"No, she was fine. But you were right about her not accepting the breakup. She told me it's only temporary and that you'd be moving to New York with her when she gets a job there."
"Yeah, well, that's not happening. She just needs more time to accept it."
"Speaking of jobs, she got me one."
"What are you talking about?"
"Lauren took me downstairs to that coffee shop her friend works at and her friend gave me a job."
"Huh." He pauses. "Why would she do that?" He asks it like he's talking more to himself than to me.
"I don't know but I could use the money so I told her I'd do it. I start Monday, or sooner if I'm able to."
"Don't rush it. You need to get better. Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Well, yeah. I don't have any other options and it's right downstairs. It's just short term until I find something else."
"Any luck on the apartment search?"
"Not yet. Oh, could you give me the password for the laptop?"
"Sure, it's shandy14. No caps."
"Great, thanks! I'll talk to you later."
He hangs up and I try the password. It works and I'm greeted by a screensaver that's a picture of Corbin and Lauren on a sailboat. They look like the perfect couple. Beautiful, tan, wearing big sunglasses, Lauren's hair blowing in the breeze. She's wearing a white bikini on her perfect body and Corbin has on navy swim trunks. I'm trying not to stare at his chest and chiseled abs but my eyes won't let me. Damn, he's hot. And kind, generous, funny.
My attraction to him is making it hard to live here. And I feel like I'm in the way as he tries to settle things with his ex.
I shouldn't be staying here. I pick up the laptop and begin my search again, determined to find a place.
Chapter Thirteen
Corbin
"Hey, Star," I say as I walk in the apartment. She's sitting on the couch with my laptop.
"Hi!" she says, greeting me with a smile.
It's nice coming home to someone who isn't yelling at me the minute I walk in the door. Lauren always skipped any kind of greeting and went straight to giving me orders, which I didn't take, so then we'd fight.
"Any luck?" I ask as I set the takeout sacks on the kitchen counter. I'm exhausted from work and didn't want to cook so I picked up dinner on the way home.
"A little," she says as I walk over to her. "I called two people looking for roommates and they said I could come see the apartments this Saturday."
"That should work. In the morning?"
"Oh, you don't have to come with me. I'll just take the bus."
"I'll drive you. I don't trust your judgment in apartments."
"Hey!"
I laugh. "What? Like you really think you made a good decision last time?"
"Okay, maybe it wasn't the best, but how was I supposed to know they were going to take off like that?"
"So what are the options?" I ask, sitting beside her.
"Some girls in Brookline and a couple guys in Jamaica Plain."
"Guys? You want to live with two guys?"
I shrug. "I can't be picky. As long as they're halfway normal I'd consider it an option."
"You shouldn't live with guys you don't know. It could be dangerous." I get up and walk back to the kitchen. "You hungry?"
"Yeah. I was just about to make a sandwich."
"I brought home Italian. Enough for two."
"You didn't have to do that." Star meets me at the table where I'm dishing out the pasta.
"Have a seat." I set a plate down in front of her, along with a fork and napkin. "Try it. Let me know what you think."
She takes a bite. "It's really good. I love Italian food."
"Me too but Lauren never wanted it," I say, joining Star at the table. "She said it had too many calories."
"She could use some calories. She's really thin."
"That's right. I forgot you met her today. Sorry about that. I texted her and told her to stop coming over."
"Did she text back?"
"No, but I'll call her later and tell her again. It'll take several tries to get her to listen."
I rip open the bag of garlic bread and set it between us.
"Help yourself."
She takes a piece. "Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"If Lauren and you were still together and she got a job in New York, would you move with her?"
"Probably not."
"You'd be okay dating long-distance?"
"If she moved, we would've broken up. The breakup was inevitable. My feelings for her just weren't there anymore. They haven't been for a long time but sometimes you get so used to the relationship and the routine of it that you don't even realize you no longer love the person. When Lauren started all this talk about moving to New York I was forced to really look at our relationship and what it'd become. That's when I realized there was nothing left."
She nods and looks down at her plate, twirling her fork in the pasta. "You think you'll start dating again soon?"
"I didn't think I would but now I'm more open to the idea."
I shouldn't have said that. When she asked, I was thinking about her and how meeting her has made me want to start dating again. But not just anyone. I want to date someone like Star. Someone who lets me be myself and doesn't judge everything I do. Someone who laughs and smiles and doesn't take everything so seriously. Someone who stays hopeful even when things aren't going her way.
"What changed your mind?" she asks.
"I just don't want to wait. That car accident really shook me up, then woke me up as I realized how short life can be. I'm tired of doing what's expected of me, and right now, everyone expects me to wait before dating someone new after being with Lauren for so long. But why wait? Why wait to be happy?"
"I agree," she says.
