I laugh, remembering Honey’s late-night visit to my hotel room. “Understood.”
Mike’s tone is also concerned. “What about your classes?”
“I won’t be able to take any this summer, I guess. All I know is I don’t have the budget for D.C. rent prices, and I really don’t want to have to go back to the bank and take out yet another loan. I don’t even know if any apartments nearby would let me take on a short-term lease at the last minute. I know Mom and Dad will let me come home, but…”
“It doesn’t make sense to drag all your stuff to Idaho and back again,” he finishes my thought.
“Exactly. And cross-country moves are expensive.”
“Yeah, stay with us. We’ll figure it out.”
Alice’s voice sounds further away. I imagine she’s probably riding in the back seat as she pipes up. “Or you could stay somewhere you would not be forced to third wheel the newlyweds and listen to your own brother’s nasty love noises. Take it from me, their usual third wheel. I’m sickened by these two every day, and I’m not even related to them. We’ll find you a place. There are a few vacant apartments in Mike’s old building. I was looking into it for myself, but I can’t beat the free rentat my dad’s place at the moment. Let me text Jake and get the building manager’s contact info.”
“Whatever they’re charging, I’m sure North Bay is more affordable than D.C.,” I say.
Danielle scoffs and protests. “Oh, like Shelley won’t be exposed to way more ‘love noises’ in an apartment.”
“Not from her own brother. I’ve heard the two of you. Believe me, Shelley, it’s horrific,” Alice interjects and makes exaggerated moaning sounds as I get a new text from her with the manager’s name and number.
“But we won’t charge her rent like they will,” Danielle argues.
“Trust me, Shelley. You want some space from these two,” Alice insists. “Somuch grunting.”
Silly arguments aside, I actually do want space from my brother, if I can get it.
“Enough,” Mike chimes in. “Shelley, come to North Bay. You can stay with us if you want, but the apartments are also a decent option. They have a few furnished units in the building. Now, ladies, could you cool it with the sound effects and talk about absolutely anything else with my sister, please?”
Furniture? I hadn’t thought of that. My student housing came furnished, and I don’t even own a bed, let alone a couch or a table.
“I appreciate both options,” I tell them. “But Alice makes a fair point. I’ll look into it and see if any short-term leases are available. Are you sure you guys won’t mind me crashing your summer plans?”
“Are you kidding? This is going to be so fun! You can help me plan my next prank on Jake. Especially if you’re his neighbor. Plus, with a lawyer on my side, now I’m going to win every argument with that punk.”
“That punk” is probably the love of her life. We could all see how she was drooling over him at the wedding, and Jake is just as obsessed with her. Judging by the way she clung to him on the dance floor, I’d be willing to bet they’ve given in to their obvious chemistry at least once already.
“I’m not an attorney yet,” I protest. “Only a student.”
“Tomato, tamahto. I love this plan.” I think I hear Alice clap.
“Sounds like you’re spending the summer in North Bay then,” my brother says.
“Looks that way.”
“Cool. Okay, sis. Guess that means we’ll be seeing you as soon as your semester ends. Let me know if you need help moving your stuff. I can recruit a few of the guys to come up there and help. And you’re coming to Idaho for the game, right?”
I almost ask if Jordan will be one of his recruits for my move, but I stop myself. “Yeah. I’ll be there to cheer you on. Thanks, Mikey. And thank you, Alice. You’re a lifesaver. I did appreciate the offer to stay at the house, Danielle. But it sounds like the apartments are probably the safest bet for my delicate eardrums.”
“No hard feelings. To be honest, we have enough roommate drama as it is with Honey around.” Danielle laughs, and Mike barks out a noise I can only take as an agreement.
“I can imagine.” I wonder what shenanigans Honey is pulling now. Maybe she’s raiding their room for condoms after all.
I hang up, feeling relieved until I imagine Jordan’s surprise if I show up in his building unannounced, and my stomach lurches. We haven’t spoken since I hung up on him. I know I should reach out, but I haven’t been able to bring myself to do that yet.
Talking to Mike and making a plan lifted some of the weight off my shoulders, but as soon as I enter my apartment and see the pile of clothes on the floor and my plethora of books and school supplies, the dread comes rushing back. I need to pack, and I’m running out of free days to get everything done. This weekend I’m flying back to Idaho, and when I return I won’t have long before I need to be out of here. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. All I know is, ready or not, I’m moving to North Bay.
Chapter 17
Shelley
