Chapter 17 Is That Rain?
WREN
The door shuts, and I open my eyes. That must have been Tanner leaving to go to work.
The apartment is still dark, but the morning light is creeping in between the blinds.
What time is it? I flip around and grab my phone.
Eight fifteen. I sit up and stretch my neck from side to side.
Thank god I’m getting my mattress today because for as nice as this couch is, it’s not meant to be slept on.
Slipping my feet into my cat slippers, I begin to move toward the kitchen.
I freeze when I reach the fridge. Stuck to the front are two yellow Post-it notes.
One has a doodle of a cat with spots alongside a dog.
There is a hammer, I think, sitting next to the dog, and I’m not sure what it means.
I pull off the other, and study the handwritten note.
Hey Roomie! Coffee and creamer are in the fridge.
Try mixing the amaretto with the white chocolate raspberry!
–T
I set it on the counter and open the fridge.
I take out a container of pre-brewed iced coffee before perusing the creamer selection.
There are five different flavors: amaretto, white chocolate raspberry, coconut cream, mocha, and caramel.
I reach for the coconut cream but then pause.
I grab the amaretto and white chocolate raspberry instead.
After adding a small amount of ice and chilled coffee to a glass, I pour in even amounts of both flavors.
I take a sip, fully expecting to hate it, but I don’t—it’s delicious.
Thanks for the coffee! You were right, amaretto and white chocolate raspberry is delicious!
Tanner:
Shit you’re already up
Tanner:
Did I wake you when I left
It’s fine. I need to get a move on it so I can help Logan get my mattress.
Tanner:
Glad you liked the coffee
Tanner:
Did you like the drawing
Yes? I’m sorry I don’t get it.
Tanner:
It’s a cheetah and dog
Fuck, I should’ve remembered that. I stare back at the little drawing and smile at the thought that maybe we are like the cheetah and the dog.
I love it. Thank you!
Tanner:
I drew Thor’s hammer next to me since you think I look like him
I said your hair reminded me of him.
Tanner:
I don’t know we’re a similar build and I’m super strong
A vision of Tanner shirtless pops into my head, and I shake it away.
LOL!
Tanner:
Pulling into hell
Tanner:
See you later roomie
I grab the notes off the counter and walk toward my bedroom to get ready. Pulling open the top drawer of my nightstand, I set them inside. Swiping up on my phone, I find Tanner’s contact. I’m not sure why, but I add the golden retriever emoji next to his name and then check in with Poppy.
I’m getting ready, and then I can meet you at my old place to grab my mattress. Want to meet at 9 or 9:15?
Poppy:
Sounds good. We’re up and ready when you are!
Thirty minutes later, I’m out the door and in my car.
The pizza, the conversation, and the comic books from last night rattle around in my head.
Guilt strikes, and I wonder if maybe I judged him too harshly.
Since we decided to live together, he has done nothing but surprise me, and for the first time since I’ve met him, I don’t want to just tolerate him; I want to try to get to know the guy he pretends not to be.
I pull into the parking lot of Cedar Hill and park my car. Yesterday, I didn’t really get to process not living here anymore, so I make my way over to my old apartment, alone, for one final walk through and goodbye.
It looks so empty without my stuff, and I send a silent thank you to the universe that I didn’t have to fill all the holes that cover the walls from the art and pictures that used to hang there. I guess there are some perks to getting kicked out so that the company can demolish the building.
There’s a small knock, and then I hear the door swing open. “Wren, we’re here!” Poppy yells. I walk out to meet them.
“Thanks for doing this. I fear if I have to sleep on Tanner’s couch another night, my back will never be the same.”
“It’s not a problem,” Logan says. “You girls ready to get this thing out of here?”
The three of us walk in the bedroom, assessing the best way for us to carry my queen-size mattress out of the apartment.
“I think we turn it on its side, drag it to the front door, and then we can pick it up and walk it to the bed of the truck. It doesn’t look very heavy, so if y’all take one side, I’ll take the other,” Logan explains.
We work together to lift it onto its side. Poppy and I pull from the front, while Logan pushes from the back.
“Turn,” Logan says when we get to the bedroom door. “The hallway is really narrow, so we’re going to have to angle it so it fits.” Poppy and I try, but it starts to bend in the middle.
“We might need your help up here, babe,” Poppy says. “Wren, how old is this mattress?”
“I’ve had it since I was probably ten,” I explain with a laugh. “She’s floppy, but she’s broken in and comfortable.”
The whole thing begins to tip and, despite our best effort, somehow wedges in the door frame. “Logan, a little help!” I yell.
