Page 56 of One Sweet Day I Found You

Fifteen

“Welcome to Nick’s house!” Tom said with exaggerated enthusiasm. He held the door wide for Courtney.

“Thanks!” She laughed and stepped into the comfortable second-floor unit.

It was Friday night and the first time she was visiting Nick’s apartment. Also, the first time meeting his roommate.

Tom stuck out a hand to shake. “Hi. I’m Tom.”

Courtney shook amiably. “Courtney. Nice to meet you.”

Courtney stepped inside and looked around. The place definitely screamed bachelor pad, with sports memorabilia on the walls and bicycles leaning against them, a wide-screen TV, and mismatched living room furniture, but it was neat and tidy and altogether cozy.

Nick came over from the living room in sweats and a T-shirt. “Don’t mind him. He thinks he owns the place. Come on in.” He gave her a hug.

“Well, no, I don’t own the place, but I domanagethe place.” Tom said with feigned pretentiousness. Tom was one of two assistant managers for their sprawling apartment and condominium complex, but he wasn’t one to take himself too seriously.

“So I’ve heard.” Courtney grinned.

Tom dropped the act for a second. “No, seriously, Nick’s told me all about you, Courtney. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“Likewise,” Courtney said politely.

“Actually, I feel like I already know everything about you. Nick never stops singing your praises.”

Courtney laughed and Nick turned pink.

“Stop it already, dude. You’re gonna scare her away.”

Tom spoke to Courtney. “All right, well, we both know that isn’t true. Nick doesn’t talk that much.” Tom pulled up a barstool for her at the kitchen counter and Nick slid into the seat next to her. “She has to pass the roommate approval test. Stand down, Nick.”

Nick laughed again. “Sorry, Courtney. I didn’t know he was gonna get like this.” Nick was still blushing.

Tom had perfect timing. “Yes, you did,” he said.

Courtney laughed and shook her head as Nick cringed. She was enjoying this.

Tom walked around the kitchen counter and pulled some sodas out of the fridge then passed them around. He turned back to Courtney and dropped the act again. “So, Nick says you just moved to the area? Where ya from?”

“Yeah, I did. I’m actually from Madison. How about you?”

“Sheboygan,” Tom said. “Try sayin’ that one with a straight face.”

Courtney cracked up again. So did Nick.

Tom went on to ask more questions, and Courtney told him all about her trip, her two years in Chicago, and her new job in Door County. Nick listened and they both asked questions with interest.

Tom was good at keeping a conversation moving. He was the entertaining, comical, life-of-the-party complement to Nick’s more calculated and deliberate approach.

She asked about him and he told her about his job and that he lived year-round in Heritage Bay now. That he’d earned his EMT license in Milwaukee several years ago, then popped up to Door just for the summer two years ago and never left. “I’m trying to talk Nick into becoming a ‘lifer, too. Maybe you can work on him.”

Nick smiled and shook his head. “Don’t encourage him.”

After a few more laughs, the three of them made popcorn and kicked back in the living room with a movie.

Tom went to bed after the movie. “Goodnight, kids. Great to meet you, Courtney.”

Nick and Courtney said goodnight and stayed on the couch, cuddled up with a blanket, Nick’s arm around her.

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