Page 26 of Starcrossed Colorado

Thunder rumbled outside again. It sounded like we were in for a rainy day.

But if you asked me, music classes were the ideal indoor activity.

After the success of my parent-and-tot class, I now had three older students booked for private lessons. Two piano and one guitar. Summer was the perfect time to get started, and the kids were all sweet. Including Piper’s son, Ollie. He was a ball of energy for sure. But I had taught plenty of kids before, and I also had two much-younger siblings. I knew all the tricks.

After a slightly rocky start in Silver Ridge, everything had been looking up lately. Even Ashford had been slightly less annoying the past several days, ever since the night I’d seenhim at the brewery. As my journal reflected. I’d spent less time complaining about him in there.

My apartment was the only part of my summer plan that was still on unsteady footing. This place was drafty, and it had a persistent smell of mildew. Especially in the bathroom. But it was fine. I was getting used to it.

When the first few drops of moisture hit my arm, I thought Stella was slobbering on me. But no, she was already slobbering on my shoulder.

I sat up quickly, looking around. My eyes slowly traced upward to the ceiling.

Drip, drip, drip.

“No!” I scrambled out of bed, grabbing for the small trashcan to catch the raindrops currently falling inside of my apartment through that ugly water stain on the ceiling. Which apparently wasn’t an old leak, but avery activeone.

I threw on some clothes, grabbed my phone, and called Sheldon, the on-site property manager. He didn’t answer, so I marched down to his apartment on the first floor.

I knocked for a solid two minutes before Sheldon cracked the door open. “Dude. Do you know what time it is?” The smell of stale marijuana wafted from behind him.

“Yes, actually, I do. It’s much earlier than I wanted to be awake. Because it’s raininginsidemy apartment.”

“Have you tried closing the window?”

“Is that supposed to be cute?” I was sure another tenant would’ve reported this leak before. But I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt, taking the time to describe it in detail. “Look, the roof has to be fixed today. It’s right over my bed. I can’t live like this.”

His bloodshot eyes drifted downward, suddenly taking interest in me. Except he seemed to be interested in my body instead of my words. “I guess I can call our handyman, but?—”

“No butts. Make the call. Somebody needs to be out here to fix it.Today.” I spun on my heel and went back to my apartment.

When I got upstairs, I realized I’d been wearing my pajamas with no bra that whole time. No wonder the guy’s eyeballs had gone to my chest. Gross.

Stella jumped up from the corner where she’d been hiding from the thunder.

“It’s going to be all right. I told Sheldon what’s what, and I’m sure he’ll get this fixed.”

Now, we just had to move on with our day.

Once I was cleaned up and dressed, and I’d moved as much of my stuff away from the leak as possible, we headed out the door. First stop was Dixie’s. She’d been watching Stella off and on while I held my classes. She lived in a cute cottage a few streets away from Main.

Dixie answered the door with towels for Stella. I’d warned her we would be walking as usual, since my car was still out of commission. “Want to come in and dry off too, hon?”

“It’s not so bad.” I pointed at my umbrella.

“Except umbrellas don’t help much when the rain’s going sideways. We rarely get it this bad. How’s the roof at the Ponderosa? Has it sprung a leak again? I swear, some landlords have no standards.”

I felt my smile slip, but I put it right back in place. Dixie had not been thrilled when she’d heard where I was living. There weren’t many other rentals available, though, and none in my price range. “There was a small leak. But?—”

“You know my couch is available. Oh, and my dear friend Shirley had her spare room open up. Her forty-year-old grandson still lives in the basement, so you’d have to share a bathroom…”

“Nope. The Ponderosa is working out great for me.”

The skepticism was clear on her face, but she nodded. “All right. But if you change your mind, you just let me know. It’s bingo at the community center later this afternoon, if you’d like to join. Dogs welcome. They aren’t allowed to serve liquor, but I bring my own pitcher of margaritas. I can save you one.”

My smile returned in full force. “I’ll think about it. Thanks, Dixie. Better go. I was up early, yet somehow I’m running late.” I handed her the bag with Stella’s food, toys, and treats for the day.

Dixie’s offer of her couch had been tempting. Her house was cozy and inviting. Smelled good, too. Not a single whiff of mildew.

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