1
Remy
I'm being evicted.
I'm really being evicted. This is actually happening.How is this happening?
"I'm really sorry, Remy, I wish there was something I could do," my landlord continues on the other end of the phone. "But they're my family and I can't leave them stranded. They can't afford to go anywhere else. I promise, if I had any other choice, I wouldn't ask you to do this."
I close my eyes and rub my temple, the beginnings of a headache already forming. "I get it, Dan. I understand," I say into the phone. And I do. "I would do the same thing for my family. It sucks, but I get it. I have thirty days, right?"
"Yeah," he answers, and I can almost hear his wince. He's a good guy so it's really hard to fault him for any of this.
I pause as I picture a calendar. "So that puts me close to the end of the month, right? Is there any way you can give me an extra week so I can move out at the end of the month?"
But I know the answer before he even says it. If it were up to him, he'd give me as much time as I needed, so the fact that he said thirty days means his sister and her family absolutely need the apartment as soon as possible.
"No, I'm sorry," he sighs, confirming my thoughts. "As it is, they'll be staying with me for two weeks. They were given two weeks to evict so they basically need the apartment as soon as possible. I'm really sorry."
I exhale a heavy breath. Not only do I have to scramble for a new apartment, but getting kicked out halfway through a month means I have only three options: either I get lucky and find a place that's available immediately, or I overpay on an apartment for two weeks—which also means finding the place immediately—or I'm homeless for two weeks and wait to move until next month. None of my options are pretty.
"Okay, I'll be out in thirty days," I grumble, rubbing my eyes. "If by some miracle I can be out earlier I'll let you know."
"Thanks, Remy. And again, I am so sorry. I hate that I have to end your lease like this. You were such a great tenant. If you ever need anything, just let me know."
A sad smile stretches across my face. I know he means that. "Thanks, Dan, I appreciate that. We'll talk later."
I hang up and immediately throw myself on a barstool at my kitchen island. I groan as I drop my head onto my crossed arms.
Just then, I hear a key in the lock at my front door. The door opens and my sister walks in.
"I can't tell you how excited I am to finally try this Latin restaurant," I hear her chirp happily as she walks into the kitchen. "I heard it's amazing—whoa, what happened? What's wrong?"
I raise my head to see her frowning at me.
Hailey is four years younger and the polar opposite of me. Where I am brunette, she is blonde. Where I am fit and strong, she is model-thin. Where I am loud and headstrong, she is quiet and thoughtful. The only similarities we share are that we're both short—we’re 5’2” on a good day—and we both share our mother's good looks. Though she's considered much more beautiful since it couples with her perfectly tiny frame.
She's also my best friend in the world. We were always close growing up, and have gotten even closer since she moved to the city three years ago. I even moved her into my townhouse that I shared with college friends after she graduated high school. My friends loved her just as much as I did, despite her being several years younger than them. She was kind and funny and unproblematic, and she fit into our circle immediately. Somehow even though she was the youngest of all of us, she was the one we all went to for advice.
Which is exactly what I need right now.
"Dan just evicted me," I groan. Her eyes widen at my news. "His sister's family just got evicted from their apartment for not being able to pay rent and he has to move them into my place. I have thirty days to find a new apartment."
"Damn," Hailey mutters. I can see the wheels turning in her brain, trying to figure out how to help me. "I guess I understand, since it's family, but that still sucks. What are you going to do?"
"Find a new place, I guess." I grimace and rub my temples. "Why does this have to happen now?"
Hailey shares the same pained look on her face. "I guess it's pretty shitty timing that I moved in with Steve this year. If I was still living at my old place in Fishtown, I would’ve just let you stay with me."
"I'll figure it out," I sigh. "Maybe I'll ask Jax if I can crash with him for that week."
Hailey lets out a loud laugh. "That would also mean staying with Tristan. Are you sure that's worth it?"
"Maybe I can convince Jax to kick him out," I think out loud. "Or maybe I can just tell him to stay with whatever brainless bimbo he's currently screwing? I'm sure sex would sway him. Because there is not a chance in hell I'll be able to live with him for that long."
Hailey shakes her head, chuckling. She hands me my purse and pushes me out the door.
* * *