Page 1 of Brighton

Chapter One

Brighton

“Home sweet home,” my voice echoed through the empty space of my first place. It wasn’t much to look at nor was it in the greatest of locations, but it was mine. Away from my parents’ iron fists and tyrant rule.Mine, and that was all that mattered. I was finally on my own.

Life. Was. Good.

Would be better with furniture, though.

I sat in the middle of the empty room, logged into my hot spot, and began the expensive and time-sucking task of furniture cost comparison and purchase. The accountant in me was large and in charge and weighed all options before I embarked upon the commission-based pilgrimage. Would’ve been less costly had my parents been kind enough to allow me to bring my bed. But no, Mr. and Mrs. Negativity insisted I’d fail at being on my own and would need it to be there when I inevitably returned home. Tail tucked between my legs and all.

Not gonna happen.

I didn’t care if I had to work three jobs to succeed, I would not move back home. I’d sooner sleep in my cramped compact car. Getting a vehicle of my own was a fight in itself but given they both worked full-time and had no way to get me to and from campus, they finally broke down and bought me a used car. Not complaining, just would’ve been nice to have had a say in which vehicle I got. One day they went out and returned with it, handed me the keys and said here you go. Thank the school board for mandatory Driver’s Ed or learning to drive would’ve remained a pipe dream.

It took over a year to save up enough money to not only get my first apartment but have a backup contingency plan in the form of a savings account. Throughout college, my parents refused to allow me to get a job and repeatedly stated that school came first. End of discussion. Since they paid for what my scholarships didn’t cover, I was at their mercy. When I landed the job at Everett Financial the week of graduation, I was ecstatic. Numbers and math were always my thing and graduating with my bachelor’s in accounting secured a stable path and future. The salary and benefit package they offered me even as an entry-level account was above industry standard, and I didn’t have to think twice before I signed on the dotted line.

I’d heard about the apartment I rented through one of my co-workers who lived in the building, Mario. His friend Stevie lived here but had to move quite suddenly mid-lease and needed to sublet it and I jumped at the opportunity. I figured when the six months were up, I’d negotiate new terms and resign. Too bad he took all his furniture with him but the fact this place was in walking distance to work made the upcoming nights of sleeping on the floor more than worth it. Shopping list in hand, I was locked and loaded for a full day of retailing and was out the door. Was it odd I was excited for this knowing it’d be one expensive day?

I nearly got a ticket for parking in the loading zone in front of the building for as long as I had. Running the endless number of boxes and bags up three flights of stairs took longer than I’d anticipated. Once everything was unloaded and the car properly parked, I used the app on my phone to turn on music and dove into the unboxing process. No wonder there were so many TikTok unboxing videos, this was fun!

Thankfully, the apartment included a stackable washer and dryer unit in the hall closet. I threw a load of new towels in and moved onto the next bag. The dishes I picked up at a secondhand store were washed and put away and I was in the process of filling the air mattress I’d use until the furniture I ordered would be delivered next weekend when a knock at the door came. Certain it was Mario, I flung it open, only it wasn’t Mario who stood on the other side. It was a handsome gentleman with a beautifully-wrapped gift in hand.

He looked at me, then his eyes shifted to the apartment number on the door, then returned to me. “Is Stevie here?”

“No, Stevie moved. I’m Brighton, I rent the apartment now.” He peeked around me at the empty space.

“Wha-what do you mean he moved? He’s my boy, I’m his Daddy. He didn’t ask Daddy first.” The poor man stuttered, face flushed and clearly not prepared for Stevie’s untimely departure.

Oh lord, here we go again. Another outraged parent. “Your son didn’t tell you he was moving?” Hmm, maybe another eager child to get out from under their parents’ rule.

“My son? Stevie’s not my son.”

“You said he was your boy.” What was I missing here? Hot or not, this guy began to creep me out. No wonder Stevie bailed. “Look, I don’t know what’s going on but obviously he didn’t want you to know. I think it’s time you left.” I’d reach out to Mario as soon as the door was locked and let him know what happened. He and Stevie were friends after all. I’d only met Stevie long enough to sign the paperwork the rental agency required from us.

The sullen expression on the man’s face nearly had me second guessing my request for him to leave and instead, invite him in. “Sorry, sorry to have bothered you.” He turned to take his leave but swung back around and shoved the present at me. “You can have this.” Before I could protest, he was gone.

“That was the strangest encounter of my life.” I locked the door, sat the present on the counter and dialed up Mario.

“Hey, Brighton, how goes the new place?” I could hear the TV blaring in the background and felt for his neighbors.

“Hey, Mario, it’s great. Spent more than I planned to but couldn’t be happier.” Even just discussing my new life had my smile reappearing.

“That’s awesome, we’ll have to hit the bar down the street sometime. I’ll show you all the great places to eat near here. There’s a bookstore around the corner as well. Not sure if you’re into that but they order all my comic books for me,” he rattled off so quickly all that stuck was the bookstore, one of my favorite places to get lost in.

I envisioned a wall of the apartment lined with bookshelves. “I love to read. But that’s not why I’m calling. I just had a really odd encounter with a strange man who gave me a present.”

“Oh? Tell me all about Santa.” Mario was a gossip, and this was right up his alley.

“He was looking for Stevie, said he was his daddy and when I asked why his son didn’t tell him he moved, he said Stevie wasn’t his son.” Confused, yes please.

Mario chuckled. “You and I have a lot to talk about, my sheltered friend. Stevie and, I’m guessing it was Edward who stopped by—tall, fit, dark hair, slightly gray around the temples, brown eyes, the cutest dimple in his chin?”

“Yes, perfect description. Anyway, he gave me a gift I believe was meant for Stevie. Do you know how I can get it to him?” I eyed said box on the counter, so neatly wrapped and tied together with a shiny gold ribbon and bow.

“Meh, keep it. Edward doted on his boy even though Stevie did not deserve it. He strung along multiple Daddies and as soon as they got serious, Stevie took off. Who knows where he went.”

“Isn’t he your friend?” I thought they were close, but maybe I was wrong.

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