From beside me, Becka said, "Yikes. No wonder he keeps it shut."
I was still scanning the room. "And he's been living here for how long?"
Becka paused as if thinking. "I'm not sure. I just met him like five days ago."
What the hell?I turned to study her face. "You serious?"
She drew back. "What'sthatlook for?"
"You moved in with a guy you don't even know?"
"Hey!" she said. "It's not like Iknewit was a guy."
My gaze locked on hers. "You're not making it better."
"I don'tneedto 'make it better'," she said. "And I don't want to be rude or anything, but this really is none of your business."
"You sure about that?"
At this, a slow blush crept up her cheeks. "Just because I accepted your help, that doesn't mean you can act like I’m stupid or something."
She was missing my point. "Did Icallyou stupid?"
"No. But you're acting like I am."
"Yeah, well, you said it, not me." The truth was, if she weremysister, I'd be giving her an earful. But I had no sisters, including her. So I kept my mouth shut and made a mental note to tell Flynn that he was slacking in the brother department.
Becka sighed. "All right, fine. You want the truth? I'm just subletting the place – or half of it, I guess – from this girl I met in psych class."
"And you've knownherfor how long?"
"At least a semester," she said.
"That long, huh?"
"Yeah, point taken," she said, not looking too happy about it. "But about the condo, she said there was this roommate named Nicky who was really…" Becka made air quotes. "…'fun' and 'friendly.'"
"Right." If the guy had been any friendlier, I'd be having some fun of my own, beating him senseless. "That's one way to put it."
"No kidding," she said. "But anyway, Tara – that's her name – swore up and down that Nicky and I would really hit it off."
If I had a sister, there's no way in hell I would've let such a thing happen. In the back of my mind, I had to wonder, where the hell was Flynn in all of this? He should've been doing a better job of looking out for her.
She was still explaining. "And by the time I realized that Nicky was short for Nicholas – andnotNicole – it was too late."
"Too late for what?" I asked.
"To get out of the deal."
Not the way I saw things."It's never too late."
"Oh yeah?" She crossed her arms. "Well, it is if you've already paid."
"You mean the rent?"
She nodded. "Three whole months. In advance, too."
Again, I thought of Flynn. The guy was loaded. He could wipe his ass with the cost of the whole city block and never miss a dime.Why was Becka worrying about the rent?
