Page 17 of Rent: Paid in Full

“Wow.”

“What do you think?”

“It looks like a unicorn ate too many sparkles and threw up all over the place.” A shadow ripples in her eyes, so I quickly add. “In a good way.”

“Too much?” She gives me a big, toothy grin. “I might have gotten carried away. Gotten super excited to have my own place. You know what it’s like.”

“Nope.” I laugh. “I don’t know what that’s like at all. Can’t even imagine it.”

She bites her bottom lip. “Sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.”

I mean, it kind of is, but I don’t want to make her feel bad about it. I’m pretty sure Bev would have caved and given me this room if Emily hadn’t been there the first time I went to complain about Miller.

Emily pulls four strings of fairy lights out from under her bed, and we start untangling them. “How’s your week been? Did you get your socio paper done?”

“Yeah, that went fine. I got it done, but, ugh, my truck broke down on the way to Pepe’s the other night, and I’ve been trying to ignore the problem ever since.”

“Oh no! Where’s it now?”

“Uh, I pulled over and parked on a side street when the engine started making weird sounds.”

“Ryan! You can’t just leave a car parked on the street. You’re going to get hit with a ton of fines.”

The second she says it, the fist punches a hole clear through my chest.

This is it, the underlying stress that’s been with me for the last few days. The stress I haven’t completely been able to name or face.

“Shit,” I say softly. “I’ve got to go.”

She’s on her feet quickly. “Can I give you a ride?”

“Nah, thanks.”

I’d love a ride, but I’m barely hanging on by a thread, and I don’t want her to see the fallout if I find my car covered in tickets. I don’t think I can handle that.

Please, please, God, let him be out, I pray as I open the door.

By some miracle, my prayer is answered. Miller’s study lamp is on, but the room is otherwise dark. I draw the curtains and sit heavily on my bed, arms hanging limply at my sides. My throat aches and my eyes sting. I haven’t cried in years, but I feel like crying now.

Three fucking tickets.

Seventy dollars each.

As if I didn’t have enough problems that are out of my control, this was in my control. I should have called the tow truck as soon as it happened. I didn’t want to miss my shift because I was out of granola bars and ramen, and I was fucking hungry, but obviously, it’s what I should have done. And given that I didn’t do it right then and there, I should have called the tow truck the second my shift finished. Or even early the next morning.

It was the height of stupidity, and it’s no one’s fault but my own. Obviously, I’m still going to have to pay for the tow truck.Now, I’m just going to have to pay the fines on top of everything else.

What the hell was I thinking?

8

Miller

Ryan comes thundering outof the bathroom with nothing but a towel around his waist. His head jerks when he sees me, and he takes a sudden step back as if he’s walked straight into a sliding glass door. His hair is wet, almost black, pushed back off his face, highlighting his angular features. Aquiline and angry. Flashes of green and gold throwing daggers at me.

Goddamn, I have a thing for men with big noses.