Sharing Space (The Complete Series) Read Online Free
Author: Nina Perez
that much to love. Both bedrooms were equal in size and quite ordinary without any furniture in them. The only things remaining in Grace's old room was a small dresser and some framed black and white photos of black movie actors from back in the day. I thought she would want the pictures, but she hadn't contacted me yet. My plan was to leave them in the bedroom until someone moved in and then store the prints in the basement.
"The girl who used to live here left that stuff, but I planned on putting it in storage if she doesn't send for it. I—"
"Oh yes. I have my own bedroom set that was a gift from my Nana. She gave it to me when I was just sixteen and I've had it ever since. It would look so good in here. And you know what I think is just great? The bedrooms aren't too close together, because privacy is important. I think it's awful when you can hear every little thing that goes on in a person's bedroom, don't you? Not that I have a boyfriend or anything. I mean, you wouldn’t have to worry about that. Do you have a boyfriend?"
When she stopped to take a breath, I assumed that meant I was allowed to answer.
"Well, actually, I just—"
"I'm making it a point to leave certain things in Jersey, and that includes Joey, my ex. Wow! I'm really excited, aren't you? This will work out great, don't you think?"
Why was this girl constantly asking me questions when it was obvious she wasn't interested in my answers?
"Um, well, I still have other people interested in seeing the apartment, but I will call you—"
"Great, you do that. I know we would get along fabulously,” Rebecca said as I led her to the door. "Here's my card with my work, home, and cell numbers on it. I have a good feeling about this. You are so easy to talk to and such a good listener!"
I took the card, nodded, and shut the door. Such a good listener? I didn't have a choice. Damn, that girl could talk. Soon after she left I realized two things: Rebecca left not knowing one thing about me yet I knew her life story, and secondly I was not calling her back. I tossed the card in the trash.
***
Heather Blake arrived next. She was the complete opposite of Rebecca. Whereas Rebecca had diarrhea of the mouth, Heather barely said a word, and when she did speak she managed to give me the heebie-jeebies. Rebecca had arrived in a short sundress, which was appropriate since it was approaching the end of a summer that had all the meteorologists referring to New York City as The Baked Apple, but Heather was wearing a long navy blue skirt that flowed to her ankles with a matching blazer and white shirt. I felt hot just looking at her. Rebecca had been punctual and arrived right on time; Heather was actually fifteen minutes early. Heather was black, wore black wire-rimmed glasses, and wore her hair pinned back in a bun.
When we’d spoken over the phone she explained she was a bank teller in Manhattan, and was planning to go back to school part-time for a bachelor's degree. In doing this, she'd have to cut back on some of her expenses and wouldn't be able to afford the loft she rented downtown. She hadn’t disclosed her age, but looking at her I figured she had to be in her late twenties to early thirties.
"Hello, Heather. It’s nice to meet you." Heather nodded in my direction with a slight smile as she entered the apartment, taking everything in.
"You're early. I take it you didn't have any trouble finding the place."
"My church is near here. I came over right after service."
"Oh, great. Can I take your jacket?"
Please, please let me take it.
"No, thank you. I'm fine."
Darn.
"Can I get you anything to drink or—"
"No, thank you."
“Well, let me give you the grand tour. This is obviously the living room. It's very spacious, as you can see. Do you have much furniture?"
She shook her head. "I don't believe in acquiring too many material things. The Lord
"The girl who used to live here left that stuff, but I planned on putting it in storage if she doesn't send for it. I—"
"Oh yes. I have my own bedroom set that was a gift from my Nana. She gave it to me when I was just sixteen and I've had it ever since. It would look so good in here. And you know what I think is just great? The bedrooms aren't too close together, because privacy is important. I think it's awful when you can hear every little thing that goes on in a person's bedroom, don't you? Not that I have a boyfriend or anything. I mean, you wouldn’t have to worry about that. Do you have a boyfriend?"
When she stopped to take a breath, I assumed that meant I was allowed to answer.
"Well, actually, I just—"
"I'm making it a point to leave certain things in Jersey, and that includes Joey, my ex. Wow! I'm really excited, aren't you? This will work out great, don't you think?"
Why was this girl constantly asking me questions when it was obvious she wasn't interested in my answers?
"Um, well, I still have other people interested in seeing the apartment, but I will call you—"
"Great, you do that. I know we would get along fabulously,” Rebecca said as I led her to the door. "Here's my card with my work, home, and cell numbers on it. I have a good feeling about this. You are so easy to talk to and such a good listener!"
I took the card, nodded, and shut the door. Such a good listener? I didn't have a choice. Damn, that girl could talk. Soon after she left I realized two things: Rebecca left not knowing one thing about me yet I knew her life story, and secondly I was not calling her back. I tossed the card in the trash.
***
Heather Blake arrived next. She was the complete opposite of Rebecca. Whereas Rebecca had diarrhea of the mouth, Heather barely said a word, and when she did speak she managed to give me the heebie-jeebies. Rebecca had arrived in a short sundress, which was appropriate since it was approaching the end of a summer that had all the meteorologists referring to New York City as The Baked Apple, but Heather was wearing a long navy blue skirt that flowed to her ankles with a matching blazer and white shirt. I felt hot just looking at her. Rebecca had been punctual and arrived right on time; Heather was actually fifteen minutes early. Heather was black, wore black wire-rimmed glasses, and wore her hair pinned back in a bun.
When we’d spoken over the phone she explained she was a bank teller in Manhattan, and was planning to go back to school part-time for a bachelor's degree. In doing this, she'd have to cut back on some of her expenses and wouldn't be able to afford the loft she rented downtown. She hadn’t disclosed her age, but looking at her I figured she had to be in her late twenties to early thirties.
"Hello, Heather. It’s nice to meet you." Heather nodded in my direction with a slight smile as she entered the apartment, taking everything in.
"You're early. I take it you didn't have any trouble finding the place."
"My church is near here. I came over right after service."
"Oh, great. Can I take your jacket?"
Please, please let me take it.
"No, thank you. I'm fine."
Darn.
"Can I get you anything to drink or—"
"No, thank you."
“Well, let me give you the grand tour. This is obviously the living room. It's very spacious, as you can see. Do you have much furniture?"
She shook her head. "I don't believe in acquiring too many material things. The Lord
Readers choose
Christine Feehan
Jan Harman
Josephine W. Johnson
Tim Curran
Christina James
Tracy L. Higley
Tom Holt
Elinor Lipman
Sean Cullen