Still, when we’re both on, we usually end up in the same game.
She doesn’t send an invite.
I figure she’s mid-match. I finish out my round and head into the lobby.
A second later, my headset clicks, and the connection chime sounds when she joins.
I lean forward, elbows on my knees, and let the countdown hit zero.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Brinley
The apartment is quiet after Cooper leaves.
I lock the door and stand there for a second, listening for any noise from him on the other side. All I heard was the sound of his footsteps hitting the stairs and his truck exhaust fading away as he drove down the alley.
Now I’m left with the low hum of the fridge and the heater kicking back on.
I shrug out of my jacket and hang it on the hook outside the bathroom door.
This place still smells like wood and fresh paint. Too new for someone like me who spent their life living in mobile homes with questionable odors and what was likely mold growing from beneath the sink. We rented one apartment for only a few months before we realized there was a snake infestation.
I’ve never been more terrified in my life.
My duffel bag is tossed on the floor by the couch. I nudge it with my foot and glance toward the corner where my deflated air mattress sits. The cheap sheets I bought from the store sit twisted from the last time I slept here with Cooper. I bend down to curl them into a ball and toss them into the dirty laundry basket, not wanting to sleep there tonight with the faint smell of him around me.
It’s easier this way.
I’ve been back and forth so much lately between here and the barn. This is for the best.
I grab my backpack by the door and slide my arms through the straps. My car won’t be ready for a day or two. I’m not going to waste money on an Uber or bother anyone for a ride.
There’s a corner grocery store not far from here. It’s a short walk, one that I don’t mind taking.
The air is sharp enough to make my eyes water. I wrap my scarf around my neck and keep my chin down as I cut through the alley and around the block to Archer’s Foods.
I grab a small basket and slowly move down the aisle, checking prices as I add all the essentials to get me through the week. I stand in front of the meat counter longer than I should before deciding on the smallest pack of chicken.
It’ll stretch if I make it.
I snag a few frozen pizzas. They aren’t the best or the most healthy, and I pretend it’s not a splurge.
The cashier scans everything and reads off my total. I don’t even let the cost enter my mind before I swipe my card, shoving what I can that I don’t want to get smashed into my backpack. The rest I can carry in my reusable bag.
By the time I get back to the loft, my hands are cold, and my eyes are watering. I fumble with the keys as I push the door open and drop everything on the counter.
It’s starting to feel warmer in here now.
After I put the groceries away, I pick up the rest of the space, deciding to finally unpack my clothes and put them away in the dresser. I’ve stacked a few of my books on the windowsill, since there’s nowhere else to put them.
The air mattress is still there in the corner. I stare at it for a long minute.
It’ll be fine for a night or two, but it won’t work long-term.
I grab my laptop and settle on the couch, folding my legs beneath me. I’m thankful when the Wi-Fi connects without any issues. I open the browser and type “cheap mattress near me” into Google.
A few listings fill the page, along with some Marketplace posts. I click through a few, zooming in on corners and seams.I know that most people wouldn’t want to buy a used mattress, but I’m pretty sure that’s all I’ve ever owned growing up, and I’d say I’m doing just fine now.
