“Let’s get them fed then.”
Xavier laughed as I carried the bag to the kitchen, set the pizzas on the counter, then snagged my salad and a chair so that I could meet the newest roommate.
Chapter 3
~September~
Alate-summer storm lashed against the windows as I checked my email to find a new message from my landlord.
Owen,
Sorry for taking so long to apply an inconvenience credit to your rent after the renovations. You should see a one-time credit in the payment portal covering part of your October rent.
The third upstairs tenant should be moving in sometime over the next several days, but I still have the front-left bedroom unfilled. If you know of anybody looking for a room, send them my way.
Thanks again for putting up with the renovations.
—Anton
I shrugged, sent off a reply, then got dressed.
It was my day off, and Ryan had begged me to visit him at work. He’d been excited about something over the phone but told me it was a surprise.
Once I was ready to go, I called in a pizza order to take with me. Then I grabbed an umbrella and raced up the back stairs. I rounded the side of the house—experience telling me it took longer to input the code for the back door than to just go around—and hurried to my car.
I breathed out a sigh of relief as I pulled the car door shut. As much as I didn’t like being rained on, we needed the water.
Forty minutes later and with pizza acquired, I pulled into a parking spot at Techspeed Consulting—where Ryan worked for his mates.
“Hey Janice,” I said to the lobby receptionist as I strode to the desk. “Ryan’s expecting me.”
She laughed. “Not that I would have stopped you even if he wasn’t. You’re cool with the full executive team.”
I grinned and pulled an order of cheesy bread from my bag, setting both it and a side of marinara on the counter in front of her.
“Have I told you you’re an angel?” she asked, eyes focused on the food.
“Every time I bring you a treat,” I teased.
She rubbed her stomach. “I’m going to get fat if you keep bringing me carbs, but it’s going to be worth it.”
I laughed and patted my belly. “I’ll be in good company if that happens.”
She burst into laughter. “Go on, before the pizza gets cold.”
I grinned, waved, and headed to the elevator. A moment later I exited on the top floor… and froze.
The reception desk where Ryan normally sat, was occupied by a man with curly blond hair who was definitely not my cousin.
I took a few cautious steps in his direction.
“May I help you?” he asked, glancing up and giving me a polite smile.
“I… Um… Ryan asked me to come?”
He blinked at me and started to motion as to where I should go, when an excited voice came from my left.
“Owen!” Ryan cried. “Over here!”
