Accidental Housemate

32: beginning

I opened the door
I had spent so long guarding,
and found there was no monster waiting.
Only him.

BEGINNING

. . .

When I came back home, I intended to talk to Courtney about the scene she’d made in the restaurant.

I was going to be honest with my apology for what happened between her and her aunt, but she also needed to realise the way she’d expressed herself was extreme and unneeded. I felt for her, and hated what her aunt did, but it was a choice to keep rolling in the mud more and more.

I found her sitting in the living room, scrolling through her phone. I hadn’t seen her like that in days. I cleared my throat, announcing my arrival.

“You’re here,” she acknowledged without looking up.

“Obviously,” I replied, trying to make it sound like a joke. I was in a good mood and hoped my energy would rub off on her.

She finally looked up at me. I noticed her dark eye bags instantly. “How’s working with my aunt?” she asked monotonously.

Great, so she didn’t want to beat around the bush. “Courtney, listen, I didn’t know she was your aunt, or that she’d hurt you before.”

“Of course, you didn’t, as neither of us told you. But I’m genuinely asking.” She sucked in her lips, then released a breath. “Now that she wants to be back in my life, I wanna take a shot.”

My lips gaped slightly in awe. I hadn’t expected that. I’d come prepared for a fight, or even being kicked out after what she’d said in the morning. “Umm, it’s great? She cooks well, and people keep coming back for her dishes.” Putting personal problems aside, I couldn’t deny that fact.

She sighed. “I’m thinking of taking her offer seriously and quitting...”—she looked away from me, grimacing—“you know what.”

I couldn’t contain my smile. “That’d be amazing, Court. We can go to work together every day. It’d be so much fun.”

She smiled back faintly. “Yeah. I thought about what happened all day. Thank you for looking after me, Perrie, and sorry for lashing out. I hope you understand.”

I shook my head. “Don’t worry. You reached the conclusion that’s best for you, and that’s all I wanted.”

I told her a little more about work before we went to bed. Although she was tired, mentally more than physically, and probably apprehensive, she listened through it all. I could tell she intended to make a serious change in her life from how careful her questions were about when and where to start.

I was at awe with how events aligned for me to reunite with Courtney and help her change for the better.

When I finally slid under my sheets, I couldn’t help the giddy feeling that enveloped me. Like the feeling of getting under warm sheets after a shower on a rainy winter day. I smiled to myself, happy that I had contributed to changing someone’s life for the better.

My phone dinged beside me, shattering my thoughts. I reached for it on the bedside table lazily. It was a text from Dave.

‘Awake?’

‘Yes.’

My phone started ringing, and his name flashed on the screen. What could he want at that hour? I prayed that nothing wrong happened.

I answered the call, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Hi?”

“Hey... Hope I didn’t scare you, but I need to ask something.”

I wasn’t exactly scared, but then he made me. “Yes?”

Silence stretched between us for a few seconds. I could hear his irregular breaths and the sound of him rolling around under sheets through the line. “The latest events taught me to cherish everyone I love and still have in my life. I shouldn’t waste my time blaming and fighting the people I love.” He inhaled and exhaled one last time before he proposed, “Would you like to go out with me on a date?”

The line went quiet again. My heart leaped from joy, and I started giggling. I felt him getting flustered, not understanding my reaction. When I finally calmed down, I answered, “Of course, I will!”

He snickered. “Friday night?”

I nodded to myself. “Friday night it is.” I couldn’t even think straight through my excitement to tell him another date.

He cleared his throat. “Alright, see you then, sweet Perrie.”

“See you, Dave.”

I barely slept that night from my excitement, and I knew if neither of us had work, we’d have probably never slept and kept talking until the sun rose like teenagers.

When I woke up, I prepared myself quickly and took my handbag. To my surprise, I saw Courtney leave her room. It was the first time in a while she’d left in the morning. She scrutinised me from head to toe and realised I was going to work.

“Wait for me. I’m coming too.”

I gave her a reassuring smile. We walked together silently towards the restaurant, anticipating good coming our way. The air was fresh and cool as it hit my warm cheeks.

When we arrived and Mrs Baker spotted Courtney, she left her station and ran our way. “Courtney! How are you?”

Courtney looked away and sighed. “I’m fine.”

More words needed to leave her lips, but she was unable to say them. I touched her back reassuringly, then she straightened up.

“I came for the job offer you called me about,” she admitted, cracking the best smile she could offer.

Her aunt immediately hugged her. Seconds in, Courtney hugged back. I smiled at the scene, proud of myself for bringing two souls together.

. . .

Alright, one chapter left. I'll publish it in a few hours to join the ambys.

I'll write an epilogue, but I don’t think I'll release it any time soon.

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