Page 1 of Secretary Crush
1
ELLA
After pulling my car into a parking spot in front of my new apartment building, I kill the engine as I look up at my life before me. This is a whole new chapter for me. I’ve never lived alone before. I went straight from my parents' house to my college dorm. From there, I moved in with my cheating boyfriend, now ex-boyfriend. I can thank my lucky stars I was smart enough to save my money. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be able to afford to move into this new apartment building.
This is one of the nicest places I’ve ever lived outside of my childhood home. Though it’s small with only one bedroom and bathroom, everything is brand new, and its top-of-the-line appliances were hard to turn down, especially when you don’t own any of that stuff.
With a deep breath, I open my door and climb out of the car, walking around to the back to get my bags from the trunk. I hike my bags up onto my shoulder and slam the trunk closed as I go in search of my brand-new apartment. It doesn’t take me long to find it. I put the key into the lock and turn the knob. Opening the door, I walk into the living room, where I drop my bags onto the floor as I go exploring.
The ample-sized living room has a gas fireplace and a big window that lets in plenty of light. It’s an open layout, so the living room leads over to the kitchen area, the two sections only divided by a change in flooring—hardwood to tile—and a built-in bar. There’s space over in the corner for a formal table if you wanted, but that kind of thing isn't important to me. Not when I already have to get so much other stuff.
Walking around the bar, I find more cabinet space under the bar top, which is always good. I open the stainless steel refrigerator, the microwave, and the oven to find them all spotless. I don’t think they’ve been used before. The cabinets that hang on the wall have glass fronts to showcase my matching dishes and drinkware—if I had any—and the plain white subway tiles on the backsplash give the kitchen a modern but farmhouse feel.
I head down the short hallway that leads to the bathroom and bedroom. The small bathroom has nothing special to it. It has a shower/tub combo, a toilet, and a sink. A built-in cabinet does provide a lot of storage space. Heading into the bedroom, I’m greeted with soft and fluffy cream-colored carpet and crisp white walls. Daylight streams in another big window in the bedroom. The closet is big but not a walk-in. The whole place is just enough space for one person to grow into, and that’s really all I need or can afford.
“Hello?” I hear someone call out, and I walk back into the living room to find a woman standing at my open front door. I guess I forgot to close it.
She sees me, and she smiles. “You must be my new neighbor. I’m Zoe. I live right across the hall,” she says, pointing toward her door.
I smile and walk over to her with my hand held out to shake. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Ella.”
“Hi, Ella. I’m so excited you’re moving in. My fiancé and I have been all alone over there since we moved in. Is it just you, or do you have a roommate or anything?”
I slide my hands into my back pockets as I nod. “It’s just me.”
“Well, if you need anything, don’t be afraid to ask. Hey, actually, why don’t you come over for dinner tonight? That’ll at least be one thing off your plate since you don’t have anything unpacked yet.”
“Oh, I couldn’t impose on you like that. I’ll just order a pizza or something.”
“Pizza? Come on. Please? I’ll make a whole taco bar, and Gage will make his famous margaritas. I can’t have any because I’m expecting, but I’m sure you’ll love them. What do you say?”
I look her up and down. She seems friendly enough, and it would be nice to have a home-cooked meal. “Okay, sounds good.”
She smiles wide and claps her hands. “Good. Dinner around seven? Does that sound okay?”
I nod. “Sounds perfect,” I agree.
“Good. I’ll see you then. And seriously, if you need help carrying anything up, just ask. I’ll be here all day,” she says, stepping back out the door and closing it behind her.
I smile as I turn around and look at the place again. It seems so big now that I’m alone. And the emptiness is intimidating. I have so much to do. Leaving my bags where I dropped them, I head back out, locking the place up behind me as I go out and explore the town and gather the things I need.
Luckily, I locate a secondhand store and manage to find a couch and a couple of tables for the living room. I ask around and find that the nearest Target is a couple of towns over, so I make the drive to buy a bed, dresser, and a few things for the kitchen, including some groceries. I get lucky and catch a couple of younger guys, and they help me out by carrying the heavier items up to the apartment for me. I’m in the middle of putting my groceries away when the delivery guys arrive with my living room furniture. They set it right where I want it, and I slip them a twenty as they make their way out for the last time.
It’s not perfect, but it will do. I have to start somewhere. I don’t have the funds to just run out and buy a whole apartment’s worth of new furniture. Plus, the used stuff I found is in really good condition anyway. I’m not too good to buy used. I’m sure it helps the environment in some way…not sure how, but I’m sure it does.
I stay pretty busy trying to get things unpacked and everything into place. Before I know it, it’s time for me to head over to my new neighbors for dinner. Luckily, I thought this through and picked up a bottle of wine as a thank-you gift. After grabbing the bottle and locking up behind me, I step across the hall and knock on the door. Moments later, Zoe pulls the door open with a big smile.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she says, dragging me in for a hug like we’re the best of friends. It makes me smile, though. I don’t have many girlfriends, so having one so close will be rather nice. “You’re just in time. Gage is in the kitchen mixing up his famous margaritas,” she says as she pulls away.
“That sounds amazing. I actually brought you this bottle of wine as a way to say thanks. I’m not really used to all this friendly neighbor stuff.”
She takes it with a smile. “Thank you. That’s so nice of you. Where are you from, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“The city. I’m local…just a completely different world.”
She nods. “I understand. I was actually living there before Gage and I got together. Come on, I’ll introduce you.” She wraps her arm around mine and leads me to the kitchen.
She lets go of my arm as she goes to stand by her fiancé. “Gage, this is our new neighbor, Ella. Ella, this is my handsome fiancé, Gage.”
