Scarred Wolf by Charlene Hartnady

5

Everleigh

“What a dick!”I say out loud as I kick off my sneakers and peel off my clammy running gear, throwing the clothing on the bathroom floor. The steam from the shower is beginning to mist up the glass as I walk barefoot over the travertine tiles to step into the stall. Tension eases from my tight muscles as the hot water runs over my skin. Thankfully, I soon begin to feel like my usual cheerful self. He was still a class-A dick, though, I think, less venomously now. I apologized to him – and more than once. I shake my head. Why are the gorgeous ones always so darned arrogant? I push that asshole out of my mind once and for all. I hate that I can’t stop thinking about him. Those eyes… No! I’m done!

I’ll think happy thoughts for the rest of the evening. Like how I love this bathroom. It’s one of the reasons I bought my apartment. The chrome fittings gleam against earth-toned tiles, and there’s an oversized tub under a skylight in the corner. I’ve spent hours soaking in that thing, up to my chin in bubbles. I can’t imagine not being able to come home to this place. The thought takes hold and my annoyance at the rude stranger in the park is replaced by the troubles that had driven me to take a longer run in the first place. How am I going to find the cash to pay off my credit card at the end of this month? I have two options; pay the card and starve, or miss another payment and eat. Neither is going to work.

“Ugh,” I groan, as I step out of the stall, water streaming from my hair as I reach for a towel. At least I smell better now…my shoulders have loosened. I just need to get rid of the knot in my stomach and I’ll be all set.

I dry off and have just pulled on a pair of denim cut-off shorts and a plain white t-shirt when my intercom buzzes. The sound of it perks me up; it’s Friday evening, which means it’s time for my regular girls’ night with Diana. My best friend is a bright, bubbling ray of sunshine and I know she’s going to be just what the mood doctor ordered. I buzz her up, and minutes later she’s pushing my front door open, one hand extended, holding a bottle of wine.

“Oh, thank god,” I laugh, as she wraps her other arm around me. Diana’s bear hugs are the best.

“Hello, honey!” she says in a singsong voice, as she releases me. She’s already making her way to my kitchen to get us some glasses. Di knows her way around my place almost as well as I do. She was with me when I signed the papers and helped me pick out half the furniture. She opens the wine and pours. Now she’s looking at me with an expression that tells me she can see I have something on my mind. Her face creases in concern, eyes slightly narrowed. I’ve barely said a word yet, and already she knows I’m troubled.

“Okay, spit it out, Ev,” she says, handing me a glass. “What’s eating at you?”

I heave a sigh, then take a long sip, enjoying the cool tang of the chardonnay. “Nothing life-threatening,” I eventually say. “Just a hectic day. I literally ran into the biggest jerk ever today,” I grumble. “This guy at the park – I stumbled, and he tripped over me. He was so damn rude about it!” I rub my forehead as if it will erase the memory of his face. Not to mention the body that went with it. The man was sex on legs. Probably half the reason why I was so rattled by how he treated me. Like something stuck to the bottom of his shoe. Why was he so close to me in the first place? It was his fault too for not respecting boundaries. I should have lashed out at him…not the other way around. I didn’t think about it at the time.

“Pfft!” Di waves a hand dismissively. “The world is full of dickheads! Don’t take on their negative energy, babe. You’re bigger than that. But that can’t be all, surely? You don’t normally let such trivial things get to you.” She knows me so well – which I love. I’m already feeling better.

“Yeah…you’re right. I’m probably just feeling fragile. I got a call from my credit card company today – they came down on me pretty hard. I feel like I’ve been pulling my hair out trying to balance my account after all my expenses.”

“Oh lord, money troubles will give you gray hairs,” Di says over her shoulder as she heads into my living room. My open-plan apartment is designed so that the kitchen, dining room and lounge all flow into each other, giving the entire place a view out of the double-height windows. Below us, the city lights twinkle in the darkening evening light, like a glittering blanket.

God, I love this place…

Di has slouched into an overstuffed wingback that’s her regular seat, and I’ve settled onto the sofa, pulling my feet up beside me. She’s looking at me pointedly, prompting me to go on. “You know the drill. Too much month, not enough money.” I smile. I’m trying to make light of it, but I’m actually very worried. I’ve been mentally juggling my budget, but whichever way I look at it, I’m coming up short.

“That sucks big time, Ev. Is there anything I can do to help?” Her smile is gentle. She knows I have too much pride to take money from her, and her offer is presented in a way that won’t dent my ego. Diana may be fun-loving and light-hearted, but she’s a kickass junior partner at a law firm; she’s never strapped for cash. I’m glad for her, though – she works so darned hard and deserves her success.

But I’m glancing around my beautiful apartment now and fighting back tears. “Oh Di, you know I love you! But I’m going to have to make some tough decisions. I’m living beyond my means – my place is paid up, but the utilities and taxes are so steep, plus there’s my medical insurance, and…and…and…” I make a face. “I manage okay on my nurse’s income on a good month. But if anything goes wrong…” I sigh. “I honestly don’t have any wiggle room for unexpected expenses like Sexy Red.” It’s the nickname I have for my car. Silly, but I like it. It suits her.

