“What are you doing?” RJ asks me as he steps around the corner, a banana in his hand.
“Putting the bedsheets in the washer. Why?”
“Just curious. Are you feeling better?” he asks.
“I am.”
Content with my answer, he turns and runs away, his feet pounding against the tile floor as he goes.
“I could have done that,” Maddy tells me, as she drops a handful of white clothing into a hamper that, funnily enough, is labeled white. Taking a second look, I see they're all labeled. Colored. Red. Towel. Sheets. Man, she is organized. A little too OCD for me. If I wash the towels separately from my clothing, I consider them sorted.
“I know, but I wanted to. I'm going to head over to my apartment and get settled in.” She smiles and her eyes get a little watery. “I'll just be right at the end of the driveway. You can come and visit me anytime you want. I mean, it is yours.”
“You're right, it is. And I have the key, so you can't lock me out,” she jokes as she wraps her arms around me, hugging me tightly. “I'm going to miss you, though. It's not the same as having you two doors down from me. I'm so happy you're here.”
“Me too,” I say back to her and I am.
Once we're finished with our bonding moment, I go back to the guest room to get my bags, purse, and keys and head out of the house to my new apartment. As I'm climbing the steps with the bags, I wish I had an elevator. Carrying groceries and laundry up these stairs is going to be a pain in the ass.
Chapter 8
Amberlee
There’s a knock onmy door and my body cringes. I know it’s not Maddy, she would’ve let herself in, same for Ryan. RJ would’ve pounded on the door, calling for me so it only leaves one person. Jeremiah.
I’ve been avoiding him since I moved into the garage apartment four days ago. It’s not as hard as you think. I know when he’s working, so I make sure that’s when I go over to the house to visit Maddy and RJ and help her with anything she needs. If I need to watch RJ, he comes here and we have popcorn and movie marathons.
The kid really loves his Marvel movies and I have to admit, Thor ain’t that bad to look at.
I choose to have dinner at home, pretending that I'm still feeling unwell and exhausted from the day's activities, or I'm catching up with friends from home via a video call.
“Amberlee, I know you’re in there, your car is here. Open up,” Jeremiah calls as he begins knocking on the door again. I’m standing just inside my bedroom, out of sight if he manages to sneak a peek through the open blinds.
Fuck! I need to remember to start closing them.
“Come on, you've been holed up in here since you moved out of the house. Ryan sent me to get you. We’re grilling burgers and he wants his sister to join.” He knocks again, but I don’t budge and I don’t say a word.
Only when I hear the pounding of his feet on the steps as he goes down do I blow out a breath of air.
It won’t be long-lived. Ryan or Maddy are going to be over here any minute and unlike Jeremiah, they have a key.
I need a plan and I need one quick.
There’s no way I can hang out with Jeremiah, not when I can’t even think clearly when he’s around. I’m a grown woman, but seeing him turns me into a star struck teenager again. Most of all, I don’t want to see her. Sylvia. Next to her, I’d be a DUFF, just like in the movie. Worse would be seeing them all over each other, knowing I would give anything to be in her place.
I think Maddy knows I have a crush on him, or at least she thinks I do, but anytime she brings Jeremiah up, I quickly change the subject to the new babies.
Looking over at my dresser I see my phone and pick it up, heading straight to the bathroom. Putting the stopper in the drain, I turn the water on, while I key up some music on my phone and turn it up to a volume that could muffle someone knocking on the door.
I pour some bubbles into the water, and undress, stepping inside the clawfoot tub. Sinking into the warmth of the water, I finally let my body relax. If anyone comes over, they’ll find me in the midst of a relaxing bath that I don’t want to leave.
I’ve only been soaking for a couple of minutes, just long enough to rest my head on the back of the tub and close my eyes, when I hear the door squeak open.
“Ahh fuck, sorry,” Ryan barks awkwardly.
Looking up, I catch him covering his eyes as he turns around and steps back into the hallway.
Time to put on my best acting skills.
