Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
Scott
“What do you think?” I ask, as I pour myself some coffee.
“About what?” Cole says, shoveling scrambled eggs into his mouth.
“About the new neighbor. What do you think of her?”
“I think she hates you.”
“Well, yeah, that’s clear.” I sip my coffee.
“She seems really uptight,” Cole says, grabbing another cinnamon roll. “Who gets that upset about music?”
“In her defense, it was really loud. Hudson kept cranking up the volume. And we did keep it going later than usual.”
Cole smiles. “Look at you, taking her side. Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“Like what?”
“Like maybe you like her?”
“I like her, but not like you’re thinking. I’ve been with girls like her, back when I used to be like her. I came here to get away from that life.”
“Yeah, because New York is so laid back,” he jokes.
“You know what I mean. You used to be the same way. You were so damn serious when you were on the team, I couldn’t even joke around with you.”
“Yeah, but I still partied. Your neighbor acts like an old lady, yelling at us to keep the music down so she can sleep.”
“How old do you think she is?”
“Early twenties?” Cole says, before swigging down his sports drink.
“I was going to say 25.”
“That sounds about right.” He rips a paper towel from the roll and wipes off his hands.
“Did you see her apartment?” I say. “There’s nothing in it.”
“Yeah, that was weird. Where’s all her stuff? Did she just toss everything from her old place?”
“I don’t know. Jenna didn’t tell me much about her.”
“Maybe you should call and ask her.”
“Why would I do that?”
He shrugs. “You seem to have a lot of questions about this girl.”
“I just wondered why her apartment is empty,” I say, taking his empty plate and putting it in the dishwasher. “She doesn’t even have a bed.”
“So you gave her a pool float.” Cole laughs. “Real nice, Scott.”
“Hey, it’s better than her sleeping on the floor.”
“Why do you care? I thought she was just your neighbor.”
I step up to the counter, across from Cole. “What kind of stupid question is that? You know I’ll help someone if I can. That’s the whole reason I started this.” I motion to the building. “To help people. Like your sorry ass.”
“That’s different. We’ve been friends since college. What you’re doing here is business. It’s not personal.”
“Of course it’s personal,” I say, getting angry. “You think I don’t care about these people?”
He shakes his head. “That’s not what I meant. Just forget it.”
“I gave her the pool float so she’d stop being pissed at me. That’s it. It’ll be easier to live next to her if she doesn’t hate me.”
“I think she still hates you, even with the pool float. And it’s not like we’ll stop having the parties. She’s just gonna have to get used to it.”
“I don’t see that happening.”
“Maybe I could bake her some brownies,” Cole jokes. “Sweeten her up a little.”
“That only works with girls you’re trying to sleep with. Speaking of that, what happened last night? With Olivia’s friend?”
“She went up to my place around one.” He smiles a little. “It was a good night. It got even better when she saw my jersey.”
“She didn’t know you played hockey?”
“Olivia didn’t tell her much. Turns out, she’s a huge hockey fan.”
“Did you tell her what happened?”
“I didn’t go into details. I just told her I hurt my leg and that I’m doing rehab until I can play again.”
Cole was a professional hockey player, but he never got to play in a game. His first week in the pros, a truck slammed into his car and did major damage to his leg, ending his hockey career. That was a couple of years ago and he’s been working his ass off to get in good enough shape to get back on the team. It’s not going to happen, but it’s not my place to tell him that. He’ll realize it, eventually. In the meantime, he’s managing the building, handling the maintenance, and dealing with tenants. And baking. He started baking as a way to relieve stress, but it turned into a way to get girls. Now it’s more about the girls. Either way, it works out well for me and the guys. We’re always getting homemade baked goods.
“I’m gonna hit the gym,” Cole says, getting up. “What are you doing today?”
“I gotta clean up this mess.” I nod toward the party stuff that’s still in the living room. “Hudson said he’d help, but he had to go into work.”
“On a Sunday?” Cole laughs. “Was there some kind of science emergency?”
“His intern quit so he had to go in and monitor some experiment they’re doing.”
