“We have pest control coming next week,” the man in the suit says. “They’ll seal all exterior holes first and then move into each apartment. Do you have any pests other than roaches?”
It’s clear he knows I get them. They’ve seen the roaches firsthand, or someone in another apartment already told them about it.
“A few. Not as many since I started putting down traps.” I didn’t bother going to the super about my roach issue. He wouldn’t have helped me. I got traps from Jack’s store, and while expensive, they do the job. No roach has run at me for a while now. “Um, and when I first moved in, something bit me in my bed.” Glancing at my bed, I scratch my arm automatically. “I sprayed the mattress with bug spray and washed my sheets. Nothing's bitten me since, so I guess whatever it was went away.”
“If it were bedbugs, you’d definitely have felt them again.” The man in the overalls glances at the man in the suit. “Might be worth getting the pest guy to have a look.”
“He can.” The navy-suited man shrugs. “The problem—if it’s still there—will go away once we’ve replaced the furniture.”
I must be hearing things. “Excuse me?”
Gia didn’t mention anything about new furniture. Just repairs. But she had been rushing to get to work, so maybe she just forgot.
The suited man flips through his clipboard. “We’ve sourced better quality, hard-wearing furniture for all units: bed frame, mattress, couch, bedside table, coffee table, and a small dining set. And…” He flips a page. “New kitchen appliances. Deliveries will start arriving early next week.” He looks up at me, pen poised over the clipboard. “Is there a good time for you to be home to accept delivery? The team will build everything, so we just need you to let them in and move any personal things.”
“Um, the afternoon is usually best. After four is good.”
“Excellent. We can replace the front door at the same time.” He makes a note on his clipboard, and the two men move on to the next problem while I’m still dealing with the shock of having all the furniture replaced in my apartment.
Forfree.
Wherever I stand, I feel in the way.
I have two strange men in my apartment, but they’re so focused on doing their job that I forget to feel embarrassed about the mess from being too tired to clean or the fact that I’m still in my bathrobe.
This guy says he’s a manager, and I believe him. But I know who is truly responsible for all these repairs, and it is not the general manager. Callum, Archer, and Torin did this. If they hadn’t started fixing all my neighbors' apartments first, I would have refused their help.
They gave me a floral arrangement I didn’t want, so now they’re determined to give me everything I need.
Food.
A better apartment.
Safety in the form of Archer walking me to work and then home again after.
The men leave, and I’m headed back to the couch to sleep, still tired, when another, quieter knock sounds on my door.
I wander over to answer it.
Archer stands outside, hands stuffed in his pockets. “You didn’t go to work today.”
I start to get angry at him for judging me for still being in my bathrobe at eleven. Maybe he’s not, but all my embarrassment must have skipped over the building manager and landed on him instead. “So? I don’t have to explain myself to you.”
He shakes his head. “I wasn’t here for an explanation. I was just worried.”
I blink at him. “Oh.”
He studies me for a beat. “You look tired.”
I am. Way too tired to be standing around. I don’t know what I’m going to do about my bond sickness, but I’m too tired to think of a solution now. “I’m going back to bed.”
He watches me closely. “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Sure.” I shut the door, but it takes a couple of seconds before I hear him walk away.
Chapter 31
Callum
