Maybe Someday(25)

He shoots me a wary look regarding the condi-

tion of the sheets, and I laugh. He points to the

bathroom.

Ridge: We share the bathroom. Just lock

the main door to the hallway and both

doors to the bedrooms when you’re in

there. I obviously won’t know when you’re

in the shower, so unless you want me

barging in on you, make sure to lock up.

141/692

He walks to the bathroom and flips a light

switch on the outside of the door, which turns the

lights on and off inside the bathroom, then turns

his attention back to the phone.

Ridge: I added switches on the outside

because it’s an easy way for someone to

get my attention, since I can’t hear a

knock. Just flip the switch if you need to

come into the bathroom so I’ll know. The

whole apartment is set up this way.

There’s a switch outside my bedroom door

that turns my lights on and off if you need

me. But I usually have my phone on me,

so there’s always texting.

He shows me where clean sheets are and then

cleans out what’s left in the dresser while I put

the new sheets on the bed.

“Do I need furniture?”

Ridge shakes his head.

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Ridge: He’s leaving it. You can use what’s

here.

I nod, taking in the bedroom that has unexpec-

tedly just become my new home. I smile at Ridge

to let him know I appreciate his help. “Thank

you.”

He smiles back.

Ridge: I’ll be in my room working for the

next few hours if you need anything. I

have to go to the store this afternoon. You

can go with me and get what you need for

the apartment.

He backs out of the bedroom and gives me a

salute. I sit down on the edge of the bed and sa-

lute him back as he shuts the door. I fall back

onto the bed and let out a huge sigh of relief.

Now that I have a place to live, all I need is a

job. And maybe a car, since Tori and I mostly

shared hers. Then maybe I’ll call my parents and

tell them I moved.

143/692

Or maybe not. I’ll give this place a couple of

weeks in order to see how things turn out.

Ridge: Oh, and btw, I didn’t write that on

your forehead.

What?

I run to the dresser and look in the mirror for

the first time today. Written across my forehead

in black ink, it says: Someone wrote on your

forehead.

Ridge

Me: Morning. How’s the thesis coming

along?

Maggie: Do you want me to sugarcoat it,

or are you honestly giving me an opening

to vent?

Me: Wide open. Vent away.

Maggie: I’m miserable, Ridge. I hate it. I

work on it for hours every day, and I just

want to take a bat to my computer and go

all Office Space on it. If this thesis were a child, I’d put it up for adoption and not

even think twice about it. If this thesis

were a cute, fuzzy puppy, I’d drop it off in

the middle of a busy intersection and

speed away.

145/692

Me: And then you would do a U-turn and

go back and pick it up and play with it all

night.

Maggie: I’m serious, Ridge. I think I’m

losing my mind.

Me: Well, you already know what I think.

Maggie: Yes, I know what you think. Let’s

not get into that right now.

Me: You’re the one who wanted to vent.

You don’t need this kind of stress.

Maggie: Stop.

Me: I can’t, Maggie. You know how I feel,

and I’m not keeping my opinion to myself

when we both know I’m right.

Maggie: This is exactly why I never whine

to you about it, because it always comes

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back to this same thing. I asked you to

stop. Please, Ridge. Stop.

Me: Okay.

Me: I’m sorry.

Me: Now is when you return a text that

says, “It’s okay, Ridge. I love you.”

Me: Hello?

Me: Don’t do this, Maggie.

Maggie: Give a girl a minute to pee!

Dang. I’m not mad. I just don’t want to

talk about it anymore. How are you?

Me:

Phew.

Good.

We

got

a

new

roommate.

Maggie: I thought she wasn’t moving in

until next month.

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Me: No, it’s not Bridgette’s sister. It’s

Sydney. The one I was telling you about a

few days ago? After I decided to break the

news to her about her boyfriend, it left

her with nowhere to go. Warren and I are

letting her stay here until she finds her

own place. You’ll like her.

Maggie: So I guess she believed you

about her boyfriend?

Me: Yeah. She was pretty pissed at first