Page 8 of Stay with Me
“Definitely.”
“All right. Do you want to fill out an application?”
“Yes, I do.”
I crossed the room and entered the kitchen, pulling out the drawer that held the applications. When I turned around, he was right behind me. I jumped a little and dropped the papers. “Shit,” I mumbled as I bent over to pick them up, but he beat me to it.
“I got it,” he said softly. “Have this back to you in the morning. My job is transferring me here for a six-month stint. They’re covering my rent, so if I’m approved, I’ll pay the entire six months up front.”
Now, that made my ears stand at attention. “I see.”
He held the papers up. “Well, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Great. See you then.”
4
I bolted upright in bed and cringed at the sight of myself in the dresser mirror. I had spent most of the night after Ryan Boyé left thinking about him, ended up getting really hot and bothered and found it hard to sleep. So I watched hours of YouTube videos, everything from Trader Joe hauls to wig reviews, until I finally crashed and burned around three that morning. A quick glimpse at the screen of my phone advised me that it was 5:00 AM, and judging from the multitude of missed calls and text messages from Nicky, it was most likely her outside my place leaning on my doorbell, which felt like it climbed out of the box in my hallway and slammed directly into my eardrum, snatching me from a sound sleep. I scratched my half-unfauxlocked head and climbed out of bed in yesterday’s clothes, stumbled to the door and snatched it open with a deep frown on my face while yelling, “Damn, will you stop ringing my doorbell?!”
Ryan Boyé’s left eyebrow lifted, and his eyes instantly shot to the hot mess of a bird’s nest on my head, so I slammed the door in his face, muttered, “Shit,” under my breath. Raised my voice and said, “Give me a second!”
My eyes darted around the living room for…hell, I don’t even know. A scarf, a hat, another identity, a hole to crawl into for the rest of my days…
“Ms. Strickland?” he called through the door.
“Uh...just a minute!”
I owned at least a trillion and a half scarves, but at that moment, I couldn’t think of where to find even one.
I spotted a t-shirt I’d tossed in a corner and grabbed it, wrapped it around my head turban-style, and took a deep breath. Of course he’d notice I was still wearing yesterday’s clothes, but at least I didn’t look like a seasoned crack head with my head covered. I returned to the door and eased it open to find him still standing there, but his back was to me, and my eyes involuntarily dropped to his butt. Dayum!
He spun around and I looked up at his face, attempting to smile warmly, but he was making me nervous again, standing there looking like he was looking.
He held up some papers. “Sorry to drop by this time of morning, but I have an early flight. Wanted to get this back to you before I leave town.”
I took the papers and studied them like I’d never seen them before. “Oh, the application,” I mumbled, like there was some other reason for him being there. Either my lack of sleep or his lack of being unattractive was tampering with my brain.
“Yeah…so how long do you think it’ll be before you can let me know something?”
I frowned as I looked up into his eyes. Hazel-green with flecks of golden brown… “Know something?” I asked.
“About whether or not I can lease the apartment?”
I released a nervous giggle. “Oh, forgive me. Haven’t had my coffee. I’m…I should be able to let you know something in a couple of days.”
“Great! I’d need to move in next Monday.”
I nodded. “That’ll be fine. Be looking for a call from me.”
“Will do. Thanks, and sorry again for the inconvenience.”
“Oh, no worries.”
I watched him descend the front steps as Nicky came screeching into the driveway and parked behind my car. As Ryan backed into the street, Nicky bounced up my steps, and shrieked, “Who the hell was that?! Got-dayum! He was fine as baby hair!”
As I led her into my place, I said, “Someone trying to rent the apartment.”
“He need a roommate? He could be my next ex any day! Shoot!”