Page 2 of Pucking My Grumpy Roommate
“Not ready? As in...not ready today?” I clutched the edge of the desk. “Or...”
“Not ready for at least two weeks, looks like.”
“Two weeks?” The words came out as a squeak. “But I start my fellowship on Monday! Where am I supposed to live?”
He shrugged. “Says here they emailed you about it yesterday.”
I pulled out my phone, scrolling frantically through emails I’d ignored during travel. There it was—a tersely worded notice about “unforeseen circumstances” and “sincerest apologies.”
“This can’t be happening.” I felt my shoulders slump as I looked at my heap of belongings. “Can you recommend anywhere nearby? A hotel? Anything?”
“Everything’s booked because of the hockey tournament this weekend.” He actually looked sympathetic now. “But we can store your stuff until your place is ready.”
I nodded numbly and made my way outside for a bit of privacy, my mind racing through options, finding none. With frozen fingers, I pulled up Angel’s contact and pressed call. If anyone could talk me through a crisis, it was my best friend.
“Angel? It’s me. I need help. I’m homeless.”
“Slow down, Kate. What do you mean homeless? In this weather?”
“Exactly what I said. Administrative error. Two-week delay. Me, stranded.” I kicked at a snow pile, immediately regretting it as slush invaded my woefully inadequate boots. “I’m literally standing in the snow with all my worldly possessions.”
“Breathe, honey. First things first—get somewhere warm. Find a hotel room.”
“Already tried. There’s some hockey thing happening. Everything’s booked.” I lowered my voice as the desk attendant glanced out the window at me. “I’m seriously contemplating building an igloo out of my research papers.”
Angel laughed. “Your dissertation would make excellent insulation. But maybe let’s try something else first. What about online housing groups? There’s always someone looking to sublet.”
“In the middle of winter? On zero notice?” I was skeptical, but pulled up the university’s housing page anyway while putting Angel on speaker phone.
“Just check. People go on sabbatical and take extended vacations. You might get lucky.”
Twenty minutes and numb fingers later, I’d created profiles on three housing sites and was scrolling through listings while huddled in the building’s lobby. Most were for the next semester or required year-long commitments.
“Nothing, Angel. This is hopeless. I should’ve stayed in Arizona with the scorpions and cactuses. At least they were predictable hazards.”
“Cacti,” she corrected automatically. “And keep looking. What about that university faculty site I sent you?”
I clicked the link, not expecting much. And then—there it was. A miracle in the form of a two-bedroom sublet near campus, available immediately, utilities included, furnished.
“Angel! I found something!” I practically shouted, earning a glare from the desk attendant. “Sorry,” I mouthed at him before returning to the phone. “It’s perfect—pretty close to the lab, available now, and the price isn’t completely insane.”
“See? What did I tell you? Message them right away before someone else grabs it.”
I typed frantically, explaining my situation and practically begging for consideration. To my shock, a response arrived within minutes.
“They answered already!” I whispered excitedly. “Someone named Stone. Says the owner is out of town but he’s handling the rental. The place is mine if I want it!”
“Stone? What kind of name is that?”
“I don’t care if his name is Pebble as long as he has a warm apartment.” I quickly typed a response, agreeing to meet tomorrow to see the place and get keys.
“Ask for photos first,” Angel cautioned. “This seems almost too good to be true.”
“He’s sending some now.” I watched as images loaded of a surprisingly attractive apartment—modern kitchen, decent-sized living room, two bedrooms with actual furniture. “It looks amazing. Way better than university housing.”
“Well, aren’t you the luckiest disaster I know? But promise me you’ll be careful. Take someone with you to see it.”
“Who would I take? I literally know no one in Minneapolis.” I glanced out at the intensifying snowstorm. “Besides, I’ve got good instincts about people.”
