All Tallulah needed was a place to stay, until she could figure some things out. It's not like she was in trouble or anything. If anything she was probably the most well-off girl in the world. However when things of her past start to haunt her, she'...
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I should win an award for the amount of times I have been able to stop myself from crying in the past ten minutes.
Having to pack all my belongings, which wasn't much, into a duffel bag and take the quickest flight out of Virginia to California, really takes a toll on a girl.
Especially, when I am crashing at my best friend's apartment with his boyfriend. His apartment was small already but with me sleeping on the couch, it feels as though the plants can't even breathe. He's assured me enough times that they don't mind and it's not a burden to take care of his best friend, but to an over thinker, I can't help but think I'm always a burden.
With this mindset, I am met with my current dilemma. Chayton, my best friend, was able to find me a place to rent out with a colleague of his. However, that colleague just happens to be his boss, now it's not the biggest deal breaker in the world but, his boss just happens to be male. This isn't really a problem except for the fact that I can barely utter a sentence out to female acquaintances, let alone males.
It's a wonder how I ever ended up being friends with Chayton.
"Tilly it's okay if you don't want to take it," Chayton assures me for probably the hundredth time and I know he means it but, I also know his boyfriend, Nolan, is getting jealous that he doesn't have Chayton all to himself at home like usual. Which says a lot, because from what I know, I am probably the only friend of Chayton's he likes, or gets along with.
"Chay it's okay, all I said was, is it possible to take a look at the place first?"
He twiddles his fingers, usually a sign that he's nervous about something.
"Chay? Is there something else you need to tell me?"
I see Nolan, glance at Chay, with a look I couldn't decipher, "Chay?" I say again.
"No, there's nothing, let me text Kingston and ask" but his tone doesn't assure me.
"Okay" I say skeptically, and we go on eating dinner.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The drive to the house was a bit longer than I expected, but quite nice, since Chay's boss lives along the coast and not directly in or near the city. Although as I pulled up, I wanted to call up Chay and scream at him because in no way was this place just a house, it was a mansion.
I park along the sidewalk and walk up to the front door. I straighten my sundress and fix my hair, doing everything to stall knocking on the door. Half of me wants to turn around and tell Chay I'll look for something else, but I know I can 't do that.
I raise my hand up and knock on the door, kind of praying that the door doesn't open but, because I know that won't happen, the door starts to open. I look up at the person, to be met with intense green eyes.
"H-hello" I stutter out, way to go Tallulah.
"Hello, you must be Tallulah, Chayton's friend?" the man says.
All I could do was nod my head lightly.
"Well I'm Kingston, please come in" he steps back, to allow me room to come in.
I step into the entry way and can't help but admire the immediate view of the ocean from the living room windows.
"Beautiful isn't it?" Kingston says from behind me.
I flinch a little, honestly forgetting he was there, "Yes it really is."
"If you'll follow me, I'll give you a tour."
I follow Kingston around the the first floor of the house. He shows me the living room, the kitchen, the back porch that had a huge backyard with my favorite willow trees. He shows me the laundry room, which he tells me would be only thing that I would need to share in the house. I was amazed that there was even a small little library, I'll have to ask if I can use that room, if I ever muster up the courage. He leads me towards a small hallway near the back of the living room.
"And here is the hallway entrance to the area you would be staying, if you decide so," Kingston starts. We walk into the room, and it truly was basically a studio apartment but I will admit, it was bigger than what was typical. There was a kitchen with a fridge that could hold a years worth of food. The bed was queen sized, that looked quite cozy in a little nook. There was a dedicated space for a couch and TV. There was even my own little private porch for the outside.
"This space is wonderful," I tell Kingston honestly as I walk around the place, "to be honest it's not what I expected."
He lets out a chuckle that I have to admit, makes me feel something I haven't felt in awhile.
"Hopefully that's a good thing" he says.
"Yes, it's a great thing" I rush out. "What would the rent be?"
"Ah, no need to worry about rent, you won't need to pay anything"
When he says that, I audibly gasp and I can feel my eyes widen, "W-w-what? No rent, are you sure? If this is because I'm Chayton's friend..."
He let's out a chuckle again, "I can assure you it's not because your Chayton's friend. This place has been sitting here for awhile, and we feel like it's going to waste. We honestly don't really need the money, we just want the space filled with someone who needs it."
I wasn't convinced, "B-b-but-"
He cuts me off, "Honestly it's okay, and there is no catch. The only thing is we have a maid that comes at least once a week. If you choose so, she can clean your space as well, and in that case, we would ask you to pay but that's really it."
I was still staring at him, no rent, for a place like this, with no catch, it was hard to believe. But I know it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up on.
"So would you like to take it?" Kingston asks.
I give it one last thought, "I would love to."
"Perfect, when would you like to move in?" he asks
"Does two days from now work?"
"Yup, that should be fine. None us will be home but the maid, should. I'll let her know, and she'll let you in and give you all the keys"
"Sounds good. I can't thank you enough Kingston"
"It's really no problem, Tallulah, I'm glad I was able to help.
He smiles at me, and I feel a warmth, that I wish I could etch into my mind.
I give a final goodbye and walk back out to my car. I sat for a minute processing everything that happened. I let a big smile appear on my face, because how could I not be happy.
As I drive home, I can't help but wonder about how Kingston said 'we' a couple times. As far as I know it was just him in the house. Maybe it was slip of the tongue or he has a partner. It really didn't matter to me though, I mean what was the worse that could happen...