The table gets quiet, neither one of us knowing what to say next. We both know there's something going on between us, something more than just attraction, but neither one of us wants to admit it or act on it. Maybe because we don't know what this is or if it's real. Are we only feeling this way as a side effect of the accident? She's drawn to me because I'm helping her and I'm drawn to her because of my guilt? Or would we have felt this way if we'd just met on the street? I really don't know and I don't think she does either so we keep those feelings hidden and continue on as friends. But that's getting harder to do when she's living here. The more I'm around her, the more I want to take this beyond a friendship.
"So about my job," she says, breaking the awkward silence. "I was thinking I could start Friday, maybe just for an hour or two. See how it goes."
"It's too soon. You need to rest."
"The job won't be anything strenuous. She's having me work in the back. I won't be straining my brain trying to make coffee drinks or run the register."
"Let me talk to Alexis before you start."
"So I could maybe start Friday?"
"Maybe, but that's only a day away. We'll see."
We finish dinner and I get up and take our dishes to the sink. I rinse off the plates and wipe down the counters, occasionally glancing over at Star. I keep catching her watching me. I do the same to her when she's not looking. Not being able to act on our attraction to each other is only making it stronger. And touching her makes it almost unbearable. When I tried to examine her the other day I was aroused to the point I had to get up and leave.
Shaking that memory from my mind I go over to Star. "I've got a surprise for you."
"A surprise?" Her face lights up. "What is it?"
"Follow me."
We go to the elevator.
"Wait." She stops. "Do I need a coat?"
"No, we're staying in the building but grab your crutches if you need them."
"I don't. I haven't used them all day."
We take the elevator to the basement storage area. I lead her to my storage room and unlock the door.
I point to the bike. "What do you think? It's yours if
you want it."
"The bike?"
"I ruined yours so I owe you a new one. This one technically isn't new. It was my sister's but she only used it a couple times so it's like new. But if you want a new one I'll get you one. It's the least I can do. Or if you decide to take this one I'll have it fitted for you. There's a bike shop just down the street."
She walks over to the bike and lifts up the handlebars. "It's really lightweight."
"Let's see if it fits." I take the bike out to the hallway. "Go ahead. Try it out."
I hold the bike steady while she swings her leg over the bar and sits on the seat.
"It's perfect," she says, smiling. "Like it was made for me."
"I thought it might work. My sister's about the same height as you. But like I said, I'm happy to get you a new one if you don't like this one."
"Are you kidding? This is great. Way better than my old one. This is like a thousand dollar bike."
I chuckle. "More like three so make sure to lock it up when you leave it somewhere."
"A three thousand dollar bike? Corbin, I can't take this. It's more than my crappy car cost."
"Don't worry what it cost. If you want it, it's yours. But I don't want you riding it until you get your stitches out and your leg is fully heeled. Hopefully it'll get you around until you get a car. Just beware of idiots who don't check before turning."
"Corbin." She puts her hand on my arm. "It was an accident. You don't have to keep feeling bad about it."
"I'll always feel bad. I turned your life upside down because of one stupid mistake."
"But it's getting better. I already have a job, and a new bike. And hopefully after this weekend I'll have a new apartment."
"We should look for some other options just in case the ones you found don't work out."
"We can, but I already spent all day looking and couldn't find anything else in my price range."
I put the bike away and we go back up to the apartment. I show her where I keep the extra key for the storage locker so she can get to the bike when she needs it. I also gave her a key to the apartment so she can come and go when I'm gone during the day. My father would tell me I'm making a huge mistake, trusting a girl I just met, especially one in desperate need of money. But oddly enough, I trust Star more than I trusted Lauren. I never felt like she was being honest with me.
"So who's Shandy?" Star asks as we're sitting on the couch later.
My brows rise. "Shandy?"
"The laptop password. I assume shandy has some kind of meaning behind it."
I smile. "Shandy was my dog growing up. She was a mutt. A German Shepherd mixed with something else. My sister found her during a storm, hiding by our house, trying to stay dry. We took her inside and tried to hide her from my parents but of course they found out and demanded we take the dog to the shelter."
"But they obviously didn't."
"They did. My parents didn't like dogs, mainly because of the mess they make."
"So you only had Shandy a day?"
"Twelve years, actually. When my parents took the dog away my sister cried for days. They couldn't take it anymore so they went back to the shelter and got the dog. My father built a dog wing onto the house. Shandy wasn't allowed anywhere else but there."
"A dog wing?" Star laughs. "What's a dog wing?"
"An addition onto the garage. It was heated. Had water. It was actually really nice. Way nicer than your typical dog house."
"So if you wanted to see her you had to go to the dog wing?"
"Yes, which my sister turned into a playhouse. She'd have her friends over and they'd all hang out there. My mother hated it. She'd spent all this money making a playroom in the regular house that looked like a princess castle and all my sister wanted to do is hang out in the dog's house."
"That's funny. So why the name Shandy?"
"It's a combination of Shannon and Mandy. My sister couldn't decide which to name her so she combined the names." He smiles. "Shandy was a great dog. I really miss her. I miss having a dog."
"Why don't you have one?"
