Page 4 of Clean Out of Luck

My glare must speak volumes because Wade stands up and hurries to the door. “On that note, I should probably go. I haven’t slept in twenty-four hours. I’ll catch you later, Scooter.”

Wade leaves as quickly as he showed up, and I’m left standing here in a puddle of sticky soda, feeling slightly annoyed that he called me Scooter.

The nickname came about when I was in late elementaryschool, trying to keep up with Phoenix and Wade. I followed the older middle school boys on my trusty scooter.Everywhere.

I bend down and slip off my soda-soaked socks.

When I stand back up, Wade is back inside my apartment, standing in front of the open door. “Maybe you should actually lock your apartment door. See ya!” He reaches a big hand around to flip the lock on the doorknob. He winks at me, then pulls the door closed after him.

The whole point of the locked main entrance to The Serendipity is that it keeps us safer. It’s too bad Gloria likes to let people in without knowing who they are. She’s too friendly and too trusting.

I march to the closet and pull out my favorite mop to clean up the sticky mess. The previous building manager lived in this basement apartment before I did, and he left behind an old-fashioned mop. With having stained concrete floors, it’s been a well-used tool for me, and I’m glad he left it behind.

I scrub away at the floor and think that maybe—just maybe—it would be nice to see Wade more. It’s been a long time since I’ve been around him…and I think I actually miss him.

Chapter Two

Wade

I have betterthings to do than to annoy my best friend’s little sister. I can’t think of morefunthings to do, but I should be spending my time on other things.

I walk down the hallway of The Serendipity that leads from the basement stairs out past the courtyard and back to the main entrance. I wave at the lady who let me in—she’s standing in an alcove that holds the mailboxes.She’s somewhere in her fifties and still firmly believes in bright colors. Her orange sweater is bright against her neon-yellow shirt. It’s almost like looking at a candy corn.

“Were you able to find Scarlett?” she asks me.

I stop to answer her as the elevator dings and a man wearing a suit exits, then leaves the building. “I did. Thanks for letting me in.”

“Are you two dating?” she asks with raised eyebrows.

I feel the back of my neck heat up at the question. “Er, no. I’m best friends with Scarlett’s brother. I was only dropping by to say hi.”

“What a shame,” she tsks. “I’m Gloria, by the way.”

“Wade Hendrix,” I say as I step forward to shake her hand that has several gold rings and a bright yellow bracelet.

“I do hope we’ll see more of you around The Serendipity.”

Thinking about the fact that Scarlett’s alone here in town…means she probably will. “I’ll be back,” I promise as I turn to go.

“Better be careful!”

I stop at that ominous warning. “Why is that?”

“The Serendipity has a way of bringing people together,” Gloria tells me with a wink.

Like a potluck?“What do you mean?”

“People in loooove.” She drags out the word in a hushed whisper. “If you spend any amount of time here, you’re bound to find the love of your life,” Gloria says with a straight face.

I wait a beat for her to break out in laughter, but when she doesn’t, I summon up a semblance of a smile. “Thanks for telling me.”

“Of course. You’ve probably heard all the rumors anyway,” she says with a laugh.

“Rumors?” I regret my question when a chaotic smile spreads across her face.

“The rumors,” she whispers, “are that this building is active in the matchmaking. Keys that go to their neighbors doors. Mail in the wrong mailbox. The elevator malfunctions, and two people come out—in love. Doors lock until people admit they love each other. It’smagic.”

Actually, that sounds like a lot of code violations. But I paste a shaky smile as I back away.

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