“Hey,” I say before pulling her into a hug and pressing akiss to her forehead. I pause there for a second to inhale the smell of her perfume and shampoo, because that’s what any normal boyfriend would do and I’m simply playing a role.
After a couple of seconds, Clover steps back, “I need a couple more minutes to pack, then I’m good. Do you want to come in?”
“As opposed to standing out here in the hall?” I tease before stepping into the apartment.
“I’m this way,” Clover says as she gestures to the nearby hallway and the door on the left-hand side.
When I step into her room, it’s like a small peek into who she is behind the snark and fire I see on set. The space is small and very well kept, but brimming with personality. There are various knickknacks along her dresser, and old Hollywood movie posters taped to her wall, a giant one for the 1954Creature from the Black Lagoonhangs above where she sleeps. On her bed is a suitcase that’s overflowing with clothes.
“Jesus, are you planning for a few days or a few weeks?”
She shoots me a glare. “I don’t want to forget anything.”
“Trust me, by the looks of it, you haven’t.”
She scrunches her nose, and before she has the chance to reply we’re interrupted by a soft meow from the corner of the room.
Looking over, I see a gray fluff ball of a cat with large orange eyes. The cat gets up from the oversized pet bed in the corner of the room and does an over-the-top stretch before sauntering up to me.
“Who do we have here?” I ask, gently outstretching my hand toward the cat so it can give me a sniff.
“This is Smokey.”
“Smokey?”
“Yes. Oh, what? Don’t say it,” she says when she sees me chuckling.
“No, it’s nothing. I’m impressed by your creativity and uniqueness, is all.”
“Shut up, I named her when I was ten.”
The little fluff comes over and knocks my hand up with her nose, prompting my hand to land on top of her head for some pets. I give her a couple and then move away, but it would appear that Smokey has other ideas. Walking between my legs and rubbing her body along my shins, she meows insistently until I drop to pet her again.
Clover analyzes us closely.
“What?” I ask, annoyed at the inspection.
“She’s just taken a liking to you, and I’m shocked. I thought pets and young children could easily sense demonic entities.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re positively charming?” My voice drips with sarcasm. “I’m sorry that your mother is such a cow,” I say to the cat. I expect a snarky response, but Clover is quiet. Looking toward her, I see her back is to me and she’s still for a minute. I’m not used to her not taking up the opportunity to verbally spar, so I give her a few more seconds before following up. “Clover?”
“Yeah?”
“You good?”
“Yep. Give me a minute here.” She tosses a few more items of clothing into the suitcase before heading out into the hallway in search of some more things.
“What’s her deal?” I ask Smokey before she prances off after Clover. “Bye to you too,” I whisper.
When Clover returns a minute later, she zips up the suitcase and looks at me expectantly. “Time to put all those muscles to use, wonder boy.” She pauses, “unless they’re only good for show.”
I chuckle and lean over, my arm brushing against hers inthe process. “Don’t worry, my muscles are good for plenty of things.” Picking up her suitcase, I gesture toward the door.
We head into the main room, where Inappropriate Roommate is standing beside the couch, clearly not knowing what else to do in my presence.
“So Clover tells me you’re taking her to Napa for a few days,” she pries.
“That’s the plan.” This girl rubs me the wrong way.