"Lauren wouldn't let me. She hates dogs. She said they're too loud and she doesn't like all the shedding."
"But you're not dating her anymore. If you want a dog, go get one."
"I've thought about it but I'm away from home so much it wouldn't be fair to the dog."
"Put him in doggy day care. They have them all over the city. And if you get one now I'll watch him for you until I move out. I love dogs. We had a black lab growing up. He died when I was twelve and my parents wouldn't let us get another."
"Huh. Maybe I should consider it. I really do want one." I smile at her, my excitement building. "You want to go to the shelter with me this weekend? Just see what they have?"
"I'd love to! But you know it'll be nearly impossible to go home without one. You may end up leaving with a dog."
A buzzer rings and I get up from the couch.
"What's that?" Star asks.
"Someone's downstairs." I walk over to the speaker on the wall and push the talk button. "Yeah, who is it?"
"It's your father. I know it's late but I was in the area. Do you mind if I drop in?"
I glance at Star. He doesn't know she's staying here. This is going to turn into a fight but I can't avoid it so I say, "Yeah, come on up."
"I'll go in my room," Star says, hurrying to leave. "Goodnight."
"Star, wait. I want you to meet him."
"Oh, um, could we do it later?"
The elevator door opens and my father appears, wearing gray dress pants and a black overcoat.
"Hello, Father," I say, going to take his coat.
"Corbin." He nods his hello, his eyes going to Star. "You didn't say you had a visitor."
"This is Star." I motion her to stand beside me. "She's staying with me for a few days until she finds an apartment."
"Is that so?" He looks her up and down. "A friend of Lauren's?"
"No," Star answers. "I, um—" She looks at me to answer.
"She's the girl from the accident," I say. "When she was released from the hospital she found out her roommates had taken off and left her without an apartment. She didn't have anywhere to go so she's staying here for now."
My father narrows his eyes at Star. "How fortunate of you to have someone like Corbin take you in. Almost like winning the lottery."
"What?" she asks, seeming confused.
"Dad," I say under my breath, begging him to be nice.
"Could you excuse us, please?" he says to Star.
"Sure. I'll be in my room." She races down the hall.
As soon as we hear her door shut, my father starts in. "What the hell are you thinking?"
"Dad, keep your voice down."
"I will NOT keep my voice down. Why the hell should I? She knows what she's doing. Why let her think we don't know? Better to be on the offensive. Let her know we're on to her."
"Dad, it's not like that."
"How stupid are you, son? Do you even know how the world works? People like her live for moments like this. For all we know, she threw herself in the street, hoping someone with money would hit her."
"That's completely ridiculous and not at all what happened. She crossed the street when the light told her to go. I was the one in the wrong."
"And have you told her that?" He huffs. "I'm sure you have. You have no sense when it comes to these things. What have I always told you? Play innocent. Never admit guilt. And yet here you are housing the girl in your apartment! What the hell is wrong with you? Have you not listened to a word I've said all these years?"
"Of course I have but this is different. She's not trying to get our money. She didn't even want to stay here. I had to convince her to. She's been looking for apartments and as soon as she finds one she'll be out."
"And that's when we'll get the letter from her ambulance chaser lawyer demanding everything we have. And in their quest to get our money, they'll destroy you! They'll destroy your character. Your
career. Everything you've worked for!"
I walk to the living room, putting my back to him. "We're not talking about this. I'm an adult and I can handle this myself."
"You're handling it like a child. And this doesn't just involve you. It involves the entire family. You're not the one with money. I am! So if she comes after you, she's coming after me!"
I turn to face him. "You need to stay out of this. I told you, I'm handling it."
"Like you handled Lauren?"
"What's that supposed to mean? I told her it wasn't working anymore. It's not my fault she refuses to accept it."
"You were supposed to get married! And then you just end things with her?"
"Lauren and I never talked about marriage. She just assumed that's where we were headed."
"The girl is completely distraught over what you did to her. So is her mother, and your stepmother. Do you really think I trust you to handle this after the disastrous way you handled the situation with Lauren?"
"Lauren's creating drama so you'll feel sorry for her. It's what she always does and we both know it. Stop giving her attention and she'll eventually accept the breakup and move on. As for Star, you need to stay out of it."
He points his finger at me. "Get rid of her! Or I will!
He goes to the elevator and I storm off the other direction, too angry to say another word to him. When he's gone I take a few deep breaths, then go down to Star's room and knock on the door.
"Come in," she says.
I walk in her room and see her sitting on the bed.
"Sorry about all the yelling. For the most part, my dad and I get along, except for when he doesn't agree with my choices. I don't know how much you heard but—"
"Don't worry about it. I didn't really hear that much and it sounds like something that should stay between you and your dad."
"He doesn't understand. He always thinks people are out to get him. He had a patient sue him once and ever since then he's been overly cautious. Anyway, I just wanted to make sure you're okay, given what you heard."
"I'm fine." She gets up. "I know it's only nine but I think I'll go to bed."
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