Page 53 of You'll Love it Here

I start laughing in earnest. “How fucked up is this?”

“I tell ya what, people are really weird.” Carmen lets out a chuckle of his own.

I nod. “Clearly.”

His grin softens. “Hey, I don’t want Irene paying the fine that I created, so I’ll pay it off.”

The sudden offer takes me by surprise. “I’m pretty sure you weren’t the only one to mess up the bins. There were items I could definitely tie to other tenants.”

He’s already holding a hand out. “That’s okay, I’ve got some extra cash saved up. Irene’s a good landlord and she shouldn’t have to deal with it.” He shrugs, then a fond look sweeps across his face. “And I know we’ve got our deal now and all, but I’d still rather not have a reason to be evicted. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that if you wanna keep something, it’s worth a little extra love.”

I grin at this sentiment. “I appreciate that, Carmen.”

His eyes brighten. “Mona, I just realized we forgot to seal thedeal about our discretion.” There’s a buoyancy in his voice as he holds out his glass to cheers me.

I proffer my glass in return.

As they clink, I remember the upcoming viewing.

I stand and swallow the last of the Fanta before reminding Carmen of his appointment with the electrician tomorrow.

This place isn’t worth any extra love, because in a few weeks it could be sold.

Early Aughts Sick Day

On Friday morning, I wake with a pain that seems to wrap around my head and also pound through it with every beat. I should’ve expected this when I went to bed last night with a fuzzy feeling in my nose. I probably caught some horrific disease when I was rooting around in the trash the other day.

When I get out of bed, the chills start. My left nostril shows no signs of letting any air in. The cold I’d been hoping wasn’t real since last night, the one I noticed as soon as I got back from dropping Ernest off with Sami, is here.

Normally, a cold would be something I’d take a few painkillers for, then work from home and collapse after putting out enough fires. But now, the only business on my plate is making sure my new friend Carmen will let Jamie in to do the electrical inspection, which I quickly manage by emailing Jamie instructions to buzz into Carmen’s suite and do the final inspection without me.

I try to make toast, but the weakness in my knees is too much. I take a painkiller and feed Alice, who looks at me like she thinks I might be a problem for her relaxing day alone. I tug on a pair of sweats and then set myself up on the couch with an ice pack and throw blanket.

Pulling out my phone, I text Sami:Will be out of commission today. Can you please keep Ernest. I have a bug.

And proceed to pass out.

A few hours later, I burst upward. I’m still curled up on mycouch. At some point I’d half woken enough to turn the TV on, and there’s some competition show about people making miniatures.

Then another bang hits my door, and I realize the knocking is what woke me.

I ease myself up from the couch, groaning at the stiffness in my limbs, and peek through the front door’s peephole. Sami is standing there, rocking back on his heels.

“Hey, Sami,” I call, though my voice cracks. “I think I still have a bit of a cold.”

“That’s why I’m here,” he calls back. “I’ve got some supplies to help with that.”

I open the door a little and let him take in all my red-eyed, red-nosed glory. His hair is wet, so he must’ve just showered after getting off the diner shift. Confusingly, he’s holding up the lamp with the naked breasts that was at Carmen’s yesterday.

I stare at it pointedly. “I don’t know how that will help me feel better, but thanks.”

“No, my special sickness kit is in this backpack.” He pats behind him. “This bonus was left outside your door.”

I open the door wider and take it from him and notice there’s a piece of paper taped to it. I tug it off and read:Saw you eyeing this one. You’re all right! Carmen.

A smirk finds its way to my lips. Sami’s eyes are twinkling with some weird reverence for the thing. “I saw the note,” he admits. “I think that’s the highest honor from the guy. What did you even do?”

“I just, um...” I think of the strange pact Carmen and I agreed to. “Well, yesterday I shared a drink with him.”