Her job for nearly the last nineteen years has been to mold her life around mine, and now I’m just moving on? I get it. It’s got to be hard.
“I’m sure. We researched, remember? This place has a doorman twenty-four hours, good lighting, and is really close to campus. I can walk or, if the weather’s bad, take the subway because it’s right downstairs.”
I also happen to love the arched doors and windows, the hardwood floors, the wainscoting, and the open concept kitchen. It’s not enormous—this is New York after all—but itfeelsbig. The landlord doesn’t mind if you paint or personalize, so long as you put it back as it was before you move out, and I like the idea of choosingeverything for my own space. I’ve been looking at places since May, andthisis the one. I’m sure of it.
“You’re right. I know.” I look back at her, and she winces. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to be a buzzkill, really. You’re an adult, and I respect that. It’s just my lifelong job to worry about you.”
“I know, Mom. But this will be good.”
“Okay. Maybe I’d feel better if one of your friends were living here with you, but I understand you not wanting a roommate. It’s a lot. Even the best of friends can be too much sometimes, and you know I know—”
“Just what do you know, Wheorgie?” a too-familiar voice calls, making me jump.
Cassie Kelly strides in like she owns the place, her giant sunglasses perched on her head and an iced coffee in hand.
I’m used to the Kellys being in close proximity at pretty much all times—hell, I was just texting with Ace—but having them materialize out of thin air seems a little much.
And a little poltergeist, to be honest.
“Cassie? What are you doing here?” my mom asks, evidently feeling the same confusion as me.
“Ace told me you guys were looking at apartments today and says he wants to live off campus too, so I tracked your location.”
“You…tracked… How do you have my location?” my sweet mother asks, her hand to her chest. I, for one, am not even a little surprised, and for as ridiculous as it is, it makes me smile. I never have any doubts about why my best friend is the way he is—the proof is in his DNA pudding.
“Are you kidding?” Cassie laughs. “I’ve had that setting turned on for years. I always know where you are. Always.”
Georgia Brooks is not amused. “Do you even hear yourself right now?”
“Of course I do, Wheorgie,” Cassie says, a proud smile on her lips. “I sound like an intelligent goddess.”
My mother’s best friend has been calling her variations ofWheorgie and Whorge and basically any combination of the word whore and Georgia combined. It’s their thing. Well, it’s Cassie’s thing. Though, I’ve certainly heard my mom drop the nickname Casshead a time or two.
But to prevent any emotional damage, I refuse to ask them where the nicknames came from. I mean, there’re certain things you don’t want to know about your mom. Or your mom’s best friend—even though Cassie Kelly doesn’t hold much back.
“No, Cass.” My mom shakes her head. “You sound like you belong in a true crime documentary.”
“Oh, please,” Cassie says, waving a hand. “It’s for safety. And also because I’m nosy.”
My mom shoots her a look, but I’ve long stopped being surprised by Cassie Kelly’s antics. She’s chaos cloaked in Chanel perfume, and Ace is basically her spiritual clone.
Which becomes even more obvious when he strolls through the door right on cue.
I aim a finger at him. “Of course you were in on this.”
He grins. “You called itthe one, Jules. And who am I to deny my mother her God-given right to stalk your mom?”
I roll my eyes at him, but Cassie is quick to take over the conversation again. “You two have been friends since you came out of us. I honestly quite like the idea of you being in the same building.”
Ace nods like this has been the plan all along. “If you’re taking this one, I’ll take the one across the hall.”
“Have you even looked at it?” I ask with a scoff.
“I’m looking at this one. It’s got floors and a kitchen and, most importantly, you. Feels like a win.”
I gawk at him. “That’s your entire decision-making process?”
Ace shrugs like he hasn’t just completely hijacked my solo-living fantasy.
