Leah Mitchell isn't the same shy, poor girl anymore. Now a college student, she is enjoying her life in the city and the freedom she longed for. She works hard and knows her worth. She has it all, but her heart aches for the only person from her pas...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I unlock our apartment door, toss my keys onto the end table, and kick off my shoes, moaning when my feet touch the carpeted floor. The lectures were draining, and my shift at the library was busier than usual. The upcoming exams turned my workplace into students' favorite spot. While I don't mind being swamped, today is one of those days I'd rather spend on the couch, watching a movie or reading a book.
"Hey," I greet Annie as soon as I step into the kitchen. She's making some tea, and a platter with pastries is sitting on the counter.
"Hey, you." Annie smiles. "How was your day?"
"Uneventful." I yawn, lowering into a chair. "What about you?"
Annie grabs the teapot and pours the amber liquid into two mugs. She sits beside me, and I study her face, noticing the content look on it.
"I wanted to talk to you," Annie begins. I know it's not bad news; she looks too gleeful for that. Whatever she has to say has me intrigued.
I take a sip from my mug. "I'm all ears."
"Kenzie found an apartment."
The words leaving Annie's mouth catch me off guard, although I shouldn't be surprised. After Mac left the rehabilitation center, we discussed the possibility of them moving in together.
I love rooming with Annie. Sharing the apartment with her helped me cope with everything that happened. Although I'm happy for her, I can't help but feel disappointed that it took Kenzie so little time to find a place for the two of them.
"An apartment?" I ask.
"Yeah. It was unexpected. Kenzie saw the listing and called, and the apartment turned out to be beautiful—nothing like the crappy ones we visited last month. The landlord is an old lady, and the previous tenant was a girl who moved out to live with her boyfriend."
"That's a lot of information," I say, smiling.
"I told you the landlord is an old lady. She's familiar with college gossip. Too much time on her hands, I guess."
"Have you seen the place already?"
She lets out a dreamy sigh. "Yes, and I love it. The only thing that makes me sad is leaving you."
"When?"
Annie bites her lip. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about. We're moving out in two weeks. We need some time to pack, and I want to repaint the apartment we'll move into, but it won't take longer than that."
"I'm going to look for a new roommate," I say. Dad can pay the full price, but I'm uncomfortable asking him for money when he's already helped me a lot.
"I'm sorry, Leah. You know I love living with you."
"Stop. You and Mac need some privacy."
Annie sighs deeply and twirls her mug in her hands. "Yeah, we do. Besides, I feel bad for you—you have to put up with our PDA."
