Page 51 of Room 4 Rent

“I don’t know. I’ve never asked one.” I scroll down on the page to see Cason’s name and a picture of him in a Devils’ hat and jersey. The sight of him sends a quick blip through my chest. I can’t help the smile.

“Damn, he must’ve really gave it to you last night.” With the bottle between her legs, she pretends to hump it.

Tatum grins, watching her, and then proceeds to hump the air.

“Can I watchFrozen?” Tatum, wearing a cowgirl hat and a lace skirt, stops her humping motions and twirls around the room.

“No, we watched it this morning.” I grab her and haul her onto my lap. Her cackles fill the room, and it’s the best sound I’ve heard all day. “You don’t even watch it. You just fast-forward until you get to the parts with that little snowman talking.”

She bats her long dark eyelashes at me. “I like hims.”

“He’s a pretty great character,” Sadie adds, pulling up Craigslist. “Now, let’s post this ad for you since you won’t let me live here with you.”

Tatum settles on the couch between us, and I roll my eyes at Sadie. “I would, but you can’t pay rent. That defeats the purpose of renting it out for money.”

“Right. I know that.” Sadie hasn’t held a job in her life. Unless you count the week she worked at Starbucks and got fired for reasons she won’t tell us.

There’s one thing that’s been good about this last week, and I’m reminded of it during the opening credits of, you guessed it,Frozen. It’s spending time with my sister. I can’t remember the last time I was able to see her for a week straight.

“Right. Let’s put up an ad.”

My ad?

Classy as shit.

Large, okay, medium-size apartment above garage. Has a toilet. Not in the bedroom, but like, attached and shit. Even gets hot water after an ungodly waiting period. Might as well bring baby wipes. It’d be faster. There’s walls, a ceiling, and carpet up in this ho too! My cheating husband wanted wood floors, but I was like, fuck that. I don’t want my toes cold. Hit me up if interested. If not, find another place. Your choice. Ask for Sadie. She’s taking my calls.

Sadie stares at the screen with pride. “I mean, if that doesn’t get a renter who’s cool as shit, I don’t know what will. I would want to be best friends with you after this.”

“I don’t need any more friends.” I settle onto the couch next to Tatum, who is currently fast-forwarding throughFrozento find the part where Olaf loses his nose.

Sadie no sooner sends the ad through, and we get a phone call on it.

“Okay, that’s creepy.” Sadie stares at her phone. “I just confirmed it.”

“Answer it.” We used Sadie’s number because I can’t find my phone. Tatum had it earlier and said something about it going swimming. If I had to guess, it’s in the hot tub again.

It takes a few minutes before Sadie glances over at me, holding her hand over the microphone. “Does a felony matter?”

“What?” I can’t believe someone would ask that, but then again, I’ve discovered over the last week, nothing will surprise me. “Uh, well, what’s it for?”

She brings the phone back to her ear. “What’s the crime, man?”

He says something, and she snorts. “Sex offender? Sorry, dude. Not happening.”

Click.

“Was he for real?”

“Sadly, I think so.”

The next guy that calls wants to know right away when we can move in, as in, two people.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” Sadie asks, running her fingers through Tatum’s hair as she lays her head on Sadie’s lap. “It’s a small place.”

Click.

I search her eyes as they slowly slide to mine. “Wow.”

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