Our friend, Hudson, is a molecular biologist. He works in a lab doing research.
“You need me to stay and help?” Cole asks.
“I can do it. You cleaned up last time.”
Cole turns to leave, then turns back. “So why didn’t you tell her?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Trina. Why didn’t you tell her about Bridget?”
“There’s nothing to tell. Bridget and I are friends.”
“Who used to date.”
“A long time ago.”
“I wouldn’t say last year is a long time ago.”
“To me, it is. And that relationship wasn’t serious.”
“Maybe not, but you’re still hooking up with her.”
“That’s only happened a few times.”
“Including last night.”
“Yeah? So? Why do you care?”
“I don’t. I just wondered why you wanted Trina to think you and Bridget weren’t a thing.”
“Because we’re not. Hooking up doesn’t mean we’re dating.”
“So why hide that you’re hooking up with her? Trina already figured it out when she caught you buying the whipped cream.”
“That could’ve been for anything.”
“Like cocktails?” Cole laughs. “How did you even come up with that?”
“Can you just drop this? You’re making a big deal out of nothing.”
“Whatever you say.” He heads to the door. “I’ll see you later.”
“Yeah, see ya.”
When he’s gone, I get to work cleaning up the mess from last night. It’s not that bad. Lots of empty cups and bottles and then the coolers and inflatable chairs.
Within an hour, I’ve tossed out all the garbage, wiped the tables, did a quick sweep of the floor, and deflated all the chairs. I grab a stack of coolers and take them down to my storage unit, which is at the very end of the hall next to Trina’s apartment. I unlock the unit, put the coolers in it, and head back to get more.
On my next trip, I hear a noise coming from Trina’s place. It sounds like she’s crying. I continue to the storage unit and drop off the coolers. When I pass by Trina’s apartment again, I stop and listen. She’s definitely crying, but quietly, like she doesn’t want anyone to hear. I feel the urge to knock on her door and ask what’s wrong, which surprises me because I’m not good with crying girls, or anyone who cries. Crying makes me uncomfortable. I never know what to do or say, so I usually do nothing. But the thought of Trina sitting in that empty apartment crying about who knows what is really bothering me.
Back in my apartment, I call up Jenna. Maybe she knows what the deal is with my new neighbor, like why the girl doesn’t even have a bed.
“Hey, Scott,” Jenna says in a cheerful tone. “You miss me already?”
“I do. But that’s not why I’m calling. Do you have a minute?”
“Sure. What’s up?”
“I was wondering if you know anything about that girl who’s subletting your apartment.”
“Not really. She’s just someone Sara knew. Why? Is there a problem?”
“No, I just noticed she doesn’t have much in her apartment and I was wondering why. She has a lot of clothes, but nothing else.”
“She has a degree in fashion. That’s how Sara knows her. They went to design school together. That’s probably why she has a lot of clothes.”
“If she has a fashion degree, why is she working at a grocery store?”
“I think she lost her job. I’d have to ask Sara. I could call her, or you could just talk to Trina yourself.”
“Yeah, I’ll do that. I don’t want you having to call your friend about this.”
“I don’t mind. I can ask her at work tomorrow.”
“No, forget it. I’ll just talk to Trina.”
“So how was the party last night?”
“Good. People said it was one of our best yet. It’s too bad you couldn’t be there.”
“I’ll talk to Leo. Maybe we could come to one some other time.”
“Whenever you want. You’re always welcome. I’ll let you go. I’m sure you’ve got plans with your fiancé.”
She laughs. “Stop calling him that. You’ll freak him out. He’s not ready to get married.”
He’s ready enough that he bought a ring. He showed it to me a few weeks ago. Leo’s planning to propose to her on their two-year anniversary, which is a month from now. Jenna has no idea, which is why I feel I can tease her about it. The more I bring it up, the more she convinces herself it’ll never happen.
“I’ll talk to you later, Jenna.”
“Yeah, bye!”
She sounds really happy. Leo’s a good guy. He’ll be a good husband to her when they finally get married. As for me? I’m married to my job. I’ve found something that gives me purpose and makes me feel fulfilled, and that’s really all I need in life.
