Page 20 of Break Out

I survived Sunday brunch and felt like I got one over on all the ladies since I just glossed over the fling with Steel. Bonus, Mom wasn’t there and neither was Dad – which meant they hadn’t found out.

Though, I suspected Aunt Abby would spill to Mom soon since I'd been back in Gainesville for over a week. It was Monday, and Alexandra had moved in this past weekend.

Someone knocked on the door and through the peephole I saw my landlord standing in the corridor wearing a big heavy toolbelt, which was unusual unless there was a problem.

“Hi, Mr. Brown. Is everything okay?” I asked.

“I thought I’d stop by and meet your new roommate,” he said, pulling a screwdriver from his belt and fiddling with our doorknob.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“I’m changing your locks.”

My brows drew together. “But I have Jordan’s key, we don’t need new locks.”

He leveled his stern hazel eyes on me. “He left his key for you, but that don’t mean it was the only key. I met your dad, he’s a good guy, and smart as heck. I woulda thought he’d have taught you that.”

I didn’t expect Jordan do anything psycho, but I supposed a girl could never be too careful.

While he put finishing touches on the new locks, he said, “Besides, Ines across the hall told me about that man showing up looking for Jordan. You don’t know if that boy got into some trouble before he left you.”

Ines was her name.

I still knew I’d forget it in ten minutes.

I nodded. “You’re right, Mr. Brown. I wasn’t thinking. Thanks for taking care of things.”

He handed me two new keys and put his tools away. “You’re welcome, and remind your new roommate, no blocking the dumpster – ever.”

“You got it.”

Alexandra had gone to the campus bookstore in case they had a couple textbooks that had been in short supply.

Half an hour later, she had to knock on our door since her key no longer worked.

“What the hell, chickie? You lock out all your roommates on their first day?” she asked when I let her inside.

I laughed. “Mr. Brown changed the locks when you were gone. Your key is on the counter.”

“Oh. That makes sense. So, what’s the plan for tonight? Are we hitting that pizza joint so you can pick up another older man?”

I gave her a dry look. “Why do I bother telling you things?”

She grinned. “Because I make your life better.”

“Let’s get sushi. I’ll show you the best place in town.”

“Fine, but I’m buying. It isn’t every day someone starts their first job in the real world.”

I made it through my first week of work without any problems – other than being dead-on-my-feet tired every single day. I’d heard that working for the man would tire you out, but this was ridiculous.

Friday night, I rolled inside at five-fifteen, hung my purse on my chair at the kitchen table, and went straight to the pantry for a box of cereal.

Alexandra watched me from the sofa. “Seriously, Simone? You’re having cereal for dinner again? What gives? It’s Friday night, we need to let loose. They’re having some big party since it’s the last Friday before classes start.”

I put the cereal box on the table. “I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t think office work would kick my ass like this, but I’m so freaking tired.”

She twisted her lips to the side for a beat. “Maybe it’s remnants of the bad sushi you had on Monday.”

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