“Yeah, eight weeks. Is that gonna be a problem?” I really wish I could be back with the Coast Guard right now, but my fucking commander ordered me to take time off. Since I can’t sit around doing nothing for two months, I’m looking for something to occupy my time.
He laughs. “No problem at all. My right-hand guy just left and if I want to keep my relationship going with my girl, I cannot be here every night of the week.”
“Then I’m your guy. While I’m here, I only plan on working. No need for any strings since I’ll be gone soon.”
He stares at me for a moment but doesn’t say anything. His nonverbal cues tell me he’s already typecast me as a one-night stand kinda guy. He’s right to an extent. It’s not that I never see a future with a wife or kids, but not while I’m in the prime of my life. I’m only twenty-six, and since you only get so many years to be a Coast Guard diver, I refuse to give it up for a regular piece of ass.
“You’re hired.” Nate nods.
“Thank you.”
He pulls a few sheets of paper from a folder that is already at the table. “This is the wage plus your tips. We share when more than one bartender is on shift. Waitresses share with the bartenders and busboys. You find a place to stay in town yet?”
I pull out the newspaper. “I was just looking at apartment ads. There aren’t many here, huh?”
“Unfortunately, the one drawback of Lake Starlight is the lack of rentals. There are some small houses for rent around the downtown area, but it’ll be hard for you to find a short-term rental.”
We continue talking about the area and he says that as long as I have transportation, I can check out the neighboring towns like Greywall or Winterberry Falls.
Alice surprises me by sitting next to me, taking the paper from my hands. “I thought I heard of someone I know who was putting an ad in the paper.” She digs in her seashell purse and takes out a pair of reading glasses that are missing one arm. “Oh, here, you already have it circled.” She hands the paper back to me.
I laugh because I circled that ad as a last-ditch effort. The person I’d be sharing space with doesn’t sound very warm and cozy. “Oh, that one. I don’t think I’d jive with that person.”
Nate takes the paper from me and reads the ad, then shares a look with Alice.
“What’s the look about?” I ask.
“Oh, nothing, you totally should call. I mean, this place.” He points at another ad I had circled. “The guy is home all the time. One of those video gamers. And this one.” He points at another one. “This ad is in the paper every other month because everyone they get moves out. I think the place is haunted or has mold or something.”
He hands me the paper and I read the ad one more time.
* * *
Roommate needed to share a two-bedroom, one-bathroom in Lake Starlight downtown area. Must be clean and organized. A list of chores will be assigned once you move in. Under no circumstances will I clean up after you. I’m neat and clean and expect my roommate to be as well. Guests are not welcome to stay and must be gone by ten o’clock. Must pay first and last month’s rent plus security deposit. All necessary background checks will be required. No pets or felons allowed.
* * *
“Yeah, I’m not sure. I mean, no guests and a chore list?”
Alice stands and stares down her nose at me. “Everyone sounds a little harsh in an ad. They don’t want some hoarder moving in.”
I tuck the paper in my bag because I’m still unsure, but I can’t afford to keep staying at the Glacier Point Resort.
“Just call, sweetie. You’re splitting the rent, so it is cheap.”
Nate nods in agreement.
“Yeah, okay, I think I might.”
After I’ve worked out the details of my employment with Nate, I leave and take a seat on a bench in the town square, then I call the number on the ad to say I’m interested in taking the room. Alice is right, it’s only for a short time, and no one can really be as bad as this ad sounds.
Three
Brinley
I sit in my SUV outside the Anchorage airport, waiting for my cousin Calista and her new husband, Rylan, to arrive. Rylan is a professional soccer player, and they’re returning to Lake Starlight for his off-season. Before I drop them at their place, we have to swing by my apartment, so they can pick up some stuff Calista left there.
In the end, I didn’t have to change my ad because I got a response and the service that the paper uses did an entire background check on my behalf. So this evening, I’ll have a new roommate.
I honk when I spot Calista and Rylan walking out of the sliding doors with their luggage. Calista waves and motions to Rylan, who has the brunt of the luggage weighing him down.
I get out of the SUV to help get everything in the back. “Hey, lovebirds.”
I hug them and tell them about my new roommate while we figure out how to fit all their stuff in my vehicle. Eventually we manage to jigsaw all the luggage into the back of the SUV. Rylan climbs in the back, and Calista and I sit in the front.
“We’ll swing by the apartment to grab your stuff before I drop you off. It’s only, like, three boxes,” I tell them, so they aren’t surprised I’m not taking them to their new rental house that’s big enough to fit half the Bailey clan.
“You could’ve dropped them at my mom’s,” Calista says, situating herself in the front seat while Rylan is ultra-relaxed in the back, arms spread out across the seat.
I wave her off. “It’s fine. My roommate isn’t going to be here for a little while anyway.”
“How did you meet her?” Calista shifts in my direction.
“Through the paper.” Calista opens her mouth to say something, but I add, “Now, before you argue, the newspaper has a background check service, and I did pay extra to look into her. No criminal record. Good credit report. Like, no debt. Not sure why she needs a roommate, to be honest.”
“That’s all good. I still don’t like the idea of you living with a stranger.” She glances at Rylan, who’s on his phone in the back seat.
She’s apologized to me so many times that Rylan doesn’t want anyone living with them. I don’t blame him in the slightest. I mean, they just got back together after years of weaving in and out of each other’s lives. They’re married and I know they want to start a family soon. The last thing they need is a bunch of Baileys hanging around. I remember the first months after Sawyer and I were married, and I want Calista to have that.
“I’m fine. I come from tough stock.”
We laugh. It’s true, my mom is a hard-ass, and my dad can definitely hold his own in a fight. Rumor has it that my dad protected Calista’s dad more than once.
“What’s her name?” Calista asks.
“Um… Carrie.”
Finally, Calista stops asking questions and relaxes her head on the back of the seat. We get to Lake Starlight in no time, and I park along the curb in the downtown area outside our… er… my apartment.
“Did we miss anything?” Calista inspects the area, but not much changes around here.