Page 15 of The Reluctant Roommate

“There are enough mugs to just put it in the dishwasher,” Morgan said.

Heidi slapped her forehead. “Of course. Next time I’ll remember.” She glanced at the kitchen clock. “I’ll go make up my bed, then I have to head to work. Thanks for the coffee.”

With a quick smile, she picked up her backpack and was gone, then her feet thumped up the stairs.

Morgan blew out a breath. That hadn’t been so bad. Maybe this would work after all.

She picked up her coffee and went over to her laptop in the office nook off the living area. Heidi had assumed she was working. That conversation would likely have to happen but not yet. First, Morgan had to see how the two of them would get along.

Twenty minutes later, the back of Morgan’s neck prickled with awareness as Heidi walked through to the kitchen. Morgan switched to a spreadsheet, one of the fictitious financial planning examples she’d used to train new hires—but Heidi wouldn’t know that if she happened to look.

The faucet ran briefly, then Heidi reappeared, a small day pack slung over one shoulder. She was dressed in jeans and an oversize polar fleece. The neckline sagged, showing the curve of her neck and the hollow at the base of her throat. Her brown hair feathered over her ears, and the purple streak hung lower on one side.

Heidi waggled her fingers. “Bye. See you later. Around nine thirtyp.m. is my best guess.”

Morgan offered a brief smile. Heidi had remembered her concern about hearing the door when she was in bed. That was good. “Thanks. Hope your shift goes well.”

“Me too.” Heidi padded across the floor in socked feet and pushed into her Nikes. The door closed behind her.

Morgan sighed, and her shoulders dropped as the slight tension drained away.So far, so good.

Chapter 10

Another Day, Another Dollar

The light rail whisked Heidi closer to work and in less time than taking the bus from the hostel. She was ten minutes early at the FlyInn. Robert leaned on the bar, scrolling on his phone, and Arnie was humming in the kitchen. A burger and fries rested in the servery.

Heidi continued on to the lockers and left her pack, shed her jacket, and finger combed her hair. When she returned to the bar five minutes later, Robert hadn’t moved and the burger was getting cold. Without a word, Heidi picked it up, glanced at the ticket, and took it over to table five.

When she returned to the bar, Robert had gone. She passed over the space, collecting dirty glasses, returning bottles to their rightful place, wiping the counter, and turning on the glass washer.

Another day, another dollar. At least the tips were improving now that the regulars knew her. Arturo tapped his empty glass on the bar and nodded her way. She poured him another and delivered it with a smile. Another dollar went into her tip jar.

As usual, Robert left the bar to her, and the shift went quickly, especially when the after-work construction crews arrived. Arnie slipped her a serve of chicken wings, and Heidi stood at the far end of the bar to eat them between customers. She licked ranch dressing from her fingers.

Denver was a long way from southern California, light-years from the life she’d thought she’d be having with Serena. Sunshine, a shared apartment with her girlfriend, and the financial buffer of that twenty grand to start her course at SanDiego State University was a long way from whirling snow, an altitude that still made her breathless, and rooming with a stranger.

At least Morgan seemed pleasant. Somewhat stilted, tense, as if she still had to decide whether Heidi was going to make off with her laptop in the middle of the night. But pleasant nonetheless. And the house was great. She wasn’t sure what Morgan did other than something financial. Her laptop had shown a spreadsheet with figures, but Heidi had averted her eyes. She was no Serena.

As long as she was respectful to Morgan’s home, she hoped it would work out—at least until she either found a better job or managed to track Serena down and get her money back.

~ ~ ~

Heidi came downstairs at ten the next morning. A WhatsApp chat with Fiona had kept her snuggled up in the extremely comfortable bed until after nine, then she’d had a shower in the modern bathroom. She’d spent a couple of minutes wiping over the shower to keep it as sparkling and streak-free as she’d found it. So different from the shared hostel bathrooms with chipped tiles and permanent soap scum.

Morgan was once again at her laptop, but she closed the lid as Heidi passed, then followed her into the kitchen.

“Morning, roomie. I hope I didn’t wake you coming in last night,” Heidi said.

“You didn’t—I was reading. But thank you for being quiet.” Morgan blinked owlishly. “I made a pot of coffee—I realize you haven’t had a chance to grocery shop yet.”

“Thanks. Want one?” Heidi pulled out two mugs from the cabinet and held them up.

“Er, thanks. That would be good.”

“I don’t want to interrupt your work, though.” Heidi poured two coffees, then took the half-and-half from the fridge. “Do you always work from home?”

“Mostly,” Morgan said. “I have an easy day today.”