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I cross my arms tightly over my chest, abandoning my offer of help. Time to grasp at any shred of distracting conversation. “Did you move in here after high school?” If it was four and a half years ago, that puts him at about the right age.
“Yep.”
See, I was right before. Not chatty.
“You didn’t want to live at home anymore?”
The question comes out with an edge of bitterness I didn’t intend. Hopefully, he doesn’t pick up on it. But people don’t realize how lucky they are to even have the option.
It takes him a moment to answer. “Me and my dad do better when we don’t live under the same roof.”
Interesting. “Does he live close by?”
“Listen,” he says kindly. “You don’t have to go out of your way to talk to me because I overheard you. I was just letting you know how crappy the construction is in these buildings.”
Am I that obvious?
I scuff a toe along a crack in the linoleum. “It was silly of me not to try to get to know you. It could be a good thing. Like, I might need to borrow a cup of sugar one day.”
A wrinkle forms between his brows. “You think I bake?”
“You know what I mean. Maybe I need to borrow some…” I throw my hands up, not sure what he’d have that I don’t. “Tools or engine parts or something.”
He cracks a smile. Oh, he really shouldn’t do that. The action transforms his face, the gray of his eyes softening, the previousleave me alonevibe gone. Like someone who would protect rather than do damage.
I blink rapidly. What am I thinking?
“He lives about fifteen minutes away,” he says, answering my earlier question.
So he will talk to me, then. “Any other family?”
He pulls a pair of faded jeans out next. “A sister. Two years younger, before you ask.”
I cover my mouth to hide my smile.
“And what made you move in here?” he asks. “Thought a college girl like you would live on campus.”
There’s something about the way he sayscollege girl. Not an insult, but not affectionately either. I can’t quite place my finger on it.
“I did, actually. My first two years I had a scholarship that covered room and board, but it was too expensive to pay out of pocket after that.” I was tired of sharing a room with someone else, anyway. Too many years of doing that with strangers growing up. “I rented a room with a group of girls in a house this past summer, but things didn’t work out.” Turns out I wasn’t a party girl like they were expecting. Good thing it was only a six-month lease. “So I decided I’d try living on my own. I’ve never done it before.”
“No boyfriend to move in with?”
“No.” He’s not asking because he’s… interested, is he? No, no. That’s ridiculous. Hunky motorcycle-riding boxers don’t go for mousy nerds who constantly stick their feet in their mouth like me.
“And? You like it?”
“Living alone? It’s… different. I like not having to worry about anyone else. But…” I shake my head. “It’s so stupid, but I keep getting freaked out by any noise I hear at night. Things I always attributed to another person.”
He nods as if he understands.
“You do that, too?”
“Used to. Now I blame it on my cat.”
“You have a cat?” I wouldn’t have pegged him for a cat guy.
He shrugs. “Boots kind of invited herself in about a year ago.”
