Page 9 of Neighbors' Omega
“I hope so,” he replied with a sniffle. Then he wiped his eyes. “Oh yeah… before I forget…”
“Hmm?”
“I cleared you to move in. The management company wanted to fight a bit, but I got them to agree.”
“I don’t get their stance. They don’t want to let you out of your lease, even if you find somebody to take over. They don’t want to let you sublease, and they didn’t even want you to have an extended guest?”
He nodded with a sigh. “I’m glad I’m out. I can see why the reviews were low, even though the apartments are gorgeous.”
“Bad management will ruin a good thing every time.”
“You can say that again.” He paused. “Either way, you can move in whenever you’re ready.”
“I appreciate it.”
“It’s too bad you couldn’t find a house as fast as you wanted.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “It’s probably for the best. Rushing was never going to get me into the best situation. Now I can take some time and wait for a house I’ll really love instead of the first one that I’m just happy with.”
“Just let me know when you’re ready. The guys have offered to help with the heavy stuff.”
“Beer and pizza as payment?”
He grinned. “Sounds like a plan.”
∞∞∞
“Ready?” I asked, holding a wrapped box under one arm.
Ryan snorted. “Not really. Mama said that Aunt Sharon’s been talking about this all week.”
I groaned. “Joy…”
“Got a fake boyfriend to pull out?”
“I wish I’d thought of that.”
“Same,” he laughed. “Too late to come up with a good story now though.”
“Oh well… it’s a few hours now, then a couple weeks of passive-aggressive comments on every social media post reminding us that time is ticking.”
“You don’t have her blocked on social media?”
“I did, then I got yelled at for it. Best to unblock her yourself for now. She’ll bitch at your mama until you do.”
He groaned.
“Let’s do it,” I said, reaching out to ring the doorbell.
I’d no sooner than pressed the button when the door was flung open, Aunt Sharon’s arms wide open.
“Jace! Ryan!” she declared. “You’re almost late, boys. Come in.”
She stood slightly to one side, making us turn sideways to edge past her.
“I don’t see mating bites on either of you boys,” she stated, then tsk’d. “Better hurry up, you’re both in your thirties already. Gotta have those babies before you get too old.”
“Sharon,” called Ryan’s mama, Janice. “Eli needs help in the kitchen. Can you give him a hand?”
