Dell was increasingly disturbed at how many facts he was amassing about Mae Kellerman.
“It seems rather fast,” he said slowly, “to have already forgotten I own the place.”
Mae yanked her phone off the floor, cutting off Janet. The silence that followed felt profound.
“I’m pretty sure,” she said after a long moment, still staring at her phone, “that landlords have to give notice before entering a property with a tenant. I’m like, super good at being a renter. I know these things.”
She crossed her arms atop her belly. Dell could see, even from across the room, before she tucked them away under her armpits, that her hands were shaking.
He had embarrassed her. Hadn’t meant to do that, either.
Even if he knew he had watched for longer than he should have. She clearly hadn’t heard him come in, hadn’t seen him lingering in the doorway, watching her dance to “The Trolley Song,” mouth open in silent laughter whenever she hadn’t been singing along.
Dell couldn’t quite remember the last time he’d let himself move like that. Be…silly,like that, even when alone.
He cleared his throat again and shifted from the doorway, focusing back on the moment at hand.
“AndI’mpretty sure you wouldn’t qualify as a tenant yet, considering you left the restaurant before giving me your security deposit.”
Mae’s arms dropped, cheeks flushing an even deeper shade of rose as she turned to grab one of her bags. As she searched, Dell’s eyes roamed the rest of the space. His stomach sank when he spotted the air mattress.
“I’m sorry,” Mae said as she walked the envelope to him, avoiding eye contact all the while. “I meant to give it to you.”
He folded the envelope into his back pocket without checking it. The deposit was now the least of his worries.
“I was also curious where you’re planning on staying. I meant to ask, before you stormed off.”
Mae frowned, annoyance overtaking the discomfort on her face.
“Why does it matter to you?”
“I just wanted to make sure you didn’t have the hare-brained idea of stayinghere.”
Mae eyed him warily. Dell liked having the attention of those sea-churn eyes again.
Wait. Dammit. No, he didn’t.
A terrible idea. This had been a terrible idea from the start.
Finally, Mae looked away again, clutching her elbows as she muttered, “Hare-brainedis probably not a very politically correct phrase.”
For fuck’s sake.
“Andthat,” he said, “is why I don’t sell to Portlanders. If you’re concerned about being PC around here, you’re going to have a hell of a rude awakening.”
“Oh, fuck you,” Mae snapped, whipping her face toward his, nose wrinkled in distaste. Dell forcibly told his body to calm down—to stop reacting to thatfuck youlike it was a come-on—as she stepped toward him. “Hold your condescension for me, DellMcCleary.I was making a joke because I was uncomfortable. I don’t even like the term politically correct! But you’re making me feel uncomfortable on purpose, with your…” She waved a hand toward him. “Your big crossed arms and your…” Dell’s pulse ticked up as she glared, his mind torn between wanting to laugh and—dammit—wanting to grab her by the waist. “Your face,” she eventually fumbled to finish. “Yes, I’m planning on staying here, all right? Because I want to. Because I’m all in on this place, and I don’t care if it needs repairs, or if you think I don’t belong here. Please, make your jokes about how annoying and woke Portlanders are, as if we’re not all as fucking human as anyone in Greyfin Bay. I’m planning on being a pain in your ass either way for the next six months, so please, might as well get it all out now.”
Dell breathed in and out, deep and slow, before he spoke again.
“The pipes,” he said, “are fucked. You have no plumbing. You can’t stay here.”
Mae visibly deflated.
“Oh,” she said, voice small as she turned, scratching her forehead. “Okay.” And then, after a pause: “Got it.”
Dell stood still as she gathered her bags. Resisted the urge to reach out to her as she looked around the space, scratching her forehead again. As she searched for her keys, tossed her cardigan over her shoulder. As she barreled toward him, determination once more steeled over her features.
“Please,” she said when she was in front of him. “Move.”
