Page 68 of She’ll Steal Your Heart
Once the bed was made, she put her clothes in the dresser. She didn’t have a closet, but she didn’t have anything that needed to be hung anyway. There was a hook on the wall for her coat, and that was enough. She hung her new curtains, filled every inch of every drawer, stuffed a few things under the bed, and voila…her room was complete.
She sat on the bed and looked around. The bare white walls could use some art. She’d work on that next. A few inexpensive prints ought to brighten the place up. The room might be small, but it already felt warm and inviting, and once she added a few accents, it would really feel like hers. She lay back on the bed and closed her eyes.
She’d shared a room most of her life. Even last year in Rhode Island, she and Craig had shared a studio apartment. It hadn’t been ideal, but they’d made it work for the sake of their limited budget. There had been so many moments over the years when she’d yearned for the ability to close a door and be alone. Now she had it.
Lauren took several luxurious minutes just lying in bed, listening to the world around her. She could hear cars driving by outside and the occasional blast of a horn. Water ran through a pipe somewhere overhead, and the rhythmic beat of music thumped softly through the walls. Her roommates moved about on the other side of her door, laughing and talking.
She’d go out and join them in a minute, but first, she needed to revel in this moment by herself. She bounced lightly, testing the mattress. It was surprisingly comfortable, a lot more comfortable than Mia’s couch, although she’d loved every moment she spent on it, because it meant being near Mia. Also, it had been a safe, dependable place to sleep, and that was never something she’d taken for granted.
She missed Mia already, and more than that, she missed the comfort of sharing the apartment with her. But she’d be back to visit soon enough, and in the meantime, Mia was stopping by this morning to see Lauren’s new place.
After a few minutes of happy daydreaming, she got up and opened her door. She followed the sound of voices to the living room, where she found Tariq and Eliot on the couch together, watching theGreat British Baking Showor something similar. Lauren wasn’t familiar enough with the show to be sure.
“All settled?” Tariq asked when he saw her.
“Yep. I didn’t have much to unpack.”
“Did we show you the color-coding system for the fridge?” Eliot asked, glancing at her before returning his attention to the contestant painstakingly decorating a cake.
“Yeah, briefly when I came to look at the place,” she said.
He nodded. “There’s a chart on the fridge door, but basically we each have a color. You’re purple. Put one of those little stickers on everything that’s yours. Anything without a sticker is fair game for anyone who wants it.”
“Got it,” she said. “How do you usually handle meals?”
Tariq shrugged. “We fend for ourselves mostly. Eliot and I cook together a lot, but Harmony mostly keeps to herself.”
“Would I be stepping on any toes if I cooked something for the whole apartment tonight?” Lauren asked. “Nothing fancy. I was thinking about lasagna.”
Tariq grinned at her. “I don’t think anyone would complain about that.”
“Great.” She returned his smile. She wanted to make a good first impression on her new roommates, and this would be a chance to get to know them too.
“Harmony’s a vegetarian, FYI,” Eliot told her.
“Good to know. But she does eat cheese?”
“Might want to check,” Eliot said.
“I’ll do that. Thanks.” She went down the hall to Harmony’s room. The door was closed. Soft music came from behind it, probably the source of the beat Lauren had heard in her own room. She knocked.
The music got quieter, and a few moments later, the door opened a crack. Harmony peered out. Her hair was hidden under an orange beanie. “Yeah?”
“Hi,” Lauren said. “I was thinking about making lasagna for dinner, but Eliot mentioned you’re a vegetarian, so I just wanted to check on dietary restrictions.”
Harmony’s brow furrowed. “You’re making dinner for all of us? Why?”
Lauren shrugged. “Just a way to get to know my new roommates. I’m not much of a cook, but I enjoy making simple things. Comfort food.”
“Cool. I like lasagna, as long as it doesn’t have meat in it.”
“Cheese is okay, though?”
“Yep.” Harmony stepped back as if she was about to close the door in Lauren’s face, pausing at the last moment. “Thanks for checking.”
“Welcome.” Lauren smiled as she headed down the hall. Harmony’s abruptness didn’t bother her. She didn’t seem rude, probably just shy or cynical of others. Lauren sat in a chair at the kitchen table and started putting together a shopping list using the notes app in her phone.
Mia should be here soon, and when she left, Lauren would go pick up some groceries. As if she’d summoned her with her thoughts, the buzzer rang, and Lauren leaped up to answer it. She pressed the button on the intercom.
