Page 49 of Love in Development

Chapter 15

At the curb of ourapartment building, Mom helped load boxes into Lin’s car.A beautiful blue sky with the slightest breeze made it the perfect day for moving.The last few weeks had flown by, and I still hadn’t given IK the ring.There had been opportunities, but I hadn’t known what to say.It felt momentous, like I was declaring my love.I guess I kind of was, and that made me nervous.I liked someone whose face I’d never seen, and they’d never seen mine.But wasn’t that the point?

I worried about how Mom would handle being alone.If she would eat.If she would stop crying at night.Because although she had acted mature in front of me, Dad’s impending wedding had broken her a little.

“Study hard.And don’t forget to eat proper food.I love you.”Mom gave me a big hug, and I squeezed back, letting the lavender soothe me.I was going to miss her.

“Love you too,” I whispered.“I’ll be back for the holidays and summer.”

I had hope that this would help her start a new life.One where she didn’t think about or depend upon Dad in any way.She had her friends, and her work, and that was a start.

With just Lin and me in the car, we both preferred to sit in our thoughts while the music played.It felt weird sitting up front as if I was stealing Charisse’s spot, but she’d already gone to the house to start unpacking.Lin’s stuff was already there, of course.

“You’re here!”Charisse shrieked when we drove up.The cute-as-a-button house stood out among its neighbors with decorations that showed money and taste.It was freshly painted slate blue with white trim and a matching white porch swing out front.Small, as houses went, but bigger than my apartment.And it was all ours.

I grabbed a box, as did each of my friends.I hadn’t thought I had that many things until I’d started packing and filling Lin’s trunk.Another car pulled up behind Lin’s, and we all turned.The dragon got out of the passenger side, and RogueStriker got out of the driver’s seat.He winked at me.Were they following me now?Did they want to ruin my college life too, all because I had spurned his advances and stood up to her pettiness?

“Get the boxes.”She tilted her head toward him.

He went around to the back of the car.

“What’s going on here?”Lin put her arm around the box so she could hold it on one hip and put her fist on the other.

“Didn’t your parents tell you?They owe my dad a favor, and I’m staying here until my escrow goes through.”

Lin set my box on the ground, blocking the way to the house, and pulled out her phone, dialing in a second.There was a heated argument in what I assumed was Chinese coming from the other end of the line.Then Lin hung up and pocketed her phone.

She looked at me.“You can bunk with me.”

Great.Fun was officially dead.If I had owned a car, I would’ve gone straight back to Mom’s.But I had only my bike to get around campus.

I balked at sharing a room with Lin; this was her house, so I bunked with Charisse.Lin immediately ordered a loft bed with a desk underneath and drawers along the side.That way, I would have a place to put my stuff.The room would lose the nice open feel it had now, but it would be more functional for sharing.In the meantime, I left most everything in boxes—it wouldn’t be the first time I’d lived out of them.

The shared spaces would be more unpleasant.Lin, as always, began as she meant to go on.Someone had to keep the dragon in check.“Some rules, ladies.That means you too, Stephanie.Everyone will be assigned chores to help out.Everyone will be in charge of their own food.No touching other people’s things without permission.And after all the boxes are in...no guys.No one but us is allowed in the house.”

“Are you kidding me?I can’t bring my friends over to my own place?”

“Nope.You are just living here temporarily until your escrow goes through.No sense in getting too comfortable.”