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“I’m sure it’s a gamble,” I said. “I’ve only had one roommate in my life, and that was my best friend in college. I can’t imagine trying to find people who are going to take care of the property while giving you the money to do it is easy.”
“That’s a good way to put it.” She laughed. “But I feel like at this point in the game, I’ve got a pretty good idea of the kind of people I’m renting to. Though there are always the curveballs, so I like to personally check in with each of my new tenants for a few days after they move in. So don’t think you are in trouble or anything like that if you happen to see me over the next few days. It just goes with the experience, that’s all.”
“Okay,” I said with a smirk. “Though if you’re going to do that, I have to warn you I might have some fresh cookies or something to share with you tomorrow.”
Kim smiled, and I felt myself liking her even more. She had a motherly air about her that I gravitated toward. I wasn’t close to any of my family, so I had often considered Erin and her dad to be family instead. Now that she was married, I thought of her husband and kids as family. But I didn’t have much for a mom figure in my life.
Never really had.
“Are you settling in okay?” Kim asked me. “I wasn’t able to meet you yesterday like I wanted, but you know how it can be. I hope you can use the furniture that was in there already?”
“Yes,” I said. “I just had some more things dropped off that I’m going to put together, but as far as everything already here, I’m happy with it. I appreciate you giving me the price you did on the place considering how much comes with it.”
“We’re not out to take advantage of anyone,” she told me. “And after hearing your story and what you were looking for, you just reminded me so much of myself when I was your age. I got a lucky break in my life, and I wanted to do that for someone else. I know it’s not much except for giving you a good price on rent, but hey, you never know what’s going to help.”
“Right now, it’s that price you gave me that allowed me to make this move at all. I was so tired of Nashville, and my best friend lives in Key West with her family, so I wanted to be closer to her. I have to say, this whole place is pretty perfect. I mean, for the most part. I laughed as I said it and once again did my best to give her a smile, though it was still forced. Even with all the practice I had giving polite smiles, I couldn’t mask a fake smile with genuine wrinkles.
“What’s wrong?” Kim asked as she leaned on the porch railing.
“What do you mean?”
“Now honey, don’t think you can fool me with that smile you have. I’ve been around a lot of different people, and I know how to read someone well. There’s something you’re not telling me, and I want to know what’s wrong.”
“Okay, okay,” I said. “I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining or anything, but what’s up with that merman wannabe next door?”
“Oh, you mean Gavin?” Kim asked.
“I didn’t get his name,” I told her with a shrug. “All I know is that he came out last night and let me know he’s not very appreciative of someone who is taking pictures of themselves for their friends.”
“Sounds like Gavin alright,” she said. “Lives in this one here?”
She gave a small nod to my neighbor’s bungalow, and I eagerly confirmed.
“You’ll have to get used to him, I’m sure,” Kim said. “He’s a grumpy man who’s lived here for roughly a year now, and I’ve not had anyone live next to him who hasn’t had a thing or two to say about him during their tenancy. He’s harmless; remember that. You might have to deal with a comment here or there, but don’t let him scare you.”
“He just pissed me off,” I said. “I wanted to tell him to go back into his little house and close the blinds if it makes him that upset to see someone enjoying themselves. Like, I wasn’t doing anything to him, yet he thought he should come over and give me his two cents’ worth over what I was doing. That’s crazy, let me tell you.”
“It is, and if he becomes an issue, let me know,” Kim told me. “But as I said, he’s not the easiest man in the world to get along with, but if you keep to yourself, I’m sure he’s more than happy to do the same. He’s very opinionated, so just ignore him and don’t let him get under your skin.”
“I’ll try not to,” I said. “But, I mean, I know you can’t share a lot of information about other tenants, but do you think he’s going to be around a while?”
Kim laughed. “He said he wants to find a house for the long term, so I don’t know for sure how long that will be. Again, if you ignore him, I’m sure he’ll do the same. And let me know if there is anything you are needing to be done for your new place. I do my best to have each unit set up and ready for each new tenant, but if there’s something I missed, don’t hesitate to let me know.”
“So far, so good,” I said with a smile. “But if I find something, I’ll let you know.”
Kim didn’t stay much longer, and I was almost sad to see her go. It was nice to have someone to visit with for a few minutes. Someone who could agree that my next-door neighbor was, in fact, an asshole. I wished she’d given me more information about him, but ultimately, perhaps ignoring him was the best thing for me to do.
I wanted to make friends, but that didn’t have to be with any of the people who lived next to me. I was fine without having neighbor friends. Still, it was annoying that he was a big enough jerk that other people had said something about him. But then, she had a point.
I could easily just ignore him, and if that was the magic trick to getting him to leave me alone, then I would happily do so. I had no interest in dealing with him further, and if he would just ignore me right back, that was fine with me. I dealt with enough assholes back in Nashville to not want to deal with them anymore, and I felt it was terribly ironic that I moved in next to one.
And it just made matters worse hearing that he evidently had no plans of leaving anytime soon.
I rose to go back into the house, a sudden resolve running through me.
“You know what?” I muttered. “I’m not going anywhere, either. So, you better just get used to me.”
With that, I closed the door behind me. I had things to do today, and I now had the motivation to get it done. I wasn’t letting that rude guy scare me off. Not a chance. This was my new place, and I had every right to be here, just like he did. He’d just have to deal with it.
