Page 59 of The Jerk in Apartment 1B

“That’s all nonsense,” he says, waving his hand around. “You just haven’t met the right girl.”

“And you think Trina’s that girl? You don’t even know her.”

“I know enough. And it isn’t about what I know. It’s a feeling I get, and I got a feeling you and Trina would be good together.”

Frank is always trying to set me up. He tries to set everyone up. He should’ve been a matchmaker.

“I’ll have to disagree with you, Frank. Trina and I are not a match. And I’m pretty sure she’ll end up getting back with her boyfriend.”

“So get her before she does. You’re a good-looking young man. You’re smart. You got money. You got a lot going for you. I bet if she had the choice, she’d choose you over whoever this other guy is.”

She wouldn’t. She’d choose her ex. They have a long history and she’s still in love with him.

“Frank, I gotta get going.” I hold up the traps. “I need to go set these up. But it was good talking to you.”

“She’s working tonight.” He winks at me. “If you want to stop by. She takes her break around eight.”

“Or I could just see her at home since she lives right next to me.”

“That works too.”

He walks with me to the self-check out lane. I avoid the regular register because the girl that works there is really unfriendly. It’s like she’s in a permanent bad mood.

“Maybe just take her out to eat,” Frank says as I run the traps over the scanner. “As a friend.”

“I already did. I took her to brunch yesterday.”

“Is that so?” he says, like taking Trina to brunch means something.

“It was brunch. It wasn’t a date.” I pay with a credit card, then gather up the traps.

“Did you two hit it off?” Frank asks.

I smile at him. “She’s my tenant. That’s it.”

“We’ll see.” He winks. “Have a good day.”

“You too. See ya, Frank.”

When I’m back at the apartment, I go to the very end of the hall and set two traps by the door. I set the other two along the hallway across from my storage unit. Hopefully, that will stop any rats before they make it to Trina’s place.

I’m right outside her door, but it doesn’t sound like she’s home. Maybe she went for a walk or to get something to eat. I feel like I should apologize for upsetting her, but I’m not going to take back what I said. She needed to hear it, even if she didn’t want to.

As I’m heading back to my apartment, Cole comes into the building. “I got the shower head.” He walks down to me. “Should I go install it?”

“Do it later. I don’t think she’s home. Actually, give it to me. I’ll do it myself.”

He hands me the package and follows me into my place. “Why are you doing it?”

“I need to make up for something I did. Not that fixing her shower will help, but it’s at least something.”

“What did you do?”

“I said something that upset Trina.”

“What did you say?”

“It’s a long story.”

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