Page 80 of Property of Bob

“Nobody told me.”

That made me laugh harder. I grabbed my throat.

“Stop!” She slapped her hands over her face. “Jesus Christ. Stop laughing.”

I tried. It took a second.

“You’re going to hurt yourself because those two put me in your room.”

I shook my head carefully. “Should’ve fucking known.”

“What?”

“Pearl and Shay.”

Ramona’s eyes narrowed. “You think they did it on purpose?”

I looked toward the common room. “No idea,” I rasped.

“Liar.”

I smiled.

She sighed and pushed open the door.

Her bag was sitting on the dresser. A pair of shoes was tucked against the wall. There were a few things on the nightstand that definitely weren’t mine.

Ramona walked into the room and looked around like she was seeing it for the first time.

Which, technically, she was. At least as my room.

“Didn’t you look in the closet or the dresser and see all of my shit?” I asked.

She shook her head. “I mean, I did notice the shampoo and stuff in the shower, but I just figured… oh, hell,” she whispered. “Well.” She put her hands on her hips. “I’ll find somewhere else to sleep.”

I chuckled.

She spun around. “Stop laughing.”

“Unless you want to sleep with Piney, you’re staying here.”

Her face went blank. “What?”

“Rooms are full, honey.”

“All of them?”

“Pretty much.”

“How many people live here?”

“Enough.”

She looked toward the hallway. “There has to be a couch.”

“No.”

“Why not?”