Page 25 of Love and Pumpkins
“There’s only one serving left. Why dirty a dish?” Seeing Hunter behind me, she adds, “Oh, hi, Hunter. Didn’t know you were coming over.” She gives me a look and smirks.
“Hiya, Chloe.”
“Chloe was just leaving. Her apartment is upstairs,” I say, trying to hide my irritation.
“Yep.” She stands and tosses the ice cream carton in the garbage. “I just came for some ice cream. I’ll be going now.”
“No freezer in your apartment?” Hunter teases.
“Phoebe buys the ice cream. It’s our rule.”
“And Chloe buys paper towels,” I add.
“What’s going to happen when you’re not both living here?” Hunter asks.
Chloe and I shrug at the same time, which elicits another laugh from Hunter.
“Well, I’m going.” She grabs her laptop and tucks it under her arm. “Don’t do anything I’d do,” she says, walking toward the door, her blonde hair bouncing as she tips her head from side to side.
“Bye, Chloe. See you tomorrow night,” I say.
“Toodles.”
“So, this is home,” Hunter says, glancing around.
I love this apartment. The exterior walls are exposed brick. The interior walls are pale blue, my favorite color. It’s a nice backdrop to my collection of framed, pressed flowers.
“Yep.”
“It’s you. Very nice.”
I show him where the bathroom is and point to the closed bedroom door. That’s off-limits. I didn’t make my bed this morning.
We walk to the large row of windows that face the street, gazing down at the primary business district, which is two blocks long, and houses thirteen businesses. I’ve heard an indie bookstore may open in the spring. I’m looking forward to that.
“It’s quiet,” Hunter notes.
“Sunday evening. It’s pretty dead.”
He glances towards the couch, and I offer to get drinks as we await the pizza. “Just water for me,” he says.
We settle on the couch and turn towards each other, our knees brushing.
“So,” I say, “where do we begin?”
He stretches his arm across the back of the couch and runs his fingers through my hair. It’s a soothing move. “I like you, Phoebe, and would like to see where this could go.”
My eyes drop from his. It seems impossible. “But you live so far away.”
He grimaces. “Have you ever thought about moving to Chicago?”
“No, I’m settled here.”
He sighs. “I know. Just kidding. I’m not quite ready to move back yet, but like I said, I can work remotely, and my mom has a spare bedroom. Let’s give the relationship thing a try, and then we can make more educated decisions in a few months.”
“Wow. That sounds logical, cold, and calculating.”
“I’m a numbers guy who likes data.”
