Eric

The bus stopped just outside a tiny little building with a wooden sign reading “Welcome to Apricot Grove.” From one end of Main Street to the other, I could see just about everything the town had to offer. A grocery store, coffee shop, a diner. Only one of each, and all of them mom-and-pop style shops. I loved it. Even though it was later in the evening, there were people out and about. Kids were riding bikes, couples walked hand in hand and were pushing strollers, there was an older man with a dog on a leash.

It was cozy. Like a scene out of a movie.

I didn't have to look very far for the boarding house I had read about before smashing up my phone. It was right next to the bus stop. The tall, Victorian-style house had three stories and a wraparound porch with several rocking chairs. There were stairs on the outside of the house that led up to the second and third story.

I grabbed my bag and threw it over my shoulder. My muscles ached from sitting all day, but I was here now and I really could use a bed to lie down and rest.

I knocked on the door that read "office" and was surprised when someone actually answered. I had expected it to be past office hours.

The lady who answered was a plump woman who had to be in her sixties. Her red hair was streaked with gray, wound in a loose bun on her head. She had an air about her that told me crossing her would be a mistake, which I appreciated. At least as long as I was on her good side. Which is where I intended to stay. "Can I help you?"

"Well, I just got into town, and I was wondering if you had a room available or if one will be available soon?"

She eyed me up and down. "You running away from something?"

There was something in her tone that told me honesty was the best policy here, though I couldn't give away too much. It might feel like I was out of reach from the Santiagos, but that didn’t mean danger didn’t lurk around every corner.

"Not quite. I just want a change of scenery, perhaps a different opportunity than what I was experiencing before." That was true enough.

She nodded and opened the door wider, allowing me to pass. "I can understand leaving one life behind and starting a different one. Come on in."

The office was a simple little space with a desk that had an older style desktop on it. "Do you have an ID with you?"

"Yes." I pulled out my wallet, handing over my driver's license. "I can pay rent up front. Cash."

She raised an eyebrow. "You'll need a job while you're here, unless you have enough cash to live on forever."

"I don't." I squared my shoulders and looked her in the eye. "I plan to look for a job first thing in the morning.”

"The grocery store is hiring for a second-shift cashier. Think you could handle that?"

I nodded. "Yeah, that sounds great."

She winked and finally put me at ease. "I'll put in a good word with the owner for you."

I sucked in a breath, not wanting to put her out. "I can't ask that of you."

"You didn't ask." Her sharp look brooked no room for argument. “I can tell things about people. You aren't gonna make a liar out of me."

"No, ma'am." I swallowed hard and dipped my chin in agreement.

"Those people from your previous life, are they gonna come looking for you?"

My stomach lurched. If only Vincenzo would come looking for me. But that wasn’t in the cards. I was on my own now. "No, ma'am."

"All right, then." She slid a key across the desk. "You're on the ground floor. I figure, as things progress, you're not gonna want to be climbing the stairs."

I had been looking around the small room but immediately caught her eye, surprised by her comment. How could she possibly know?

"I'll take your first and last month's rent. Rent is due on the first of every month. If you need to move out, I'd appreciate a little heads up, of course."

"Yeah, of course." I pulled out my wallet to take care of the cost. “Thank you.”

"Let me show you to your room."

I followed as she led me around the desk and down the hall to a single door. Inside was a cozy space. The room was painted a pale green, and the tall windows let in a lot of natural light. It had its own bathroom, a full-size bed, and a couch. There was a small TV pushed off to one corner, and a basic kitchenette that was separate from the bedroom.

"We have cable. If you want any of those streaming services, you're gonna have to get your own.”

“That's fine." I doubted any of those would be in my budget for a while.

"We can go over more paperwork in the morning," she suggested. "You look about dead on your feet, omega."

"I am tired." It felt like the longest day of my life.

She left, and I was alone in my new home.

Dropping my bag to the floor, I took a deep breath before I flopped down onto the bed. It was comfortable enough. Though empty and slightly cold. I hugged my arms around my middle, wishing I had my alpha to keep me warm.

“It’s just you and me now, baby. Everything’s gonna be fine.”

If I said it enough times, maybe I’d begin to believe it.