Page 2 of Falling for Them

“I feel bad doing that, especially after the raise I just got. Plus, I have seven months left on this lease. That’s a lot of money to throw away. It will be fine. This way, you’ll have some time to get settled before I move in.”

The plan had been for both of us to move into my brother’s unoccupied four-bedroom condo in the next few weeks, but with Ethan’s current roommate being an absolute slob and inconsiderate twat waffle, it was difficult for him to find someone to sublease.

The PA system crackled overhead. “Folks, it looks like we’ll be here at least another hour. They’re working as quickly as possible to clean up the product that spilled. We apologize for any inconvenience.”

I rested the side of my head against the cool faux leather seat. “I’ll just go to the condo. It’s only a few minutes’ walk from the train station. I don’t want you to have to deal with your roommate yelling at you for opening the door for me so late.”

“I’m sorry, Lib.” He sounded so defeated, and I wished I could reach through the phone and hug him.

“Even if you can’t find someone, think about it, okay? What am I going to do with the other three bedrooms?” I’d be in the massive primary bedroom, and I didn’t really need the extra rooms.

“You’re going to be okay walking by yourself?”

“I’ll be fine. It will take longer to get a cab or Uber. It’s not like Manhattan is a ghost town on a Friday night.” It wasn’t any worse than where I’d spent the first nine years of my life.

Even as I reassured Ethan, I felt a familiar tingle of anxiety in my stomach. I wasn’t a scared little girl anymore, but truth be told, every time I set foot in the city, it was like I was sent back in time.

“Call me if you need to.” He went quiet for a few seconds too long and my heart sped up. I knew what was coming since he hadn’t asked yet. “How are you doing?”

“Honestly? I’ve been better. I didn’t expect to have all of these feelings about breaking ground on the community center tomorrow.” I’d been excited at first, but the closer I got, the more memories of the squalor I once lived in, and my mom’s death played in my head. No amount of therapy or time would erase my past.

“I meant about…” Ethan went silent, leaving an opening for me to talk about why I’d broken up with my ex.

It had been two weeks, but I couldn’t talk to Ethan about it, especially when he was the reason. While it wasn’t a secret that my ex, Justin, didn’t like my friendship with Ethan, it had never gotten to the point where he’d given me an ultimatum.

Had things been perfect between us? No, but they had been comfortable in a way that I needed. There was little risk of being eviscerated when you kept yourself closed off. It had never been a problem for him since he was always so busy with his family’s business.

But something had changed the second I decided to move to the city. It wasn’t even like it was that far. The issue was Ethan moving in with me.

Don’t cry, don’t cry,I chanted internally.

“It was over long before he broke it off.” I knew that was true, but it still hurt.

There was a loud bang on the other end of the phone and then a man yelled Ethan’s name. I knew the booming voice immediately; his roommate was certifiable. I’d only stayed with Ethan once since he’d moved in, and it was anxiety-inducing, to say the least. He’d been struggling for months with how to handle the situation, and the only thing keeping him there was the lease and the costs involved.

He exhaled into the phone. “I have to go deal with this asshole. I think he’s mad that I washed his dishes, but I wasn’t about to let them sit there and get moldy in the damn sink. It makes no fucking sense why he would be pissy over cleanliness. I’ll see you tomorrow, Libby. Love you.”

“Love you too.” I hung up and shut my eyes. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

Chapter 2

Sausage Fest

Libby

It had to be a bad omen that I was about to embark on a new chapter in my life but stood outside the condo looking and feeling like a drowned rat.

I hated rats.

Do you know what else I hated? Freak summer downpours right in the middle of a short walk from the train station when it was past midnight and there wasn’t a taxi or Uber in sight. Walking a few blocks wasn’t a big deal until the sky opened up. By the time I found somewhere to duck, the damage was done.

I shivered as the cool air from the hallway vent hit my dripping wet body, and I quickly keyed in the code to the door. In a week, it would bemydoor, and I inhaled sharply at the thought. I never thought I’d be moving back to the city I had a love-hate relationship with, but there I was.

My shoes squeaked in the entryway as I stepped inside and turned on the light. The small area lit up, and I shut the door behind me before catching sight of myself in the mirror on thewall. My blonde hair was plastered against my head and my face was splotchy.

“Lovely.” I toed off my shoes and peeled off my soaked socks just as the light flickered and then went completely out. “For fuck’s sake. Really?”

It was like the universe was trying to tell me not to move back to New York.

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