to discuss, and kept out of their way. I didn't want to be involved, in fear I might have a meltdown over the possibility of losing what has become my home.
When he leaves a few hours later, we all gather in the kitchen. Carmen puts a piece of paper on the table in the center of us, her face distraught.
"I'm sorry, guys. I tried. Ken is not in a good position. He's officially filed for bankruptcy so he has to sell, there's no other options at the moment. Here's given us our formal eviction notice with the legal mumble jumbo attached. We have thirty days to vacate."
I stare at the piece of paper, not saying anything. I have no idea what I am going to do. I stayed up late last night, doing my best to search for places before I passed out from exhaustion, but it's useless. It's a dying market, and the few that are available, our way out of our budget, or already inundated with families trying to desperately apply.
"I spoke to my mom yesterday," Jeremy says. "She said I can stay with her for a bit. She could actually use the support right now."
Jasmine nods. "Mine too. Perks of being an older sibling, I guess. I don't mind having to go home for a bit. Carmen, did you speak to your parents?"
Carmen shakes her head. "Actually, I didn't want to bring this up but before all this happened, work offered me a promotion. We're in negotiations about it, and I had asked to do the role remotely, but they want me to move across state to their head office. I'm actually thinking of accepting that condition now. It would mean more money, a relocation bonus, and they would help find me accommodation."
The three of us stare at her in shock. My heart actually breaks a little bit. The three of them haveoptions.I'm the one left scrambling trying to pick up my broken pieces.
"Rylee, what will you do?" Jaz asks.
I shake my head. "I don't know. I mean, I don't have any family here. I could contact the other places that were looking for roommates and see what's available still. Otherwise, I'll keep applying. Four weeks is a long time."
I ignore the elephant in the room. By that, I mean Blake standing in the corner, watching me like a hawk.
He refuses to leave me alone, and I hate that he's here, seeing something so vulnerable and raw. I already know his opinion on my housing, and I can't deal with another lecture right now.
Carmen touches my hand gently. "We can help you look. It will be okay, Ry."
I nod sharply, forcing a smile. "Yeah, it will. It's not the end of the world. Besides, still lots of opportunities for pancakes."
Jeremy's face lights up and I can't help but laugh. I'm going to miss living with these guys. They have truly been a saving point for me the last few months.
I offer to make us all breakfast, but they turn it down. They have to head out and start organizing stuff, and soon enough, I'm left alone with the big bad wolf.
I stay at the kitchen table, listening to the sounds of my roommates until they all leave one by one out the front door. When it's just us, I push my chair back, intending to hide in my bedroom for a few hours.
"Rylee, there's a solution for this," Blake says, following me down the hall.
I sigh. "Not now, Blake. I don't have the energy to get into this."
Pushing open my bedroom door, I step in and fling the door shut behind me. Blake catches it before it can close, following in behind me.
"God, Blake. Please, just give me five minutes to process things without me having to worry about your asshole attitude."
Blake stares at me, as I throw myself on the bed, face down into the mattress.
