There’s always been someone around. A roommate, a neighbor, my mom or my dad or my sister. I’ve pretty much never been left alone in any space to think, and tonight is my first official night to do just that.
My parents left three hours ago with a kiss from my dad and tears from my mom, and my sister Evie texted two hours ago to tell me my mom had been in a dimly lit bath ever since.
It’s a new era, a new stage, and all of us, I suppose, are figuring out how to live in it.
I pluck my phone from the butcher-block-topped kitchen island and type out a quick message to Drew.
Me: Thanks for understanding about me wanting to be alone tonight. It just feels like a rite of passage or something idk.
His response is immediate.
Drew: No prob. I understand completely. I’ll come over tomorrow night maybe.
I smile.
Me: That sounds great. I’ll text you tomorrow to come up with a plan. Have fun at dinner with the guys.
Drew: Thanks, babe
I exhale loudly, contentment and confusion melding into one hot pot. I may not know what to do with myself with this newfound freedom, but I still have it, and in a weird way, that makes it feel even more worth celebrating.
I’m growing. Learning. Evolving into an independent woman with—
A soft knock on the door arrives with irony, and I know without looking who’s most likely to be on the other side. My parents have gone home to New Jersey, Ace’s parents left an hour ago, and Drew’s at dinner with his friends at the Manhattan Club.
That leaves only my best friend and new neighbor, Ace.
I round the kitchen island and move toward the door, checking the peephole for safety purposes despite my certainty. My dad’s safety speech about living in the city as a young woman, given only three and a half hours ago, is still fresh.
Ace’s face is rounded and distorted, and he surveys the length of the hall on both sides as he waits for me to answer. Seemingly hearing me on my side, he leans in, his nose stretching and exaggerating, thanks to the lens between us. “Juliaaaa. It’s me. Can I come in?”
I chuckle as I move back and undo the dead bolt and chain, pulling it open for Ace to step inside.
He lets out a low whistle, spinning in a circle as he takes in all the decorating I’ve already done. “Holy cow, Lia, this thing is already better than Pottery Barn. You should see my place. It’s still ninety percent boxes.”
I snort. “And yet, you’re over here instead of unpacking them.”
“Yeah, I just felt like we should chill for a bit. It’s a lot of work moving in to a new place, especially with my parents at the helm.”
I giggle.
“Anyway, I thought we could get a game plan for being across the hall and everything.”
“A game plan?”
He nods like this is all very serious. “Yeah. Alternating dinner spots. Shared laundry days. Maybe we just leave both doors open at all times and treat it like one big loft. Like a commune. A hot-people commune.”
I hum. “This is my first time living alone, Ace. I don’t know about being so rigid with a schedule or anything. I kind of want to be on my own time for once, you know?”
“I get that. The independence hits hard and all that. But I don’t intend to cramp your style, and I know you know it’s not exactlyLeave It to Beaverhere in the city. The more I know about your shit, the easier it’ll be to make sure you’re safe.”
“And leaving my front door open all the time is safe?”
“Good point.” He puts both hands to his hips. “You need a dead bolt. Ten dead bolts and I need all ten keys to the dead bolts.”
“I have a dead bolt,” I explain carefully. “And a chain. Now, I don’t imagine they’ll withstand a battering ram or anything, but I’m pretty sure they’ll do in a run-of-the-mill situation.”
“Okay, well, that’s good. I should still have the spare key. Just in case. I’ll give you mine too.”