“Ah, sweetie, I could—” Di begins, but I cut her short.

“I know what you’re going to say, and I adore you for it. But I actually have to make a lifestyle change. Either I have to earn more, or I’m going to have to…” I don’t want to say it, but I have to own up to this. I have to face it head-on. I swallow thickly. “I’m going to have to sell my place and downscale.” I sniff, feeling like an idiot for being so emotional. Selling my apartment for something smaller is hardly a major problem. It’s not like I’m dying or that something is wrong with me. The reality is that it could be so much worse. I need to suck it up!

“I know they’re looking for cleaning staff at the nursing home after hours. I could take on some extra shifts when I’m not working nights. It’ll give me some breathing room if I have another month like the last few.” I pull a face as I think through the series of disasters that have somehow plagued me. It feels like every time I’m about to get back on my feet, something else goes wrong. And it’s made me very aware that I have no backup plans in place. A loan would only be a short-term solution. I need to find a way to pay my bills and have a little leftover for savings.

Diana looks at me with an eyebrow raised. “Nightshift?” she shakes her head. “Oh, Evie no! You already put in so many hours – you’ll burn yourself out!”

“But I—” I begin.

“I’m serious, babe,” she’s frowning now, “you barely have any time to yourself as it is. If I hadn’t insisted on it, we’d never have our Friday evenings together. I do understand your reasoning though – it’s never a bad idea to be financially secure.” She raises her hand and taps her fingertip on her bottom lip. I can see her brain kicking into overdrive as she runs an appraising eye around the room. “Have you ever thought of taking in a roommate?” she eventually blurts out.

I frown. “What?” I glance at her glass. “Were you drinking before you arrived?”

“I’m totally serious,” she goes on, leaning toward me a little. “Just look at this place! It’s in a great part of town, the view is spectacular, and it’s definitely big enough to share. Your second bedroom has its own bathroom, there’s a study if they need to work from home, and your kitchen could fit an army. You’d get used to sharing. Heck, you may actually end up enjoying the company. When last did you make a new friend who wasn’t in their eighties?”

“Hey! I love my friends at the nursing home!” I object. I do…they’re lovely. Not enough people appreciate the company of the older generation.

“Of course you do,” Di reassures me, “but honestly, Ev, you don’t get out enough. When last did you go out on an actual date?”

I roll my eyes because it’s been longer than I can remember…and also because I really don’t care. Besides, it’s not like I have time to think about men right now. I have enough on my plate. There’s plenty of time for such things. I’m still young, even though I have a birthday coming up.

“This conversation is not about my love life, Diana,” I huff, though I don’t mean it; I know she means well.

She wrinkles her nose at me. “I know, I know…doesn’t hurt to remind you, though. Anyhow, I think you should consider taking in a roommate. It could be the answer to your prayers, and it wouldn’t involve any effort.”

“Aside from finding someone to share my place who isn’t an axe-murderer!” I object. “Where would I even start looking? Not to mention that I need cash right now – my credit card is going to be cut off if I don’t make an extra payment by next week.”

“Don’t worry about your card. You won’t need the credit facility once the rental money starts coming in,” Diana brushes off my concerns as she gets up to pour us more wine. “And there are lots of ways to find roommates. Heck, why don’t you put an ad up at your gym? At least you’d have a better chance of finding someone clean living and relatively healthy. Plus, you can check them out with the staff there. I’m sure you could ask some discrete questions to make sure they’re not weirdos.”

I stare at her for a moment, wondering if that glass of chardonnay is already going to my head. Because it’s starting to sound appealing. “I don’t know,” I say anyway, refusing to be convinced so easily. I’m wracking my brain, but I can’t come up with anything better. It’s not like I haven’t agonized over this a ton already.

“Why not just try it, and see who respond? You don’t have to accept anyone unless you really think they’ll fit in,” she suggests. “There’s no obligation here.”

My mind’s racing. I take another big gulp of wine, and then nod my head. “Okay,” I say. “But you’ll have to help me – I’m not doing this on my own!”

“Absolutely.” Di smiles. “What are friends for?”

By the end of the evening, we’ve drafted an ad on my laptop and printed out a couple of copies.

Apartment to share. Will suit mature professional with sober habits and a steady income. Reference checks will apply.

Di has taggedon a rental amount that makes my mouth drop open – it’s practically what I earn every month.

“You’ll get it, sweetie, just wait and see! And it’s better to pitch high, so you know you won’t be getting some college kid who’s going to be planning keggers every weekend!” she laughs. “Though that might not be such a bad idea.”

I give her a playful shove and giggle. “Quit it, Di! This is supposed to be serious.” Beneath my teasing, I’m anxious, though. This might be a really bad idea. What if they turn out to be a serial killer or something? It’s not an impossibility. Not with my luck right now.