“This is detailed.” I sighed and pulled a hangnail. This was out of my element, and it was humbling to know I sucked at budgeting. “I wrote stuff down on a piece of paper.”
“That works for some people, but I like to think of it as a tool to reach your goal. My goal is to get through college without needing a loan or asking my dad for help. What’s yours?”
My face burned with embarrassment. “To feel confident enough and prepared to stay here another two to three years alone without having my brother as a crutch.”
“You don’t have to share it with me, but take whatever your scholarship covers, what you have in savings, what you think you’ll make at the café, and plan backwards.” He smiled and nodded, like he thought I was capable of doing this without worry.
“Okay,” I said, starting my own spreadsheet. I had a column for rent and utilities, for food, one for tuition covered by the scholarship, the small amount I got each month from my parents’ will, how much I’d likely make a week at the café…and my temples started throbbing.
I loved challenges, but numbers and money stressed me out. Taking a deep breath, I went through the steps Jonah showed me to color code the numbers. The kitchen chair he scooted closer made our thighs bump together, and it was oddly comforting to feel his heat right next to me.
Going on the conservative side, if I earned four hundred a month at the café, I’d be okay to have a little spending money for pizza or ice cream. I made a note to reach out to the housing office to see if I could skip paying for room and board.
Deep breath in, then out.
“What’s stressing you?” Jonah asked, his brows coming together as he frowned at me. “Is it the formula?”
“No. Money turns me into a ball of anxiety. Michael and I had to figure out the funeral stuff, pay their debts, refinance the house, that sorta thing. It’s like my brain shuts down when it comes to dollar signs.” I cracked my knuckles and relaxed into my chair. “I need to make sure I let housing know I won’t be returning next semester so I’m not charged. Not paying that will help.”
“Make a list of things that are urgent right now, then a list for down the road. It’s overwhelming to think about everything at once.” He pulled up another tab and tilted his laptop toward me. “This is my monthly budget with the weekly breakdown where this one is per quarter, then semester, then year.”
“Wow, Jonah.” Our proximity made his clean and fresh laundry scent waft my way, and gratitude hit me. “Thanks for everything. Letting me live here, helping with this. I appreciate it.”
He seemed taken aback. His eyes darkened, and he sat straighter in the chair. “Of course.”
He gave me a long look before pointing at my screen. “Short list of priorities, then a larger one. I’m going to throw some laundry in, but I’ll be back to check if you need help.”
“Sounds good.”
He tapped his fingers on the table twice before standing up and going to his room, coming out a few seconds later with a hamper. One side of his mouth quirked up before he went toward the in-unit washer and dryer by the front door, leaving me to my priorities and spreadsheet. It made sense for him to be this detailed with finances since he did everything in his life with precision.
Especially going down on you.
I cleared my throat and went back to my list. Short-term goals.
Rent, utilities, food. A little fun money for ice cream.
Long term—tuition and rent for the semester. Textbooks for next semester.
Okay, that wasn’t so bad. I had the costs broken out in line items like Jonah’s spreadsheet with the prices of everything. While my spreadsheet wasn’t detailed or formatted like Jonah’s, it was a good start.
Michael would be proud of me for taking action. He would feel even less pressure to stay around when his life was waiting for him. My chest tightened at the thought of him leaving, but I pushed it away. We needed this, both of us. For him to chase his dreams and me to find my own. It’d be hard, but we’d be okay. With a content sigh, I shut my laptop just as Jonah came back.
“You look happy.”
“It was a great start today. I feel like I’m taking more control.” I beamed up at him, and his face flushed as he stared back at me. “When is your dad coming?”
He froze and pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Shit, he called.” He headed to his room, and I admired the way the athletic shorts showcased his strong thighs. “Hey, yeah, park on the street and come on up if you wanna see the place.” He paused, waited a beat, and laughed. “Yup. Bye.”
“He’s here?”
“The guy can’t park to save his life. I’m going to go help him.” He rolled his eyes. The affection he had for his dad practically flowed out of him. I really liked how much he loved and cared for his father. “He wants to meet myfemaleroommate and Michael Reiner’s sister, so just… prepare yourself.”
“Will do.” I fought a grin seeing him almost bounce with energy as he got his keys and shoes before he left out the front door A weird pang formed in my chest thinking about his relationship with his dad. It wasn’t jealousy, because that wasn’t right. Longing. Wishful thinking. Sadness.
There would be no lunches with my parents or chances for them to meet my roommate. The regret at things that couldn’t happen dampened my mood, but I plastered on a smile when their jovial voices carried up the stairs. They had a similar deep laugh, and the door flew open.
A middle-aged, tall skinny man with the same brown eyes and dark hair as Jonah smiled at me. “You must be Ryann.”
