“I owed you one.Two now.Look, I’m really sorry you lost your job.You can yell at me if you’d like; it’ll make you feel better.”
“I think I’ve done enough yelling today, but thanks for the offer.Don’t you have a job to be getting to?What do you do anyway?Apart from showing up unannounced at people’s offices.”
“I write pop songs.Perform a bit every now and then, but my rock-star days are behind me.”
“You certainly have the look for it.”
“Dead sexy?”
Yes.“Something like that.”Facts are facts, and Lucky is gorgeous.
My phone starts to ring, and I struggle with the paper bag in my hand before Lucky shifts the box and takes it from me.I smile a thank-you and answer before I check the caller ID.
“Hello?”
“Miss Finnegan, I’m glad I caught you; it’s Bryan from New Realty.I wanted to let you know your lease is ready to sign.”
Relief washes over me.Moving into my new apartment is the last good news I have left.
“Unfortunately,” he continues.
Oh no.
“We just heard from your employer that you were terminated, and as such, the owners have decided to deny your application.”
My steps falter.“Um, okay.Thank you for letting me know.”
“Have a nice day.”
The sun is struggling to poke through the heavy clouds, its light cracking and splintering off the towering high-rises.Broken, like my hopes of ever getting this apartment.
Maybe this is a sign.
Maybe I’ve won the lottery for bad days.
In a single day, I’ve lost my job and home.In five days, my current lease will run out, and what then?
Move back to Ferntree?
I stand on the sidewalk, dazed.Then, with hysteria bubbling in the back of my throat, like an excited kid in a pet store, I start to laugh.
“You okay?”Lucky asks.
“No,” I answer shakily.“I’m officially having the worst day ever.”
“If it is the worst day, it can only go up from here.”
Gosh, he’s actually sweet.Despite it all, I smile at him.
He smiles back, and I almost stumble forward from the force of it.
“Hey, do you wanna get a drink?”I ask.
“Sure, but we might have a hard time finding an open bar.”
“Lucky for us,” I say, flushing at the heat in Lucky’s gaze, “I have a bottle I’ve been saving for the occasion.”
“Lead the way.”
