"Two toilets!" I repeat, and they both nod.
"Yes, if someone's showering and you need the bathroom, it's a lifesaver!" Mark chuckles, and I nod in agreement. "The one at the end is just a storage space. That's where we keep our cleaning supplies." He explains as he opens the utility closet. "Kent owns this room, but I shouldn't have opened the door without his permission," he says, touching the door in a respectful manner.
I didn't know Kent, and he didn't know me, but it seemed like the polite thing to do.
Mark playfully drums on the wall and announces, "And this..." He opens the door to Carlo's room, revealing only an iron bed frame; even the mattress and box spring were gone.
"It's spacious," I comment, and they both agree. It was much larger than the room I had at home. It featured beautiful wooden floors and unassuming white walls.
"Hey, are you guys giving her the grand tour?" Carlo interrupts as he emerges from the half-bath, and both Mark and Kyle laugh. "What do you think, Julianna?" Carlo asks, and I smile.
"May I take a look inside the closet?" I inquire, and Carlo nods.
"Of course, feel free to explore." His reassurance makes me feel more at ease, so I step into the closet. It had a large window, high ceilings, and plenty of space. With my dresser, it would be perfect.
"You like it?" Carlo asks again, and I nod.
"Yes, it's great," I reply with a grin, making Carlo and the others smile. "But only if you guys are okay with it," I quickly add, extending my hands in a gesture of consideration, prompting everyone to chuckle.
They had to want me as a roommate too. My desire to live there wasn't enough. Despite the place not being perfect or upscale, my social life was virtually nonexistent and seemed impossible to resurrect. Most of my friends from my area had left the state for college, leaving me with the challenge of rebuilding my social circle. I was bored, lonely, and desperate for some human connection.
"Could we have a quick chat about it?" Kyle asks, wearing a friendly smile, and I agree.
"Of course," I reply, and they all head down the hall to discuss it, leaving me in the living room, deep in thought about what I needed to do next. I'd have to check my credit, review the lease, and buy furniture to complete the room. I really hope they'll accept me as their roommate. Despite the anxiety and nerves, it was a far better option than what I was currently dealing with.
As I pondered, my bag vibrated, signaling an incoming call. I shift the bag's strap to access my phone and see "MOM IS CALLING" displayed on the screen.
I answer, "Hello."
"Hey sweetie," my mom's voice comes through, with the faint sound of a car in the background, indicating she's on her hands-free device. "How's your coffee tasting?"
"It went well."
"Already done?" she questions, sounding surprised. I gaze at the queen-sized bed frame in the room, realizing I wouldn't have to get rid of it.
"Yeah, I'm at Carlo's place, and we're discussing some things." I sigh, realizing I should've waited to tell them about the potential move until I had more details.
"Well, I need to pick something up in the city. Do you want me to come get you?" Mom offers kindly.
"Sure, I'll send you the location." I inform her, glancing around the room. They had clearly tidied up the space before showing it to prospective tenants.
"Aww, that's nice. I'll see you in, what, twenty minutes?" She smiles through the phone.
"Okay, I'll see you..." I glance towards the hallway and notice a large figure standing at the entrance of a room.
Kent.
As he glances over his shoulder at me, I manage a faint smile. This guy is the definition of a perfect ten. With his dark brown hair and impeccably chiseled jawline, he's a sight to behold. Those bright green eyes with a hint of yellow are absolutely captivating. He looks like he's spent the entire summer basking in the sun, and it shows.
"Julianna?" My mom's voice snaps me out of my reverie, and I shake my head to refocus. "Julianna, are you still there?"
"Yeah, sorry, Mom. The signal's a bit wonky here," I mutter, tearing my gaze away. He's also remarkably tall and robust. This guy is way too intimidating and attractive to be a potential roommate. "Anyway, I'll see you soon."
"Alright, take care, honey," she says, and my phone emits a beep. I swiftly stow my phone back in my bag and muster up the last remnants of courage to glance back and see if he's still there.
To my surprise, he hasn't moved an inch; he's still standing there, looking in my direction. I inhale deeply and wipe my damp palms on my shorts. Once again, my hands are clammy.
"Hi," I manage to squeak out, and a faint smile tugs at the corners of his mouth.
