David’s cool with you taking the third room. The address is below. Come by tonight if you want to see the place. I’ll be home allevening.
“Yeah!” I said under mybreath.
I quickly got dressed and made my way to what might be a good place for me. I held the note in my hand as I climbed the steps to a recently renovated home. The lights were all on, and I could hear a bunch of people talking inside. I rang the bell andwaited.
“Hey, man,” David bumped fists with me when he opened the door and stepped aside to invite mein.
I glanced around. This college pad was nicer than my home, for sure. Skyler stood from a chair and came over to the entryway where Iwaited.
“Ryan, come in. I’ll introduce you to myfolks.”
I met both of his parents, and he introduced me as their third baseman and said I was going to take the third room. I was feeling more doubtful over that the longer I stood there. The place had to be really expensive, and I wasn’t sure I could afford it with my part-timejob.
David offered to show me the third room so Skyler could stay and visit with his family. He had a nice one, so more power tohim.
“Alright, here’s the room.” David walked into the room ahead of me. He slapped his hand down on a couple of boxes. “These are mine, but I’ll get them moved out byMonday.”
There was a desk and a nightstand. It was fucking perfect. I didn’t even care if he left theboxes.
“Right across the hall is the bathroom that you and I would share. Sky’s got the big bedroom with the attachedbathroom.”
I glanced into the bathroom. It was a lot bigger than mine at home. This place wasperfect.
“Do you know how much the room to rent is?” I askedDavid.
“Sky doesn’t charge me, and he said he wouldn’t charge you. But, we all pay for groceries, so you’ll have to help withthat.”
I noddedquickly.
“That’s not aproblem.”
I headed to the bus stop feeling lighter. I was getting the fuck out of my house. I rehearsed how I was going to tell my mom during the bus ride home. She wasn’t using me, or my body anymore. Neither wasChad.
* * *
My tutoring sessionwith Tiffany was pleasant, and I found out we had the same taste in music and movies. There was a movie coming out this week that we both wanted to see, and without thinking, I blurted out aninvitation.
“Would you like to go thisweek?”
Her big smile was followed by a cute giggle. Tiffany nervously swiped a lock of her behind herear.
“Sorry, I didn’t know if you already had plans.”Or a guy.“Or a boyfriend.”Maybe she likes girls.“Or girlfriend.”Now you just offended her.“Or were going with friends. Orsomething.”
Fuck this dating shit. Her smile was kind, and she held her hand up to stop me fromtalking.
“I didn’t have any plans to go with anyone else. I think it will be fun if we gotogether.”
Damn. That was sort of easy. Tiffany was cute, but I wasn’t one for sweet, romantic dates. Maybe it was because I didn’t know how to be sweet and romantic. I didn’t want or need any ofthat.
Chapter Six
February2003
Ihad decidedthat I was going to tell my mom tonight that I was moving out Sunday. I went over it again in my head while I rode the bus back home. I prayed that Chad wouldn’t be there because I didn’t want to fight. No morefighting.
I went inside and found my mom at the kitchen table looking over a pile of bills with a calculator in front of her. She was mumbling toherself.
“Mom,” Igreeted.
