ONE
Lucy
I’ve had some bad ideas in my life, but this one could be my worst.
I’m about to move in with a stranger.
Clearing my throat, I stare at the blue door in front of me like it might come to life and chase me away. Maybe then I’d do the sensible thing and find somewhere else to live.
With a shaky breath, I raise a hand, curling my fingers to form a fist. My heart pounds in my ears as I prepare to announce my arrival with a loud knock. This house is bigger than it looked in the pictures that Miles—my soon-to-be roommate and landlord—texted me.
I adjust my hold on my duffel bag, then launch forward with all my weight to knock on the door.
My fist slams into the door three times. I clasp my hands together and stare down at the wide wooden planks on the porch.
The large front porch features a gray-painted bench situated at the far end, next to the white railing. There are bushes in the flower beds surrounding the porch, giving it a very suburban vibe.
I could almost imagine a few kids’ bicycles scattered through the yard, except that a family doesn’t live here. It’s just Miles Granger. He’s single, as far as I know, and he tends to be a bit of a workaholic. I’m a little surprised my even more work obsessed sister hasn’t become best friends with the man. But I guess they’re too busy working to actually spend time together.
The street is quiet, and not a single car has passed since I parked my car next to the curb. Not exactly the neighborhood I would expect a single man to live in. He must be a serial killer. It’s the only reasonable explanation.
I stare hard at the door, then knock again.
No one answers.
It’s only seven thirty in the morning, so maybe he’s still sleeping. He told me to be here at this time though…but waiting here in the brisk morning air is giving me time to think of all the ways this is a bad idea.
If I were my sister, Willa, I’d be able to prioritize every thought into a list within three seconds. Unfortunately, I’m not that capable. It’s just a jumble of bad ideas running around my chaotic mind.
1. I’m moving in with a stranger. Probably a tragedy waiting to happen.
2. I’m up to my ears in student debt—I can’t afford to be choosy.
3. My new roommate might be an axe murderer.
4.What if I become an axe murderer?
5. Maybe he collects those creepy dolls.What if he hates the smell of coffee?!
6. But most importantly,what if we don’t get along?
This whole thing is a horrible idea. Moving in with a practical stranger? I should turn around and go sleep on my sister’s hard-as-a-rock couch. I’m sure I could put up with her nagging and uncomfortably clean ways.
Yep. What I should do is climb back into my ol’ reliable car and get out of here. Pretend like I died in a ditch and never answer a phone call from Miles again. It’s so simple that it’s brilliant.
My phone starts ringing, and I look at it to find that it’s Willa. My stomach drops to my toes as I study the name on my screen. I am the worst. I didn’t tell her I was going to move in with someone else. I just told her that I’d found a place to live.
“Hello?”
“Lucy! I’m so sorry. I didn’t even look at the day or the calendar. I should have been there to pick you up from the airport,” Willa exclaims.
“It’s okay, Willa. I drove over so I could fit all my stuff and get my car here.”
It was a heck of a road trip since we’re at the early stages of fall. There was still a lot of snow in the mountains.
“I’m sorry I’ve been so distracted. All this work stuff, and I haven’t even seen your new place yet, and—” She pauses. “I wish you could live with me though.”
The reality is that Willa and I would probably want to strangle each other after living together for a week. She likes to manage me, and I like to be left alone. I prefer taking on a more relaxed approach to life, and she has a thirty-year plan, broken down into a thousand easy steps.