After 2 years... Kent "Today has to be perfect." I've been super busy preparing for this day for the last few weeks. It has to happen tonight, or she'll suspect something's up. Juls is getting her master's degree today, and I've never been prouder. She's incredibly smart, always reading or researching. That pile of library books in our office never seems to shrink. She's applied to Ph.D. programs all over, but I think she'll stay at Brown. I'm okay with that because I don't want anything to change about our lives. Well, except for one thing that I hope to change today. I finished my MBA a few months ago and started working full-time downtown. I'm in marketing for now but aiming for investment banking and trust. I know my path, and with time and connections, I hope to take care of us. Juls keeps saying she'll stay in school because she doesn't know what else to do, but I think it's the other way around. School and academia bring out her best. Her eyes light up when she learns some
"We're almost there," Kent insists, turning on his car's signal. I feel like we're in the middle of nowhere, and we've been driving for over an hour. Kent refused to tell me our destination because, as he put it, "I would just g****e where we're going, and then it wouldn't be a surprise anymore!" The weather was gradually getting less cold, not warm yet but no longer snowing or freezing. I was on my last spring break, trying to finish my thesis and schoolwork. We recently received information about our upcoming graduation. In about a month and a half, we would be finishing our undergrad degrees. It was still surreal to me, moving from starting a university degree to finishing it. Kent had been discussing plans for the summer, including hiking trips, which I pretended not to dread. I wasn't much of a hiker, but I was willing to do it with him. We signed our lease for next year, securing that cute little apartment on the other side of campus. The thought of moving in with him excite
"I got my email." Even though Doctor Binkley said I have a spot, I'm still nervous to open it. Maybe I should've waited to open it when I'm alone, but I can't wait. I'm opening it on my way out of lecture. I open the email, quickly reading the first few lines. But at the top, there's a big box that says 'congratulations' and 'welcome!' My heart immediately slows down, and I feel relieved, clutching my phone to my chest. It's official; I'm staying at Brown next year. That means I'll be with my family, my school, and, of course, Kent. We can start our life together, still have our friends and continue studying, but we'll be together. I remember how tough that month at Northwestern was, how much I missed him, and how I felt like I had no support. I need to text my parents and tell them the news. They've been anxiously waiting to hear what I'd do about my living situation next year. But I'll do it later. Right now, I just want to go home and be with someone I love. I pull out my phone
"I hate school sometimes." Yes, I like researching and finding answers to questions no one's ever thought of before, and I like my degree, but the coursework sucks. I'm sick of reading pages and pages of scholarly articles and books and writing a new paper every other week. My honors project is draining every ounce of energy from me, and I was starting to worry if it was even worth it anymore. I hadn't heard about Brown's Master's program yet, and that's the whole reason for this extra burden. Today was Tuesday, one of my busier days. I only had class today until noon, and then I usually spent the rest of the day grinding out work. Today I had to meet with Doctor Binkley and discuss my work. It was something we did monthly to make sure I felt like I was always on the right track. Kent had a break after his class at one-thirty, and we were planning to meet up and study together until his next class at four. Then I was planning to go home and take it easy. I take the elevator up to
I wake up in the middle of a large bed with Kent beside me. We were completely tangled in bedsheets, just beside each other in a beautiful room. I sigh, feeling my body ache and my head pound, but it's bearable. I shuffle over slightly, laying my head on his chest and snuggling back into his side. That seems to get his attention. He moves under me and groans slightly, eyelids fluttering. I feel his lips press a simple kiss to my temple, and I smile. "Hey, Juls," he mumbles. "Hi," I whisper back, watching his eyes open slowly. He grins at me easily, running a hand through my hair. "How do you feel?" he asks, and I shrug. "I have a headache and I'm tired, but I'm okay," I sigh, tracing my fingertips down the center of his chest. "I had a lot of fun last night." "Good," he whispers, putting his hand over mine on his chest. "I know how hard you've been working and all the crap we've been dealing with." His voice is thick with sleep, deep and raspy. "It was nice to have a day that wa
"It's been an amazing night and an unbelievable birthday. I'm pleasantly tipsy, happy, aware, and buzzing," I express. It looks like all three of our friends have scored phone numbers tonight, giving Kent and me some alone time. I notice the place clearing out, and I realize it's probably time to head home. The bar is closing in about thirty minutes, and it's close to three in the morning. "Want to go somewhere else?" Abby asks as we wait for our jackets. I sigh and shake my head. I'm ready to devour some greasy food, drink water, and snuggle into bed with Kent. We've teased about getting intimate, but with all our roommates around, it's not a possibility. I've let go of that idea and just want a relaxed and easy night. "I'm good," I sigh, and she nods with a simple shrug. "Thanks a lot for everything; this night was so, so fun!" "I'm thrilled you enjoyed it!" She insists, giving me a hug, and I grin. Kent retrieves our coats, and I sigh, not looking forward to facing the cold a