Six months later"I thought you were painting this room silver?" Hudson asks dropping his half of the couch inside of our brand-new tiny living room. That's not fair. It's bigger than the apartment when I lived with Marissa. Living here will be like me having my own special mansion. Except this time the rent is higher.I put my end of the couch down and then promptly sit at the end of it. I've done my part of moving. This is why we hired movers. I don't know what it is about men wanting to lift heavy objects. Plus, it's not like there's much furniture to move. The old apartment came furnished. This stuff is new.I look at the wall, which shimmers in the bright light from our large open window in the new living room. "I did. It's Silver Fox.""This color is gray.""No, it's Silver Fox.""It looks gray to me."I shake my head in dismay. "Gray is darker."He nods slowly. "Uh-huh. Whatever you say."Hudson and I have been living together since he made the permanent move t
VOLUME ONE: RUSHRush:A form of gameplay that relies on speed and surprise warfare to win.It would be impossible for today to get any shittier. I woke up late and had to skip a shower — something not recommended for my dark brown, naturally wavy hair. Day two at my new job included a jammed copy machine, spilled coffee, and a forgotten lunch. I am not a happy person when I haven't eaten all day. As the new girl, I don't even have a friend to bum cash for the vending machine.If that wasn't enough, I'm only two steps out the office door when the first drops of rain hit my head and begin to soak through my blazer. I've been in San Francisco for two weeks, but I'm pretty sure it isn't supposed to rain in June. I don't even own an umbrella. I'll be soaked after the stroll back to my fourth floor walkup.Who suggested I move to San Francisco? Oh yes, my brother, Ben. This is all his fault. I should call and make him give me a ride home. It's his big brother duty.Seven damp bl
How do you tell if a cucumber is good? Should it be firm or have a slight give to it when squeezed? My whole eating healthier plan is harder than I thought it would be. There are so many mysteries to fruits and veggies. I put down my first cucumber and select another one from the bin. This one is larger and a bit firmer when I squeeze. Is firmer a good quality?"Depending on what you're going to do with that, it should be mostly hard."A short, white-haired elderly woman stands to my side and I almost fumble my vegetable when she speaks. Her eyes fall to my hands as they tighten around the green phallic object. Oh my god. I've been caught feeling up vegetables by a grandmother."Sandwiches!" I shout in her direction. "Just sandwiches." I put the cucumber back in the bin and wipe my hands on my pants. As if the action will somehow remove my embarrassment over what this little old lady thought I planned to do with the thick veggie.Unfazed she reaches in and grabs my original cuc
"So, here I am helping you again and I left the umbrella this morning. Even if you didn't need it, the intent was there. I've racked up some serious brownie points. I deserve to know at least one of these rules Ryland has saddled you with."It hasn't rained today, but outside my door this morning was a bright pink and black polka-dotted umbrella. I peeked a look toward Finn's door as I tucked it away in my large black purse. I wondered if Finn had dropped it off last night or early this morning and then promptly forgot about it this afternoon.How did I forget the umbrella? Rather than show my appreciation, I had him carry groceries for me. "Thank you for the umbrella. I love the polka-dots and pink is one of my favorite colors." I rush out.We stop at the fourth floor entry while Finn shifts his bag and types in the code. "You're welcome. You felt like a pink person. You're happy even with a scraped knee. Now, don't change the subject. Give me one good rule."His kid-like happ
Pink polka-dot umbrella in hand, I'm ready for the weather this morning. My brother said he hasn't seen this much rain in June since he moved here when I was eighteen. Here we are, six years later and I seem to be attracting storm clouds. Twice in one week, it has to be a new record. Thunder woke me before my alarm this morning and I spent the extra time searching for my rain boots. By a stroke of luck, they match my new umbrella almost as if I'd made a coordinated effort.The bright pink boots don't fit with the business suit I have on, but there is a pair of heels in my purse for when I get to my desk. Today I'm prepared. I rock. Nothing will make me falter. I reach the lobby and see Finn as he leans with his back against the front window.I falter."Good morning.""Um, good morning. What are you doing here?" I didn't expect to see him so soon after our encounter yesterday...or ever again for that matter."Well, I live here so I'm allowed to loiter in the lobby, but I was a
The rain stops mid lunch and doesn't pick up again regardless of how many times I check out my window or wish it would. Finn said he'd pick me up if it was still raining, but with the lack of the wet stuff and no text from him about what time I leave work, I've given up hope by quitting time.My steps to the elevator are sluggish. As I reach it and press the down button, Amanda, the one friend I've managed to make at the office this week, stands beside me."I'm so ready for Friday tomorrow. Aren't you?" she asks and tucks a piece of her short blonde hair behind her ear."I guess. Do you have big plans?" Amanda is one of the friendliest people I've met, but she hasn't given me the party-girl vibe."Not at all. I'm going to spend my weekend with a good book. One that won't even mention the decline of granola-based dog food sales in our East Coast market. You?"Her comment makes me grin. Our company president has asked us all to think of ways to make up the four percent decline
Friday morning.I've survived a full week in a new place and a new job. This accomplishment deserves ice cream or wine. Maybe ice cream with wine. I debate the merits of ice cream flavored wine down all four flights. Again a comfortably dressed Finn wearing jeans and a blue long sleeved t-shirt waits in our shared lobby. The tee has a pixelated font, "Classically trained" with a picture of an old-style video game controller beneath it. Yeah, his office definitely has a relaxed dress code. My own black pants and pink blouse make me feel overdressed as I approach him."Good morning," I singsong to him. "Cute shirt." I come off over-happy, but nothing can beat a Friday morning. Finn's normal cute factor has veered more toward hot today. I have a sudden urge to sweep my fingers through his hair and pull it a little. I have no idea where the idea comes from and I shut it off fast. Well I try to shut it off, but the sight of the light stubble along his jawline has certain parts of me too
The tiny round table I'm occupying is bumped from the side. The entire piece wobbles before it drops back into place with a clang. Hot chocolate splashes over the side of my white paper cup and spills on the papers beside it. Wonderful.The offender looks over her shoulder with a quick, "Sorry," sent my way as she shuffles her gigantic purse over her shoulder, jarring another patron on her way out. I'm willing to admit coming to a busy coffee shop on a Saturday morning to try and get some work done may not have been my best idea.I'm not even by the door, but every few minutes someone bumps my black padded chair or nudges the small table I've precariously balanced all my supplies on. I tried to work at home this morning, but it turns out reading about dog food trends over the last twenty years is as fun as memorizing the US Presidents was in third grade. How could I have resisted the little corner coffee shop with the short black overhang? Plus they have free Wi-Fi.The cute coff