drunk with us. It’s not like we’re going somewhere.”
I drag my feet as I follow Fede to her room. I’m not in the mood for people or any kind of party. I just know this night is going to suck.
~*~
Fede grabs a pizza and shoves it into my hand. She takes the other pizza and smiles innocently at me. “Candice and Dawn said they’d bring some wine. I hope it’s white wine. I hate that red stuff they brought last time. Mrs. Ferry said she’ll bring a pie. I don’t know what the Carter’s are bringing, Kelly talked to them.” She heads for the front door and calls over her shoulder. “Gemma says that new guy, Seth, is also bringing wine. Maybe he has better taste than Candice and Dawn.”
I stop walking. “What?” But Fede ignores me and slips out the door. I run after her, not happy that she’s only now telling me about Seth. “Are you sure he’s coming?”
Fede stops by the table next to the fountain and places the pizza on it. I place the pizza I’m holding next to hers and turn to face her. She shrugs as if it’s nothing. “You know the building has these meetings once a month, of course he’ll be coming. He lives here which means he has a right to attend.”
I sigh, knowing she’s right. “Why do we have these stupid meetings anyway?” I’m acting like a teenager right now, but I don’t care. I need more time to prepare myself to face Seth. I’ve been avoiding him since he said he wanted to talk to me.
“You know why we have them. It’s so everyone can complain over a glass of wine. Personally, I come for the food, but I know for a fact Mr. Ward comes to complain, or maybe he’s just checking out Mrs. Ferry,” Fede says giggling. “He loves her pie!” She starts to laugh at her own joke.
One by one everyone comes out of their apartments. Soon most of the tenants are seated around the fountain, talking about the week they’ve had. Everyone but Seth and Candice.
“You’re kidding,” I hear Candice laugh. I glance over my shoulder and I’m stunned to see her walking with Seth. I didn’t even know that they knew each other, but then again, they are neighbors so it would be expected.
Seth’s eyes catch mine and I quickly look away. I’m so glad I’m seated between Gemma and Mrs. Ferry. When I hear chairs scraping over the ground, my eyes flit up. I watch as Candice moves her chair closer to Seth’s. She leans into him and starts to introduce him to the tenants he hasn’t met yet.
“Have you met Lacey, she’s our resident ghost,” Candice says and then laughs.
I glare at my hands, deciding to ignore her.
“Why is Lacey the resident ghost?” Gemma asks next to me, her voice carrying a biting tone.
“We know she lives here somewhere, but we never see her,” Candice says. “Except that one night I saw her going up to the roof, other than that she keeps to herself.”
“Did you make your famous apple pie,” I hear Mr. Ward ask Mrs. Ferry. I hear Fede laugh under her breath, and just like that the tension is broken.
I listen to the various conversations, choosing to ignore Candice.
After a while everyone gets up to get a plate of eats. I just want this night to be over already.
A glass of wine appears in front of me and when I look up, Seth is standing there holding the glass out to me. “Aren’t you going to eat?”
I take the wine and gulp down a sip before I answer, “I’m not that hungry. I had something earlier.”
He takes Gemma’s seat and I stop the groan building up inside of me just in time. “Is it just me or are you avoiding me?” Wow he’s direct!
I take another sip of wine and shake my head. “I’m not avoiding you. I’m just busy.”
“With what?” he asks leaning forward and placing his elbows on his knees. He holds his glass of wine between his fingers, twirling it.
I can’t help but notice how handsome he is. He was good looking when we went to school together, but now he’s just gorgeous. The old familiar feelings I had for him flutter in my chest.
“I …” I clear my throat when it comes out squeaky, “I’m looking for work. I can’t live with the girls forever.”
“Then why did you move out? Why did you stop working