“I’ve been busy,” I replied.
She sighed loudly. “You won’t even consider it? I’d be an amazing roommate.”
Ophelia had heard from her mother that I was buying a condo and starting my own dance studio. Word travels fast when your mothers are best friends. She was taking a “break” from college this year because she needed new direction or something of that nature. It was very Ophelia.
“I wasn’t not considering it. I don’t doubt you’d be a good roommate. I just needed to make sure this was what I was going to do,” I turned in a circle looking at the building. “This is it though. This is the place.”
Ophelia nodded. “It’ll make a good studio. Great location.”
I pointed at the ceiling. “My apartment will be up there. I’m buying the building. I need to save money, and living where I work makes sense.”
That got a frown. “You’re living here?”
I nodded. “Yep.”
“What’s it look like up there?”
I shrugged. “A very large loft. Exposed beams, very open. Not really your kind of place.” Which is why I hadn’t answered her calls.
“Will you have early classes?” she asked, still not looking pleased.
“Eight in the morning,” I replied.
Her determination to be my new roommate looked like it was fading fast. “Oh.”
That’s what I thought. This would be my world. My work and my loft. I didn’t imagine that would appeal to anyone else.
“Can I see it?” she asked hopefully.
“Sure. Let’s go,” I replied. “This way.” I led the way to the back door that was painted blue. I’d change that. It opened to the stairs that went up to the loft. There were exactly twenty-five stairs. When we reached the top, there was no door. I would work on that, too.
The four thousand square foot area was almost completely open. The only privacy was a bathroom to the far left and the spiral staircase that led to yet another loft area that would be my bedroom. The kitchen was complete and all stainless steel. Even the countertops were stainless. It was all very industrial.
“Is there a second bedroom?” she asked taking in the area.
“No. The original owner was a single man. But if you’re really interested there is enough room. We can build walls to that back corner by the bathroom, and you’d have a sufficient size bedroom. We will have to share the bathroom though.”
She studied it walking around and taking in the view over the business area of Rosemary. It was small and a quaint street with shops. The outside of all the shops were all very Southern coastal, and it felt comfortable. Very different from the area where we had lived as kids. Finally, she turned to me and smiled. “Let’s do it.”