Chapter 14 Move In Day
WREN
At the sounds of my alarm, I roll out of bed and shuffle to my bathroom. I brush my teeth and check the time on my phone. It’s seven thirty, which means my friends should be here in thirty minutes or so to help me pack.
My nerves have me feeling a little nauseous. Originally, I was worried that living with Tanner would be like living in a frat house, but after dinner the other night, I’m just worried it’s always going to be awkward between us.
I’m about halfway done with packing, and I’m sure the girls and I can knock the rest out pretty quickly. The guys will be here at eleven to start moving my furniture to my parents’ house and to Tanner’s, so we have a lot of work to do in a few hours, but it’s not impossible.
Dolly walks into the bathroom and sticks her butt into the air, stretching her back. “You ready to move, baby girl.” She mazes through my legs, only pausing to rub the side of her head against my shin. My phone vibrates, and I swipe up on the screen.
The Tortured Therapists Department
Gray:
Stopping to grab a pumpkin spice latte, and then I’ll be over!
Poppy:
That sounds so good! I think I’m going to stop on my way to Wren’s to get one too. Anybody else want one?
Chloe:
Me! Ava was up all night. Can you add an extra shot of espresso? I have cash.
I’ll take one, but can you make it iced? A PSL sounds like the perfect thing.
Poppy:
Y’all got it! Lacey, do I dare ask if you want one?
Lacey:
Jace already made me my London fog, so I’ll pass.
Poppy:
Okay, I’ll be there soon with the caffeine.
I finish my morning skincare routine, put my hair in a ponytail, and walk back into my room to get dressed in leggings and a T-shirt with a large bouquet of wildflowers on the front.
Surveying the space, I make a mental list of everything that needs to be done and then walk into my kitchen to try to find something to eat.
There isn’t much, but I manage to find a granola bar.
I’m savoring the last bite, starting to feel a little better, when someone knocks.
“Morning, lady!” Gray chimes as she walks through the door. “Are you alone?”
“Yeah, the rest of the girls aren’t here yet.”
“Oh, I know that. I was wondering if Tanner was going to be on your couch again.”
“Not funny,” I deadpan.
“Yes it is,” she chuckles. There’s another knock, and Lacey and Chloe walk in.
Lacey’s eyes dart around the space. “Wait, Tanner didn’t sleep on the couch?” she asks, gesturing towards the sofa. “I was fully prepared for him to be here.”
“I had the same thought,” Gray says. “It’s a shame.”
“I hate all of you but Chloe.”
“How are you feeling about the move?” Chloe asks.
“I don’t know. He cooked me dinner the other night, and it was honestly a little awkward. Nice, but he seemed so nervous, and then when I offered to pay, he told me he was rich and said he didn’t want my money, just the opportunity to prove he’s not a douchebag, and I felt like the biggest bitch.”
“It’s not your fault he’s a flirt,” Chloe says.
“I know. I just hope this doesn’t go up in complete flames.”
“It won’t,” Lacey smiles. “It’ll be fine. I keep telling you he’s a good guy, and it’s because he is. You just need to get to know him.”
“Well I’ve agreed to roomie nights once a week, so that shouldn’t be a problem.”
“What the hell is a roomie night?” Gray asks. There is another knock. I walk over and swing it open.
“Here, take these. I need to go get the supplies I brought,” Poppy says, handing me a tray full of coffee. She turns on her heels and heads back to the car.
I walk back into my living room and hand Chloe her drink before taking mine. “I don’t know. I guess we're just gonna hang out platonically and get to know each other.”
“Platonically,” Lacey says, using her fingers to make air quotes.
“Yes, platonically. He said something about not wanting my money, he’d rather my time.” All three of my friends make eyes at each other and then me. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?” Poppy asks, walking in, holding a bin full of colorful tape and markers.
“Wren was just explaining that T asked her to pay him with her time, not money.”
Poppy’s eyes go wide.
“It’s nothing, and it’s not all I’m going to do. I think I might try to make an effort to cook him dinner as part of my payment.”
“You cook?” Gray asks.
“Well, no, not really, but I gotta do something.”
“Seems like you could pick something you’re better at?”
“Not funny,” I say, blankly.
“So, whatcha got there, Pop?” Lacey asks.
“Moving supplies.” She sets the bin down and starts pulling out colorful tape and markers. “Kitchen can be pink, bathroom can be blue, art supplies can be yellow, living room can be purple.” She holds up each roll of tape as she talks. “Bedroom can be orange, and so on.”
“Genius,” I say.
She turns and looks right at Lacey. “When you pack a box, put the coordinating tape on the box, and then use the markers to write what’s in the box. This way Wren will know where all her stuff is.”
“Why are you looking at me?” Lacey asks.
“No reason,” Poppy takes a large drink from her latte, and we all laugh.
“What’s going to your parents’ and what’s going to Tanner’s?” Gray asks.
“Clothes, everything in my bathroom, a few towels, my bedding, my bed, one nightstand, my dresser, and all of Dolly’s things go to Tanner’s. The rest is off to my parents’ house.”
“You don’t want to bring any decorations, or paintings, or anything?” Chloe asks.
“I’m not going to be there very long, so there’s no need.” My friends look at each other again.
“What?”
“Oh, nothing,” Lacey singsongs. “Should we get started?”
My phone vibrates, and I swipe up on the screen.
Tanner:
Hey I’m swamped with work so I can’t be there today
I feel my face fall as I read. He’s really not going to help?
Oh, okay, that’s fine!
Tanner:
The other guys will be there and Jacks still has his key so he can let you in and then just take it from him because that’s the only spare
“You okay?” Chloe asks.
“Oh, yeah. Tanner had to go to work or something, so he can’t come help.”
Tanner:
I’m really sorry and I’ll explain later
“So weird he bailed again,” Poppy says.
“Bailed again?” I ask.
“Yeah, he was supposed to play pickleball a couple weeks ago, but he bailed the night before. Logan’s worried about him. Said he hasn’t been acting like himself lately.”
“Jace said the same thing,” Lacey says. “What does he do for work again?”
“He works for his dad,” I say, remembering the conversation he and I had at The Local, wondering if whatever is going on is related.
Don’t worry about it! You okay?
Tanner:
Yeah
Tanner:
See you later roomie
“We should start packing so we can be finished before the guys get here,” I say.
The girls each grab a different colored tape roll, and we disperse across my apartment to the coordinating area.
I put on my favorite playlist, and “Wannabe” by The Spice Girls begins to play.
For the next hour and a half, we pack up my apartment and sing pop music at the top of our lungs, and I’m reminded once again that I’m the luckiest girl in the world to have these four as my friends.