“How am I supposed to get over to that side? It’s stuck,” he argues.
“Just walk through the bathroom. It connects.” He lets go of his side, and Poppy and I take on the weight of it.
“Hurry,” Poppy yells. “For as floppy as this thing is, it’s heavy as shit.”
“Sorry,” he says, walking out of my bathroom to join us in the hall. “Y’all move and I’ll hold it up.” He grabs our side, and we move out of the way.
“How did this even happen?” Poppy giggles, tilting her head to the side and studying my mattress.
“It started to fall, and I think when we tried to save it, we made it worse.” I shrug.
“Y’all go to the back, and I’m going to try to pull and tip it back up onto its side.” We walk through the bathroom and back into the bedroom.
“Okay, y’all each grab a handle, and then on the count of three, I’ll pull and you push. One, two, three.” The three of us follow his instructions, and the mattress flips back up right and out into the hall.
“Yes,” Poppy chimes. She lifts her hand, meeting mine in a high five. We manage to get the mattress to the front door, and then we pick it up and slowly move it to his truck. Logan jumps up, and in one swift motion pulls the mattress into the bed before beginning to tie it down.
“How was your first night at Tanner’s?” Poppy asks.
“A bit of a disaster, but then it ended good.”
“What happened?”
“I tried cooking him dinner as a thank you and then burnt it, so we ordered pizza and stayed up late talking. He surprised me actually.”
“We’ve been trying to tell you he’s a good guy,” she says.
“I know, I just hadn’t really seen it, but last night I think I got a glimpse. Now I just have to figure out how else I’m going to repay him because I think cooking him meals is definitely out.”
“How bad could it have been?”
“I almost caught the taco shells on fire.” I cringe.
“Yes, I’d say that’s definitely out.” She giggles. “Any other ideas?”
“Not yet, but I’ll think of something.” The sunlight dims, and I look up at the sky to see that a few clouds have moved in. “It’s not supposed to rain is it?”
Poppy checks her phone, shaking her head. “No, my weather app says it’s supposed to be sunny all day.”
“We’re all set,” Logan says, jumping down from his truck. “Wren, you want to follow behind me?”
“Sure. I’ve just got to drop off the keys.
” We move to our respective cars. I pull out first, heading to the front office.
It’s closed, but I put them in a labeled envelope and drop them into the designated drop box.
I’m almost back to the car when a raindrop falls and hits the top of my head.
My head swivels to where Poppy and Logan are parked, and I feel three more fall.
Shit!
“Is that rain?” Poppy asks from the passenger seat of the truck.
“Yeah. It might hold if we hurry.”
“Then let’s go girl!”
I slide into the driver’s seat of my car and pull out of Cedar Hill for the last time.
If it rains, that mattress is fucked. My whole body is drumming with nerves as we drive back to Tanner’s.
My eyes keep darting between the road ahead and the very dark clouds that are rolling in and starting to spit rain across the windshield.
At the next light, we turn left, and I’m met with my worst nightmare—brake lights. We’re at a complete stop. My eyes shift upward, only to find more gray clouds. Fuck. My phone rings.
“Hey, it looks like the church up ahead is letting out, so it might be awhile,” Poppy explains.
“Dammit, there is no way we’re going to make it.”
“You don’t know that. We…” The whole sky opens up, and sheets of rain hit the outside of my car and my mattress. “I’m sorry, babe,” she says.
“Should we try to turn around and find cover?” Logan asks. “I think there’s a gas station about a half a mile in the other direction.”
“No, that seems pointless. It’s already getting soaked. It hasn’t rained like this in weeks.” I rub my hands down my face.
“I’m sorry,” Logan says. “I’ll help pay for a new mattress. If my mom hadn’t needed me to handle that fucking squirrel yesterday, this wouldn’t have happened.”
“It’s not your fault. What are the chances?” I laugh. “I guess once we’re moving again, let’s head to the dump. I’ll order a new one when I get back to Tanner’s. The couch will be fine for a couple more nights.”
How fucking perfect.
My mattress got caught up in the rain, so if you find me on the couch again tonight that’s why.
Tanner :
Noooo that sucks
Yeah, I ordered a new one, but it won’t be here for a few days.
Tanner :
I’ll be working late trying to get this proposal done
Tanner :
You should take my bed
No, thanks. I’m fine on the couch.
Tanner :
I wish you would just take the bed
Tanner :
I don’t mind
Tanner :
I swear
I wasn’t telling you so that you’d offer. Just didn’t want you to get a jump scare when you got back later. Really, it’s okay.
Tanner :
So stubborn