Chapter 15

Karen and Rylee were waiting for me in Karen's car when I stepped out of the library. I had forty minutes before I had to get back to work. Karen was very excited about this house and insisted I use my lunch break to check it out. I didn't share her enthusiasm, but I hoped when I saw it in person, I would get excited.

"The neighborhood is pretty good," Karen said as she drove. "You won't be able to walk to the library, but we'll have nice neighbors. That's what we want, right?"

"Yep," I said from the back seat. "That's a start, I suppose."

"You don't want to move, do you?" Rylee asked.

I didn't want to move. I wanted things to stay just the way they were, but that wasn't going to happen. Life moved on. I had to keep moving with it.

I looked out the window as Karen drove, watching the familiar streets pass by. Change was inevitable, but that didn't make it any easier to accept. The thought of leaving behind the memories I had made at the old house tugged at my heartstrings.

As we pulled up in front of the new place, I couldn't deny it had a certain charm to it. The white picket fence and blooming rose bushes added a welcoming touch. Maybe this new place wouldn't be so bad after all.

Karen parked the car, and we stepped out onto the sidewalk. The three of us stood there, gazing up at the house with apprehension. At least, I was apprehensive. They were excited. They didn't seem to share the same reservations as I did.

Karen was always the logical one. She knew exactly what we needed to do. Rylee was always ready for a new adventure. I was the only one struggling with things moving forward.

I took a deep breath and pushed aside the negative thoughts. I had to keep my mind open. My first impression was positive, at least.

"Let's go in," Karen said.

The landlord was waiting to give us the tour. Rylee seemed to gush over every little detail. The three of us walked through it with the landlord, going over things—rent, utility costs, and the no-pet policy. I stood in the kitchen that was bright white and spacious, imagining myself cooking dinner here.

Karen seemed to be in deep thought as she inspected each room meticulously. I could tell her mind was already decorating the place in her head. She probably knew exactly how big each bed was and the couch.

"I'm going to step outside," the landlord said. "I need to take a call. Please talk it over."

The three of us explored and inspected the house without him watching. Karen and Rylee continued their excited chatter, their enthusiasm infectious. Despite my initial reservations, I found myself starting to feel a glimmer of hope for this new beginning. Maybe it was time to embrace the change and see it as an opportunity for growth.

As we moved from room to room, I couldn't help but notice everything that was different about this house versus our old one. The hardwood floors were polished to a high shine, and the fresh coat of paint on the walls gave the house a sense of renewal. It was all so new and clean. It lacked the homey feeling of our house. Or maybe it was just because I was trying to find all the things that were wrong.

"This could be really nice," Karen mused, her eyes alight with possibilities.

I nodded. "Yeah."

"This is my room," Rylee declared. She was claiming the largest bedroom with the ensuite as hers.

I didn't care. I probably should, but I couldn't muster the energy. "It's a nice room," I agreed. "And you have more clothes than all of us."

"I'd like this one," Karen said. "It'll get the most sunlight. You guys know how I like to be up early."

That would leave me with the smallest room, but I couldn't help but see the potential in the large closet with a window that I could turn into a cozy reading nook.

"This probably isn't fair," Karen said as she looked at me.

"No, no, it's fine. I like it. It's cute."

"The rent is affordable," Karen said. "We'll probably need to sell some of the furniture. It's not all going to fit here."

"With only three of us, we don't need two couches," I said, nodding.

As Karen and Rylee continued discussing which furniture to keep and what to sell, I wandered off to explore the backyard. The neatly trimmed lawn and the small garden in the corner were nice as well. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, letting the peacefulness of the new surroundings wash over me. This was just part of life.

Despite the practicality of the arrangement, something about the house didn't sit right with me. It felt sterile, unwelcoming, lacking the warmth and familiarity of our current home. I couldn't shake the feeling of unease as we toured the rooms.

"Are you okay?" Karen asked.

"Yeah, it's nice."

"If you want the bigger room, I could give it up," Rylee said. "It's your house too. We all have to feel comfortable here."

"I appreciate that, Rylee," I replied with a small smile. "But the smaller room will be just fine for me." Deep down, I knew the size of the room didn't matter as much as the feeling of comfort and belonging in a new place.

"We'll have to get by with two bathrooms," Karen mused aloud. "I think with Rylee working nights, that will work. What do you think, Mary Ellen?"

I forced another smile. "Yes. That works. I don't spend a lot of time in the bathroom, anyway."

The landlord came back in. "What do you think?" he asked.

"We'd like to think about it," Karen said.

"I've got a lot of interested people," he warned. "I urge you to make a decision soon."

The pressure only added to my uncertainty.

"We'll let you know tonight," Karen said.

