Page 10 of Clean Out of Luck

I text him back right away, leaning against the counter.

SCARLETT

Wish I was there to steal that whole bowl from you.

PHOENIX

It’s so peaceful eating without you.

SCARLETT

Jerk. :) Love you.

PHOENIX

Love you too. Have you seen Wade lately?

SCARLETT

Why do you ask?

PHOENIX

Just worried about him. He doesn’t have anyone to watch out for him now that I’m gone.

The idea that Wade needs someone to watch out for him is laughable. Has Phoenix seen that guy? He probably eats steel for breakfast. His arms have to be registered as weapons with the state.

PHOENIX

He doesn’t have a girlfriend, and he doesn’t have any friends.

SCARLETT

Are we talking about the same Wade? That guy has something going every single day. He’s always with people.

PHOENIX

There’s a difference between being around people and having friends. Just look out for him for me, please?

SCARLETT

Fine.

It’s not like it’ll be a problem. I grew up around Wade, soit’ll be a natural thing to check in on him. Or it will be extremely weird—it’s fifty-fifty at this point.

There’s a knock on my door. And I stare at it in surprise. Why does my body go into fight-or-flight every time someone knocks on my door? It’s like I’m expecting the Big Bad Wolf to huff and puff my door down.

I take a deep breath and remind myself that it’s probably one of my neighbors. Occasionally, one of them will drop by and say hi when they’re down here doing laundry in the basement, which I think is sweet. Obviously, I don’t know everyone who lives in The Serendipity, but I’ve enjoyed meeting a few people. It’s made it feel like a safe, warm environment to live in. I know I can call Steve, the building manager, if there’s a problem, and he’s good about getting requests taken care of in a reasonable time.

The Serendipity might be old, but it is special. There are rumors—whispers more like it—that it could be magical. People are happy here. They find love and good fortune. Serendipity Springs is the town of good fortune thanks to the legend of the good luck springs. But if Serendipity Springs is lucky, then The Serendipity takes that luck and multiplies it.

I’m not actually a superstitious person…but sometimes I wish therewassuch a thing as magic. Maybe it would help me find someone to love.

The knock sounds again.

Right. I guess I should answer that. Taking a deep breath, I keep my phone in hand and swing open the door.

“Don’t you ask who it is before you answer the door?” Wade greets me as he brushes past. I can smell his laundry detergent as he bumps against me. He kicks off his shoes by the door and walks into the kitchen. He’s never been a shy one, and I guess some things never change.

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