“I’m almost in high school. That counts.” Sam winked at her.
She found herself laughing as he scampered out of his uncle’s way and headed for the door to his unit. Once there, he stopped to blow her a kiss.
“Sam,” his uncle barked.
The boy quickly let himself into the apartment.
“I’m sorry for Sam,” Adam said.
“No worries. He’s cute.” She hurriedly added, “Not in a dating kind of way. Honestly, I had no idea what to say when he asked about going to a concert tomorrow. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. Good timing on your part.”
Adam groaned. “Between him and Rylan, I’m about to crack. Sam’s twelve going on thirty. Rylan’s the sixteen year old who thinks he’s the boss of his brotherandme. I take it you haven’t met him yet.”
“No. Technically, I haven’t met you either.” She held out a hand. “Justine Ferrera. Rosie Gallo’s niece.”
Adam’s expression brightened as he took her hand. “Hey, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Adam Baker. When Rosie told us she was leaving for a few months, the boys were bummed. She’s been super great to us all.”
“That’s Aunt Rosie. Always willing to help out.” Like subletting her place so her pathetic niece didn’t have to move back in with her family. Justine still wasn’t sure if Rosie had truly planned her vacation ahead of time or had just made up the excuse to give Justine a place to stay.
“I’ll say.” Adam studied her. “You look familiar. Have I seen you before?”
“Not on a wanted poster,” she blurted, which made him laugh.
His smile eased the tension on his face and turned him from mildly attractive to handsome.
Yet another man she wanted nothing from but friendship. Justine wondered if something was wrong with her, because for so many years she’d been what her sisters had long ago termed “boy-crazy.” Wanting a boyfriend, wanting to get married, have babies, live in the dream house. But after breaking up with her ex and moving out, fantasies of happily-ever-after paled next to the reality of headaches and heartbreak.
“Well, I’d better get back inside. Dinner isn’t going to cook itself. I’ll see you around.” Adam gave her a pleasant smile. “And please let me know if my nephews start making a nuisance of themselves. Sam especially.”
“I’m sure they’ll be fine.” She smiled back. “If only dinner would make itself, right? I’m having a PB&J and cutting off the crusts. Fancy, huh?”
He laughed, waved, and left.
Alone, contemplating the soothing sounds of the water spilling from a stone floral centerpiece in the center of the fountain, she wondered about the neighbors.
On the first floor, according to Xavier, lived Top, the crabby super who stared at everyone as if contemplating murder. Then Adam, a police officer and his two nephews. Xavier thought something had happened to the children’s mother, so Adam had stepped in to care for them. Sam was a cute if a little precocious. Rylan sounded like a handful, but Adam had been decent to talk to.
Then on the second floor, she had Xavier in 2C and quiet, introverted Benji in 2B. According to Xavier, Benji rarely left his apartment except to go to his job at a tech company twice a week. A pleasant yet shy man who liked to keep to himself. She could respect that. And Xavier was...well, Xavier.
On the third floor, the irrepressible Rosie Gallo was subletting to Justine. And across the hall, in 3E, lived Kai Strand—internationally acclaimed children’s book author and her aunt’s best friend. Kai had recently left to vacation in Tuscany with Rosie but would be returning sometime in July.
For now, Justine had the third floor all to herself. Instead of being creeped out at living by herself up there, she felt cozy. Tucked in with TCA’s quirky residents, from the gruff caretaker to the intelligent and friendly Xavier to the intense yetcaring Adam, she felt safe nestled among people with their own problems. Everyone too busy to focus on Justine.
As she left the fountain and cooling evening air, she walked up the steps to her unit and entered, still in shock at how much her life had changed since she’d broken up with her ex.
After a shower and dressing in shorts and a simple tee, she made herself a sandwich, cut off all the crusts, and added an unnecessary hot cocoa with marshmallows, just because she could.
She watched a gimmicky sitcom and laughed with the canned audience, feeling like part of the crowd, which then made her feel that much more alone, taking pleasure in fake belonging.
But then, that was kind of her pattern. Her go-to, her aunt liked to say, to seek acceptance and validation from those who would never give it back.
Her father.
Her boss.
Her ex.
All of them determined to refuse her the affection and approval she craved.
