“I’m starting to realize maybe Jude and I have been a little too co-dependent,” I said, taking a piece of the raspberry cheesecake.
“I don’t understand why he was so upset?” She shook her head. “Well, I think the most pressing thing is your home situation. I wish I could let you stay at my old home, but Forest just moved in. One of the girls at the salon is moving in with her boyfriend and she is looking to rent her little cottage out. It’s by the Boozy Bandit?—”
“I’ll take it,” I said immediately.
“You don’t want to look at it first?” she raised her brow.
“No, I’ll take it,” I said. “I was already looking at Monroe, and this is better.”
“Let me ask her if we can look at it, please,” she said, pulling her phone out. “It might be a dump.”
I chuckled as she called her co-worker. It didn’t matter what it looked like, if I could stay here, I was going to. It was either a house or my car, and a house sounded a hell of a lot better.
“Franny, can we get the check please?” Nova asked, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Come on, big guy, she is there right now. Let’s secure this place and get you somewhere to stay.”
I paid for everything even though Nova told me not to. She ushered me to the SUV she had, pushing me into the passenger seat before checking on Sol. Nova was on a mission and it felt nice that she was just taking charge. As we drove to the house, Theo called her.
“Please, don’t tell them I’m here just yet,” I said immediately.
“Ok, we won’t. Right, Sol? We can keep it a secret for a little bit,” she said looking in the rear-view mirror.
“Of course, Momma,” Sol said immediately.
“Hello,” Nova answered.
“Hey, where are you ladies at?” Theo’s voice came through the speakers. “You, ok?”
“Oh, we had to stop at Mae’s for some pie and I’m on my way to my co-worker’s house,” Nova said. “She’s moving out and she’s trying to find a tenant and I thought I'd stop by and take a look to help her find someone.”
I shook my head. Nova was a fucking genius.
“Oh, that's right. She’s moving in with her boyfriend?” he asked.
“Yup, that one,” she said. “We should be home in about an hour.”
“Ok, sounds great, be safe,” he said. “Love you.”
“Love you, too,” Nova said.
“See ya soon, Teddy Bear!” Sol yelled, and I always melted when she called him that because Theo was really just a big teddy bear.
I looked back at Sol, she gave me a big smile, and I loved that she was a big ball of sunshine. That kid made everything better. I hoped one day I'd get to have a kid who was just as cool as her. Maybe a few of them. I was an only child, and I’d always wanted a big family, with kids running crazily around the house. I wanted someone who enjoyed the chaos as much as I did or maybe someone who was calmer, who balanced us out.
We pulled up to a cute cottage just down the street from the bar. It was maybe too close to the bar, but I couldn’t be picky at this point. If it was shithole I would take it. It took me a minute to get out of the car, Nova helped me as much as she could with little Sol looking on, worried.
Her co-worker opened the door with a big smile, ushering us in the house. Nova made the introductions and Michelle and I shook hands.
I was worried the inside of the house was going to be as quaint and cozy as the outside, but it was spacious and I could move around decently with my crutches. It had two bedroomsand one bath. The tub/shower combo was a tad small, the showerhead was low, but I think I could fix that.
“I’m renting it fully furnished,” Michelle said.
“I have my own bed,” I said. “I don't know if I’d fit in that queen.”
She chuckled. “You’re right. I guess I could sell it. So, what do you?—”
“I’ll take it. When can I move in?” She looked shocked by my decision.
“Uh… A couple of days? I have to figure out what to do with the bed and?—”
