Accidental Housemate

06: shopping

06

SHOPPING

. . .

A week had passed with Dave as my housemate.

Things went on pretty normally. We both went to our jobs, came back home for dinner, slept in our respective bedrooms, and minded our business. We dealt with splitting electricity and water bills equally every time. Day by day, he assured me he had no ill intentions, and he even helped me with the robbery case procedures. I stayed cautious nonetheless.

I received my first paycheque too. I was over the moon to see my account balance finally go up, so I could finally feel a little more relaxed about my finances.

Despite his curiosity about me, he remained respectful and kept his nose to himself. He didn’t ask further after the day I confirmed I had secrets I didn’t wish to disclose. The way things went was perfectly fine, so there was no need to get personal.

He was in a stable phase of his life: owning a flat, a car, and maintaining a respectable, steady job. He had everything I didn’t, and it scared me. What if one day he decided to kick me out? He didn’t have a reason to keep me on any given day.

“Perrie.” Dave’s voice cut through my thoughts in the living room.

I looked up at him. He looked ready to leave somewhere, dressed up and holding his car keys. “Yes?”

“My mother and sister are coming for dinner tomorrow,” he announced.

Too early for the extra trouble. “Oh…”

He sighed, dejected. “You don’t have to confront them. You can simply go out for the whole time they visit if you wish. It won’t be a long time,” he offered.

“That won’t work. If you were to give them a house tour and reveal the master room is locked and isn’t yours, it won’t make sense,” I argued. “I’ll confront them about the housemate thingy. It’s no issue.”

“As you wish. I can tell them you rented a room in the flat.” He grinned, feeling at peace with the scenario.

Technically, I was renting from him. After all, we both bought the place for almost half the price, so it was like I gave him a discount.

“That sounds convincing,” I agreed.

“I’m going to shop for groceries and some ingredients for their visit. Do you want to come, or do you want to tell me what you need?”

I did need a few personal necessities that I would not bother Dave with, so I stood up and said I was coming. I picked up my coat and purse and left with him.

We rode in Dave’s car. He started the soundless engine and took off to the road. Dave filled the silence by turning on some music, classic music. The act told me a little more about his personality. An unproblematic, poised guy. Thinking about it deeper, I realised I had never heard him angry or screaming, not even when I messed up the kitchen. Only when he found out we had been robbed.

He parked in the lot on the opposite side of the store. We walked side by side, but as we were about to cross the road, Dave gripped my forearm. I thought it was an instinct to protect me from the traffic, so despite my anxiety at the intimate act, I let it go and regulated my breaths. He didn’t dwell on it after we had crossed, letting me go casually and picking a trolley. I picked a basket for my things.

“I’ll make lasagne, so I’m going to buy the ingredients,” he explained.

I nodded. “How did you learn to cook?” I asked as we made our way inside.