Page 67 of You'll Love it Here

I nod. “Yes, that’s exactly the kind of thing we need to establish some rules about during the town hall. I don’t want them putting in too much work just yet, until we have the all-clear from Irene.” I can’t quite make eye contact with Sami. Because the truth is, all I need is for everyone to leave the damn room for about an hour. But it seems that everyone is a little too excited about the rec room to stop working on it. To think it’s been ages since the basement was used, and now’s when everyone ischoosingto pile in there.

Sami nods. “Makes sense, but wouldn’t it be easier to discuss the rec room plans in the rec room? No need to drag everyone here?”

“That’s exactly the point!” I say, my voice unfortunately strained. “It would be impossible to have a productive conversation about the place while they’re standing right in it. I want the ground rules to be established on... neutral ground.” I smile as confidently as a politician who sort of said nothing with a whole lot of words. On the inside I’m feeling like a tool.

“I see.” Sami’s possibly suppressing a smirk. If this doesn’t work, I’ll have no choice but to cancel on Lana, lest the tenants see her showing clients around. The whole thing I’d been working for this entire time will blow up when Lana’s client runs into Carmen in a fucking tool belt.

“Okay, sure. Let’s do it.”

“Yes, Sami!” I don’t mean to literally clap him on the bicep again, but the instant my hand lands on his arm, our eyes meet.

“Mona, you know I’m happy to help.” His eyes soften on me with a little too much fondness. When I pull my hand back, he clears his throat and nods to my almost-empty water. “Can I grab you another?”

“Nah, I should go get prepped for tonight. I’ll come by after Ernest’s walk.”

“Are you sure? It’s on the house, for my favorite pseudo-super.”

I shake my head. I know he’s joking, but the guilt seems to cling to my skin like the frosting on the cinnamon buns in the display case. I force a grin and finish the last of my water.

Already this building mixer is different from the last one, in that by the time I’m opening the door to Corner Coffee there are already half a dozen people waiting. Jane, Carmen, and Fancy Widow are seated high on their stools, while Fighting Couple share a booth with Divorced Dad across from them. Sami is running around in the background, refreshing drinks and adding little plates of appetizers to the tables.

Who knew that a shitty room in the basement that was basically a mouse bathroom could evoke so much interest?

The instant I make my way over to the lively group, Fighting Couple Guy, aka Marcus, summons me over with this douchey little hand wave. “Hello, Mona, is it?” Marcus asks, without pulling his focus from the withering straw in his glass.

“Yes, that’s me,” I answer.

“Can you buy new laundry machines? These old ones are making my clothes smell weird.” His partner, Janine, nods while I try to keep a straight face.

“Well, I mean, that’s not quite in the budget right now,” Iawkwardly answer. “And the issue might be the detergent you’re using?” I resist adding,Or the hot dogs you’re infusing your lifewith?“But it’s something I can keep on my radar.”

Carmen raps his knuckles on the counter. “I believe this town hall is about selecting the paint color for the rec room.”

“I’ve got swatches!” Jane isn’t joking. She holds up a literal binder as thick as a phone book with five stacks of Behr swatches rubber banded together.

“The online mailer said this town hall is for any concern—and I’ve been wanting to talk about the geese since last month!” Fancy Widow calls out.

“What on God’s green earth do you have against the geese?” Carmen nudges her. “The beautiful songs they squawk? You want me to make you a record?”

“You’re too much!” She slaps him in the arm playfully.

Sami’s eyes find mine from the other side of the room. He raises his brows in a suggestively knowing look about those two.

I suppress my giggle.

“So, for the rec room, let’s start by sharing everyone’s wildest dreams...” Jane starts in on all her ambitions for a space that sounds about as nice as a premium lounge at an airport. And this is good. Really. They just need to keep up the lively conversation for the next hour. So long as they don’t actually do too much more work before it sells, it’s okay.

The turnout doesn’t include everyone in the building. If I’m calculating things right, Uniform Family has two members at work right now, and the son will hopefully be staying in this evening. And there’s Never Here Guy in 3A, who is never home, who I almost forgot existed at this point. Same with the miscellaneous college grads who understandably can’t be bothered to come. So Norm is the only one who might run into the tour.

I send him a quick Slack message.Come grab a snack at thediner! We’ve got plenty and we’d love to have you visit!

After dropping off an orange soda in front of Carmen, Sami makes his way to me. “Look at this bustling mixer you’ve thrown.” He nudges my side and the warmth from his arm swoops through me.

“Sami, you didn’t have to do all this.” I nod to the plates of appetizers he’s set out.

He shrugs. “Eh, that’s just a few basic snacks. For a diner of this caliber, it’s nothing.” He grins softly at me.

“Well, I appreciate it.” I nudge him back. “And I appreciate a diner of this caliber for hosting us.”