AllFreeNovel
Share Us
3
CARLEIGH
My anxiety is already through the roof from a man moving into my apartment today, but it’s Bryson.What if he is a slob?My OCD about cleanliness is non-negotiable and he will have to abide by my rules.I’m not changing them.
Bryson strikes me as the type to be bull-headed, and that’s what scares me the most.I don’t want to butt heads with him every day.Trinity and I weren’t perfect, but we rarely had issues.
My class ends promptly around twelve-thirty and I go straight to the coffee shop to grab a latte and a caramel macchiato.The only thing I remember from our first encounter is his coffee order.A vanilla latte with two shots of espresso.I figure it will be a friendly gesture to prepare him to move in with a warm cup of coffee.Or will he read more into it?
I second guess myself, walking the five blocks to the apartment.Should I ditch the coffee altogether?Stop being overdramatic.My feet begin up the stairs to the third floor, and when I open the door to exit to the foyer, Bryson is standing in front of the apartment.
“Hey, you’re early.”I say, picking up speed.He is standing with a backpack and two duffel bags in his hands.
“Yeah, it’s a habit.Never know when the ferry might leave late, so I always give myself extra time to be safe.”
I sit the two coffees on the floor, and take the key out of my pocket.“There you go.”
After retrieving the cups, I use my foot to close the door and then set them down on the kitchen island.“I got you a latte, if you want it.Might not be as hot now, but still warm.”
He nods, and looks around the place.Everything is in its respective place.Will he say anything about how tidy the apartment is?My parents always comment on it when they show up unannounced.
“So, where’s my room?”He glances around the living room, not really showing any facial expressions.
“Right through here.”
I open the door and let him set his bags down.His arms must be throbbing.How long was he standing out there like that?
He unpacks his bags, throwing things into the six drawer cherry oak dresser that Trinity left behind.Why he is wanting to move in so quickly?It’s not like I’m in a position to question it, since the landlord should be over any minute to collect the rent.
“Did you bring the money?”
I didn’t want to ask so suddenly, but might as well get it out of the way.He will want to settle in and get things put away, and I doubt he wants to be interrupted when he shows up.
He pulls out a wad of cash from his backpack and hands it to me.
“Do you know how dangerous it is to walk around with that kind of money?You could’ve been robbed for gosh sakes.”
He shrugs his shoulders and then looks at his arms.“Doubt anyone would try anything with me.”
So, he has an ego.Noted.I hope he isn’t one of those guys that bring home a different girl every night, because I don’t want to listen to him screwing chicks.
“So, maybe we should talk about the rules.Yeah?”
He doesn’t stop unpacking things, and so I just start laying them out.“If you use a dish, wash it when you are done.No dirty dishes left in the sink.Same with clothes.If you take a shower, throw the clothes into the hamper in your room or into the washer.”
He stops what he’s doing, and turns to face me.“We know nothing about each other, but I’m not a slob.You don’t have to worry about me.I’ll barely be here.No need to worry about me, Carleigh.”
The way he says my name almost interprets him as being condescending, but maybe I’m reading too much into it.
“I am gone often, too.Trinity was good about keeping things organized in my absence and I expect you to do the same.If so, we will get along great.”
He doesn’t respond, and that leads to me leaving his room and going to the kitchen.I have some time to make blueberry turnovers, and baking always helps me to destress.There is nothing like putting in the work to taste a masterpiece at the end.Trinity always raved me up about how good my baking skills were, and there for a while, I wanted to pursue culinary school, but my parents would never go for it.
I pull out my pastry dough and the fresh blueberries from the fridge.I preheat the oven and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
“Let me know if you need anything,” I yell loud enough so he can hear me, as I stretch to reach the sauce pan necessary to make the blueberry sauce.
I take about five minutes to gather the other ingredients and then throw things into a small mixing bowl.The trick is you have to let the mixture heat over medium until it gets not only nice and bubbly, but thick enough.This usually takes about three to four minutes, and then I let it cool down while I prepare the dough.