On the drive back to the library, Rylee chattered excitedly about the house, peppering me with questions about what I thought of each room. But I couldn't bring myself to share her enthusiasm. Yes, financially, it made sense to downsize and move into a more manageable space. But the thought of leaving our current home, with all its memories and history, filled me with a sense of loss and sadness.

It felt like everything was shifting beneath my feet.

Rylee and Karen were doing their best to cheer me up and decided to talk about Jenny's upcoming wedding. "I am actually looking forward to wearing my bridesmaid dress," Rylee said.

"They are really pretty," I agreed.

"I'm glad they're getting married first," Karen said. "I figure I'll just keep noting all the things I don't want at my own wedding."

Rylee's loud laughter filled the car. "I bet you'll end up with a checklist longer than her guest list," she teased.

"I don't doubt that," Karen agreed, nodding seriously.

"I'm envious of them," Rylee said. "I want a happily ever after."

"I'm worried they've taken the last two good men." Karen sighed. "We're going to be left with the leftovers."

"Speak for yourself," I chimed in.

They both fell silent. "Are you saying you've found a good one?" Karen asked.

"I'm saying I'm not giving up," I said.

I wasn't sure what to tell them about Archer. We had one dinner and a little kiss. That wasn't exactly a proposal or a promise of anything more. But I couldn't help but feel like there was something real there.

"Are you thinking about your hot stalker?" Rylee teased as we pulled into the library parking lot.

Karen slammed on the brakes, causing me to jolt forward and hit my nose on the back of Rylee's seat.

"Ow!" I exclaimed, rubbing my nose in irritation. "What happened?" Neither of them answered. "Did you hit something? Please don't tell me you hit a dog? I am not cleaning that up."

"Oh, definitely not," Rylee said breathlessly.

"Is there an accident?"

"Not yet," Karen replied and pulled the car forward a bit.

"Damn," Rylee breathed. "I'm pretty sure we've just stumbled into one of my fantasies."

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"That is incredible."

I craned my neck around to see what they were looking at. That was when I saw him.

Archer.

He was leaning casually against his bike, the sunlight catching on the mirrors and the sleek paint of the motorcycle. Dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, his tattoos on full display, he exuded an effortless charm that made my heart skip a beat. His sunglasses hid his eyes, adding to the air of mystery that surrounded him.

"Archer," I said.

Rylee whipped around to look at me, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Is that him?" she asked breathlessly. "That's your hot stalker?"

I followed her gaze, drinking in the sight of Archer from head to toe. "Yep, that's him," I confirmed, my heart racing in my chest.

I loved that they saw how sexy he was. I loved that I was the one he liked. At least, he liked me before he saw Rylee. It would destroy me to see Rylee with him, but I knew she would never do it. We had a girl code.

"Mary Ellen!" Karen gasped as she started driving past him in the parking lot.

"What?"

"You never said just how sexy he was!"

I laughed, feeling my cheeks burn. "I did too."

Rylee rolled down her window, whistling appreciatively as we slowly drove past him. I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment as I tried to hide my face, but I couldn't resist stealing a peek at Archer between my fingers.

To my surprise, he laughed when he spotted me in the back seat, his laughter sending shivers down my spine. Even his laugh was sexy.

Karen parked the car. Rylee opened her door before I could get mine open. I hoped like hell she didn't embarrass me. I quickly jumped out of the car before Rylee could get out.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Rylee called out.

My cheeks were burning. "Stop it," I hissed.

I walked to where Archer was still looking very cool and casual. I tried to look just as cool.

"This is an unexpected surprise," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the butterflies in my stomach.

I heard footsteps behind me. My friends were going to embarrass the hell out of me. I braced myself.

Archer smiled. "Surprise," he said.

"Hi," Rylee said, stepping forward.

I watched in horror. She extended her hand toward Archer with a flirtatious smile. My heart sank as she introduced herself, completely disregarding the unspoken girl code that we had always abided by. "I'm Rylee," she announced.

"Archer." He nodded. To his credit, he barely looked at her.

"This is Karen," I said.

"Hello," Karen said.

"It's nice to meet you ladies," Archer said coolly.

"These are my roommates," I blurted out.

"And you're the stalker," Rylee said.

I wanted the earth to swallow me whole. "Rylee, shut up! Go home. Both of you."

Rylee burst into laughter as she exchanged a knowing look with Karen, clearly enjoying my discomfort. I could feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment as Archer's gaze flickered between the three of us. I cursed under my breath, wishing for a way to disappear from the situation entirely.

"Let's go," Karen said to Rylee. "We'll talk later."

"I know." I nodded. She was talking about the decision on the rental.

They walked away, leaving me to face Archer. "I'm sorry," I said. They can get a little rowdy. Not they, just Rylee."

Archer chuckled softly. "Your friends seem like a lively bunch," he commented, a smile playing on his lips.

"That's an understatement," I muttered.