I try to scream but nothing comes out of my mouth. Luck has never been on my side, and while a tree crashing through my roof and landing on my bed is hardly luck, I'm grateful I fell asleep on the couch.
It could be me underneath the tree. That could have been it. Done. Gone forever.
Because of him.
Never mind the rain coming into my bedroom or the uprooted piece of nature making itself at home on my Birch California King mattress that I paid $1,800 for. I saved fortwo yearsto purchase it. This is all Jimmy’s fault.
I hate him.
I stomp to the front door. It’s almost midnight but if his dog can wake me at all hours of the night, he can deal with me pounding on his door right now. I swing open the door and Jimmy is already standing there, his finger hovering over the doorbell.
“Reese! I came right over. Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
He’s soaking wet, hair dripping, shirt clinging to his skin, and he’s out of breath.
“Am I okay? Well, your damn tree is in my bedroom!”
“But you’re okay?”
“I’m standing here, aren’t I?”
“Reese, come on. I heard the crash and came right over. Were you in the bedroom when it happened?”
I’m staring at him as the rain pours on him. As much as I can’t stand the guy, I’m not going to make him stand out there in the storm. I widen the door and motion for him to come in.
“I’m fine. I was in the living room when it happened, thank God, because the tree landed right on my bed. I’ve told you amilliontimes to take care of that tree.” I shake my finger at him like he’s a child.
“Well, not quite a million, but maybe four or five.” He offers a shrug and a smile I want to smack off his face.
“Can you be serious for, like, a minute?”
“A minute? Okay.” He waves his hand in front of his face as though he’s doing a magic trick. “Starting now.”
This damn guy. “Come see what your refusal to do anything about it resulted in.”
He takes the time to take off his muddy shoes, which I appreciate. Fine. I’ll award him points for that one. “Nice socks.”
Jimmy lifts his foot up to show off the dark blue socks with Captain America shields all over them. “Thanks. A gift from my cousin’s seven-year-old son.”
Okay, it’s kind of cute that he’s wearing something a little boy gave him. A few more points. But he loses more than he’s earned since his tree is in my house.
On the way back to my bedroom, I grab a few buckets from my closet to catch the rain coming into the house.
“Wow.” Jimmy slicks his wet hair back as he investigates the area. “This is…I’m so sorry, Reese.”
Sorry. He’ssorry. I’ve been telling him this would happen and it finally did, and he only says he’s sorry.
“I’m sure my insurance company will pay for repairs. Whatever they don’t cover, I will. I have a friend who can come take care of the tree. I’ll text him in the morning. In the meantime, do you have a place you can stay?”
“Stay? It looks like my couch is my bed for the foreseeable future.” Not that I will even be able to sleep after this. My adrenaline is running like I’ve had two Red Bulls and chased them with a Monster.
Jimmy steps over some of the debris and looks over the damage. Shaking his head, he says, “No. You can’t stay here until this wall is sealed up. It’s not safe.”
“The tree is already in my house. I think I’ll be fine.”
“There’s a hole in your house, Reese.”
“Is there?” I curl my finger around my chin. “I hadn’t noticed.”
