“I got rejected.”
“Again?”
“Damn.” Caroline whistles. “This has to be some kind of record or something.”
It sure feels like it.
In fact, it feels like the universe is doing everything in its power to ensure I become homeless.
“It doesn’t help that everyone from Danford is looking for a place to stay too,” Caroline points out, pulling another piece from the box and sorting it into its appropriate pile.
“I know we’re mad at him right now, but can I just say how clever of a name that is? Dan Ford running Danford Apartments?” River slaps her leg, laughing. “Genius.”
“I wish I could write ‘struggling single mom’ on the applications. Maybe it would gain me some sympathy points.”
“Hate to say it, but it might actually hurt your chances.”
Caroline may have a point there.
I hate the looks I get when people find out I’m a single mother to a twelve-year-old. It’s either pity or judgment, especially when they find out how old I am and they do the math.
I bet several of the places I applied at passed on me based on my age and marital status alone, which is wrong on so many levels.
“Which apartments is it?”
I don’t even know. I’ve applied to so many.
“It’s the ones over on Hutton Street,” I tell her, scanning the email for details. “It was a beautiful two-bedroom, two-bathroom place. Honestly, it’s probably for the best. It was on the line of the school district and I probably would have had to fight with the administration about it.” I groan, dropping my head to the counter, knocking it against the glass a few times. “I hope you weren’t kidding about making Dean sleep on the couch, River, because at this rate, I’m never going to find a place, and I have less than two weeks left before I have to be out.”
“I wasn’t kidding, but I know of a better suggestion,” River says, and I can guess where this is going. “You could say yes to Nolan.”
I sigh.
“What?” She lifts her shoulders. “It’ll fix all your problems.”
Except the one where I can’t stop thinking about him…
We’re closing in on a week since Nolan made the offer for me to rent out his two rooms, and I still can’t bring myself to accept it.
I keep holding out, hoping something will come through, but I’m beginning to worry nothing ever will.
When I bumped into him at The Gravy Train, I was surprised.
Never met the guy once before, and now I’m running into him everywhere.
Even without the dim lighting of the bar, Nolan’s handsome.
In truth, the reaction I have to him is part of the reason I’m hesitant to say yes.
Sure, he’s off limits to my brain. But to my neglected lady bits? Well, they aren’t getting the memo, especially not when he pierces me with that blue stare of his.
“I’m with River on this one,” Caroline says. “If you’re worrying about living with a hot guy, don’t. It’s not that bad. I lived with Cooper for years without a problem.”
River twists her lips up. “I’m not sure you’re allowed to use that as an example considering you’re now screwing each other’s brains out.”
“We’re not screwing each other’s brains out. It’s called love.”
“Uh-huh. Love and wild passionate sex where you let him do some very naughty things to you.”
“River!” Caroline admonishes. “I told you all that in confidence!”
“Um, excuse me,” I interrupt. “Why haven’t I heard about these naughty things?”
They exchange a glance, and understanding dawns.
“Oh,” I say. “Because I’m single, right?”
They have the gall to appear sheepish.
“We didn’t want to make you…”
“Jealous.”
Caroline shakes her head, her blonde hair bouncing with the movement. “No—sad.”
“Guys, I’m divorced, not dead. We can still talk about sex and stuff.”
“Yeah, but you’re not getting any.”
“And it’s been forever since you’ve even gone out,” River adds. “You should try to get back out there.”
It’s not that I don’t want to get back out there. Hell, I’d love to get back in the dating game and get some action, but it’s harder than they think.
Finding someone to date is difficult already. Add a kid to the mix and it gets about ten times harder. Most people our age don’t want that sort of commitment so soon.
And I get it. I do.
I just hope I don’t spend the next ten years searching for a guy who’s interested in me, my kid, and all the baggage that comes with co-parenting. I can’t imagine being alone for so long.
But my lack of love life isn’t what’s important right now.
“I think I should be focusing on where I’m going to live rather than the sad state of my sex life.”
“Again, might I suggest Nolan?” River says.
“To help with my sex life or my living situation?”
“Why not both?”
River and I exchange a look, then burst out laughing.
“I was teasing, Caroline, you little oversexed hussy.”
Her cheeks pinken. “It’s Cooper’s fault.”
My chest constricts, the pang of envy hitting me again.
“Besides, if—and that’s a big if—I’m going to say yes to Nolan’s offer, there will be no sleeping together.”
“It’s only temporary. Why not have a little fun in the meantime?”
“Hey, hi.” River raises her hand. “I tried that once. Didn’t work.”
“Yeah, but you and Dean were circling each other way before he moved into your place. That’s different.”
Caroline makes a fair point. River and Dean spent the better part of a year claiming they hated each other—all because Dean was allegedly an ass about River’s cat when he first moved in—before being forced into close quarters together finally made them face their feelings.
“This is a pointless conversation because I won’t be sleeping with him. I’m not sure when I even indicated I was interested in him.”
“You have eyes,” Caroline says. “Don’t pretend that man isn’t hot.”
“Where have you seen him?” I ask.
“I know what the internet is.”
River laughs. “Caroline’s right. Nolan is hot, but Maya has the right approach for when she does accept the offer.”
“Really?” Caroline says, twisting her lips up. “I thought since it worked out so well for you, you’d be all for it.”
“Well, Nolan’s not the commitment type. Dean says he’s never had a relationship last longer than a few weeks. I highly doubt Maya wants to get into something like that when she has Sam to worry about too.”
I point to River. “Exactly.”
“You can always sneak around,” Caroline suggests. “Sam would never have to know.”
“My god,” River mutters. “What happened to our sweet, innocent Caroline?” Another blush steals up her cheeks, and River rolls her eyes. “Never mind. Cooper.”