No wonder she’d napped on my bed.
Miss Misdial: I’m contemplating throwing it off my balcony and just sleeping on the floor.
I could see her doing that.
Miss Misdial: But the weirdest thing about night in my apartment? Thank you for asking, oh comatose one. The weirdest thing is that since I don’t have a TV yet, it’s deathly quiet. Like I could hear a cockroach if it were running around. Which it’s not because my apartment is dope, but still—I could if it were.
Aw, hell. I don’t know why, but the thought of her lying on that shitty air mattress with no furniture made me feel like trash. So much so that I lost my fucking mind and opened the drawer on my nightstand, pulling out my old iPhone. I’d stopped using it years ago, after I transferred all my calls to my work phone, but I’d never gotten around to disconnecting the line.
Olivia
My phone buzzed and my heart nearly leapt out of my chest.
And then I saw that it wasn’t Mr. Wrong Number. It was a number I didn’t know at all, and I hated how disappointed I was. I opened the message.
How’s the new apartment, loser?
That made me smile and text: Who is this?
I got up and went down the stairs. I was thirsty, and though not really in the mood for a Bud Light, it was at least cold. I was opening the fridge when my phone buzzed again.
It’s Colin. Duh.
My half giggle was loud in the empty apartment as I grabbed a beer and shut the door.
Me: How would I have known that? Have we ever texted each other before?
Colin: You’re in my contacts, so I assumed it was mutual. Maybe Jack used my phone sometime.
Me: Sure. Just admit that you miss me already.
Colin: What’s to miss? Your noise? Your mess? Your ability to dirty every towel in the bathroom and leave them all on the floor?
Me: On that note, can I borrow your conditioner in the morning?
Colin: Now you’re asking?
Me: I’m not your roommate anymore.
Colin: You never were.
Me: Oh, that’s right. I was your unwanted houseguest.
Colin: I thought you forgave me for that.
Me: Yeah but I want to use your crème rinse, so . . .
Colin: You do know now that you live alone you’re going to have to go shopping for things you actually need, right?
Me: Sigh. Yes.
Colin: It’s not so bad.
Me: Says you.
Colin: So you never answered my question. How’s the new pad?
I took the beer and went out on the balcony. It smelled like summer and was still hot, and I adored that if I leaned just right I could see the glowing neon lights of Pazza Notte, my absolute favorite restaurant. I texted: Ridiculously perfect. Btw, did I ever thank you for giving me a reference?
Colin: I assumed that was what the kiss was all about.
I almost dropped the phone off the balcony. I didn’t know what the hell to say or why he would bring that up and my heart started racing at the mention of the—
Colin: Relax. I was just messing but you went radio silent fucking fast.
I rolled my eyes but laughed.
Me: Screw you, Beck.
Colin: I think you wanted to.
Me: Um, if I recall, you were the instigator.
Colin: You might be right, but you were all in, Livvie. Admit it.
Me: I wasn’t disgusted. How about that?
Colin: How about if your brother hadn’t come home, I think we might’ve . . .
Me: Don’t say it.
Colin: Totally ended up in my bed.
“Oh, my God.” I opened the door and went back into the dark apartment, freaking out and nearly running up the steps to the loft.
I bit down on my lip and texted: You might be right.
Colin: We both know I’m right.
That made me giggle; Colin was fun to flirt with. Who would’ve guessed that?
Me: So, um, can I have a thirty min nap tomorrow?
Colin: Seriously? I thought my bed was mine now.
Me: I still can’t sleep well because of my raft bed, jackwad. I’m only asking for thirty when you aren’t home. Don’t be stingy with your Purple.
Colin: Fine. You can have thirty, but you owe me.
I dropped down onto the air mattress, giggling yet again with full-on butterflies in my belly. I rolled onto my side, pulled the sheet over my shoulders, and closed my eyes, wholly disgusted with myself for having cliché butterflies.
Me: Swear to God I’d do almost anything to get some alone time with that mattress. We have a deal.
Colin: Btw, you do know that your brother can never know about what happened, right?
I pictured Jack yelling at Milo, my middle school boyfriend, when he walked in on us kissing in the backyard.
Me: Duh. He’d kill us both.