Chapter 1
I'm sorry? What?
The streetlights lit the way as cars sped past, sending up waves of water. I pressed close to the grimy buildings in the hopes of getting a bit of coverage. Instead, I got slammed by the mini waterfalls coming off the rooftops. Arms crossed, shoulders hunched, head down, I returned to the dilapidated apartment building I lived in.
I dragged my exhausted limbs upstairs to the fifth floor, my shoes squishing on the steps and leaving trails of water. When I reached my door about halfway down the dimly lit hallway, most of the tension in my body drifted away. People, theirproblems, their expectations, their voices, all left when I entered the solitude of my apartment.
A quiet meow broke the silence as a sleek black cat with round yellow eyes raced toward me. She headbutted me with the whole weight of her body before she ran in the other direction.
Lucy wanted to be fed.
Our routine was simple. I’d come home, she’d say hello, and then I would feed her.
I followed her down the short hall, which opened into the one-room apartment with oppressively green shag carpet. Opening a can of food, I plopped it into the stainless steel dish and placed it on the ground. Lucy rushed forward to scarf down the food, her tail vibrating with the intensity of her happiness.
Food brought out her love in a way that nothing else could.
I yanked on a pair of sweats before opening the fridge. Bare shelves and cold air greeted me. I closed the door, then opened it again, hoping I’d been wrong the first time or something would’ve magically appeared. It hadn’t. Nothing but condiments and a sad, wrinkled apple sat on the shelves. I searched the cupboards, and they were not much better.
Payday was on Friday—four days from now.
The microwave lit up as the table turned, groaning in a way that spoke of its approaching demise while the ramen cooked. Once it was done, I settled into a comfortable position on the couch and flipped through my options before settling on a crime procedural I’d already seen several times.
In no time at all, my eyes started to droop. By the time Lucy joined me, curling into a ball on my chest, I was barely awake. I fought sleep so I could move to my bed, but it was impossible to resist.
“Are you sure he’s the one?” a high-pitched voice asked.
My gaze wandered over the sleeping man in the dwelling covered in grass. I took in every detail, trying to memorize every aspect—his round features, his short brown hair, and his husky body.
A pull started in my gut, and my soul pounded frantically in my chest, making my breath quicken. I needed to see him with my own eyes. I needed to touch him and hold him tight. The console beeped, confirming what I already knew. He was mine.
“I’m positive.”
“This man?” she asked, pointing at the screen with her thin finger, claw scraping the glass. “There can be no mistakes.”
“Yes, he’s the one.”
Beep.Beep.Beep. Groaning, I rolled over, and a weight shifted off my chest, followed by a growl. Lucy. She hated mornings as much as I did. Gray light streamed in from the window, rain sliding down the glass. Another fucking wet day. Perfect. I slapped the carpet as I reached for my phone to turn off the shrieking alarm.
Work. I had to get up for work.
The date stared at me from the screen, making me start. No notifications marked the day as different from any other, but it was.
“Happy birthday to me.” Twenty-nine. The last year in my twenties.
I pissed while Lucy sang me the song of her people. If I didn’t get her to be quiet soon, Mrs. Martins would complain, again, though she could sing show tunes at the top of her lungs andno onecared.
Lucy shoved her face into the bowl, making it slide across the laminate floor, as I inspected the bare cupboards. I toasted a couple of pieces of bread and quickly ate before getting dressed.
After petting Lucy, I stepped into the hall, umbrella in hand. I was not alone. A few of my neighbors nodded, saying hello. I forced a smile, ducked my head, and continued outside.
The rain came down in heavy sheets, and the wind gusted, making the umbrella utterly pointless. Fucking Washington. As much as I wanted to take a personal day, I couldn’t. I needed the money, and rain was not a good enough excuse. Lucy and I liked to eat. If we could survive on sunlight and never pay rent, I’d quit in a heartbeat. Until that illustrious day, I would continue at my crappy office job.
A car rushed past, and a swell of water crashed into my legs. Cold water seeped into my slacks and shoes, making me hiss. As I stepped forward, my shoes squelched with water. Wiggling my wet toes, I swallowed a swear. My feet would be damp all day. Perfect.
I waited with a group of people, trying to avoid touching anyone. A man in a suit shoved into my shoulder, and I flinched, drawing further away, heart in my throat. When the crosswalk signal changed, I stepped off the curb.
From one step to the next, the world shifted.
