Page 11 of Playing the Backbeat

“I’m not an asshole.”

“Never said you were, but this is us. I expected more from you. At the minimum, a sarcastic comment would do. But instead, I have to learn that you haveempathy. Ugh, it’s freaking me out.”

“You’re right. Forgive me, I’m not at my best. Give me a few days and I’ll come up with some unemployment humor. My reserves are low.”

“Just like my bank account! Hey-oooooh!” She reaches out for a fist bump, which I give her.

“So, the bartending. That isn’t just a side gig, huh?”

“Nope. That is the full gig right now. Until they fire me.” I raise my eyebrows at that. “Let’s just say I’m not exactly a natural. I’m on thin ice as is,” she explains.

“Your job. My apartment. Don’t we have it all together?Living the dream,” I say sarcastically.

“Wait, what happened with your apartment?”

“You didn’t hear?” She shakes her head. “My landlord gave me a thirty-day notice. He’s selling the apartment I’m leasing to a family member and moving out of state to take care of another relative. I haven’t found anything yet, so…” I shrug. “I guess we both have some things to figure out. I’m checking out a few more apartments this week.”

Dee doesn’t say anything. Just gives me this confused look, her forehead wrinkling before her entire face lights up, a giant grin taking the place of those pouty lips. “I think I just got the best idea in the entire fucking world.”

“Well, shit. Now I’m scared,” I mumble, before taking another drink.

“Wait. Hear me out,” she pleads, arms splayed out in front of her, like she’s about to map it out for me. “This could be good for both of us.”

“First of all, it wouldn’t begood. It would be fuckinggreat. Damn, Deanna. How many times are you going to hit on me tonight?”

“Trust me, you’d know if I was hitting on you. I’m not exactly subtle.”

“You don’t say. Sorry, signals must have gotten crossed.” I shrug. “Maybe I need to see what your version of flirting looks like so I know when youfinallycave in to your desperation.”

Her eyes narrow. “What’s the plan then?” she asks, now full of life and energy, a completely different Dee in front of me now than when I first sat down. “Living on couches and keeping everything in a storage unit for months?Come on, Dylan.We’re both at the mercy of the universe…big transitional shit is happening here. My Saturn return is next month, that can’t be helping.”

I stare at her.

“Thefuckis happening next month?”

She rolls her eyes. “You have so much to learn.”

“You lost me, Dee.”

“Isn’t it obvious?Youneed an apartment, and I couldreallyuse a roommate to split rent with while I find another job.”

My jaw drops. “You aren’t serious.”

“Dead serious,” she says, raising her eyebrows. Defeated Dee is long gone, and determined, persistent, never-gives-up-the-fight Dee has arrived.

Dee lives in a nice apartment building, just a couple of blocks away from mine. Well, the one I have to be out of in….oh, I don’t know…twelve days. Do I really have a legitimate argument for why I shouldn’t be jumping on this offer?

My gut twists at the thought of sharing my space with Dee.Yeah, there might be a reason or two that would make this a stupid thing to agree to.

But what fucking choice do I have? I don’t want her struggling to afford rent or depleting all her savings trying to stay in her apartment while she finds a new job.

Am I really considering this?

“I’m not sure you’d want to share your space with me day in and day out,” I say.

“What are you talking about?”

“Please, you’re always giving me shit.”And you’d have more ammunition to do so if you knew what living with me was like.