I grab another stack of coolers and bring it down to the storage unit. On the way back, I stop outside Trina’s apartment.
I knock on the door. “Trina, it’s Scott.”
Her quiet crying comes to a halt. “What do you need?”
I try to think of a reason. I should’ve thought this through before I knocked.
“I had a question.”
I actually don’t. I’m just trying to get her to open the door, then I’ll decide what to do after that.
“What is it?” she yells through the door.
“Could you come out here? I need to show you something.”
The door swings open and she looks at me with annoyance. Her eyes are red and puffy and her hair’s pulled back in a messy bun.
“What do you need to show me?” she asks.
“You okay?”
“Yeah? Why?”
“Your eyes are all red.”
“It’s allergies. It must be the apartment. Something in here is making my allergies act up.” She clears her throat. “So what do you need?”
“I wanted to tell you about the storage unit,” I say, thinking that’s a valid reason to knock on her door.
“What storage unit?”
“The one next to your apartment.” I point to it and she peeks her head out the door. “It’s mine, and I tend to go in and out of it a lot, especially on the weekends. I just wanted you to know so you aren’t wondering what’s going on when you hear me going in there.”
“What do you keep in it?”
“Just party stuff. Coolers. Extra tables and chairs.”
“Do you really have parties every weekend? Jenna told me you did, but I thought she was exaggerating.”
“She wasn’t. I usually have one every Saturday, but sometimes Friday too.”
“Why do you have so many?”
“Why wouldn’t I? It’s nice to be able to kick back and relax. Have some drinks. Listen to music. Hang out with people.”
“But aren’t you kind of… old to still be having those kinds of parties?”
I smile a little. “How old do you think I am?”
“Late twenties?”
“I’m 29. And you’re…” I pause. “Twenty-two?”
“Twenty-five. I don’t look 22, do I?”
I shrug. “I’m not great at guessing ages. So what are you doing right now?”
“Just organizing my stuff.”
Glancing behind her, I see her clothes arranged in neatly stacked piles. “It looks like you’re done.”
“I might rearrange some things.” She folds her arms over her chest. “So was that it? You just wanted to tell me about the storage room? I thought you said you had a question.”
“That’s right. I did.” I lean against the door frame and smile at her. “What do you think about going to get something to eat?”
“Didn’t you just have breakfast?”
“I did, but I could eat again. I had a hard workout this morning. I need to refuel.”
“Um, I think I’ll just eat here. I have to be at work later.”
“What time?”
“Two.”
“That’s hours from now. Come on. There’s a place I think you’ll like just a few blocks from here.”
“I can’t. I’m trying to save money.”
“Then you’re in luck because it’s my treat.”
“Why would you pay for me?” she says like she thinks there’s a motive behind my invite. “We just met.”
“We’re neighbors. I think it would be good for us to get to know each other.”
“Neighbors don’t usually talk to each other, especially in New York.”
“That may be true, but I grew up in Wisconsin, where people talk to their neighbors.”
“You’re from Wisconsin?” Her face lights up and she smiles. “What part?”
“Milwaukee. Why? You been there?”
“Yeah. I’m from Chicago.” She stares at me like she’s seeing me differently now that she knows we’re both from the Midwest. “That’s so weird. I never would’ve guessed you’re a Cheesehead.”
“Born and raised. Let’s go eat and I’ll tell you more.”
“I would, but I’m kind of a mess. I’d need time to get ready.”
“You look fine. This place fills up fast on Sundays. We should go now if we want to get a table.”
“Um, okay, give me five minutes and I’ll be over.” She shuts her door and I hear her quickly moving through her apartment.
Why am I doing this? I was supposed to ask her what’s wrong, not invite her to go out to eat with me. But I wasn’t sure she’d tell me anything if I just stood at her door and asked. Taking her out, I’ll have at least an hour to get her to talk and open up to me and tell me why she’s living in an empty apartment.
But why do I care? That’s the question Cole asked me… and I still don’t have an answer.