Where Nerves End

bedroom is down at that end of the hall.” I
gestured that way, and then in the opposite direction. “Down here,
the guest room and what used to be my office. Both rooms would
be yours, and theres a bathroom between them.”
Michael looked around, but said nothing.
“Fair warning,” I went on, “the acoustics in this house arent
great. I swear to God, I can hear a spider sneeze in the kitchen
from up here.”
“Could be worse,” Michael said. “Theres a railroad about
three blocks from my current apartment.”
“Well, just dont say I didnt warn you,” I said. “Especially
since I get home from work at three or four in the morning
sometimes. I try to be quiet, but…”
He made a dismissive gesture.“Dont worry about it. I can
sleep through anything, and so can Dylan.”
“Good to know.”
I opened the door to the room formerly known as my office. It still had a desk and a few file cabinets, plus the desktop computer that was probably three years old and woefully obsolete. Some framed family photos gathered dust on the walls alongside my
degree and a few snapshots from various camping trips. Across the hall was the sparsely furnished guest room. Just a
bed, dresser, and a couple of nightstands, and the wall above the
queen-sized bed still had the faint rectangular shadow where a
painting had hung for a couple of years. I knew we shouldnt have
used that cheap shit paint, but “I told you so” is bitter, cold comfort
when you find out how badly the paint faded while your boyfriend
is taking pictures off the walls so he can leave.
Tearing my gaze away from the evidence of Wess departure, I
gestured at the furniture. “I can move all of this out to the garage
or down to the basement.”
“With some help, I hope?” Michael shot me a pointed look. “Yes, of course.” I laughed quietly. “You didnt think Id try
moving it all myself, did you?”
One eyebrow rose.
Christ, he really is good.
I cleared my throat and broke eye contact. “I, um, can get some
help.”
“Good,” he said with a sharp nod. “Otherwise Im going to use
the dull, rusty needles to treat your shoulder afterward.” I laughed again. “All right, all right, I wont pick anything up, I
swear.”
“Thats right, you wont.” He threw me what was probably
supposed to be a menacing look, but then we both laughed. I continued showing him around the house, and eventually took
him out to the back deck.
“Wow.” He rested his hands on the railing and looked out at
the backyard. “Dylan will love this.”
“Outdoor kind of kid?”
“God, yes.” He smiled fondly. “Between his stepdad taking
him skiing and me taking him hiking, its a wonder he hasnt run
away to live in the woods.”
I chuckled. “Youre a hiker, then?”
He nodded. “Which makes living here a definite plus.” He
gestured at the mountains. “Itll probably take me fifty years to
hike all the trails out there.”
“You aint kiddin,” I said. “Ive lived here my whole life, and
Im still checking them off my list. You been up to the springs
yet?”
“Not yet.”
“Dont bother.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Trust me. Youre better off going down to Colorado
Springs and dealing with the tourists.” I paused. “I mean, its a
nice hike up to Tucker Springs, Ill give you that, but dont expect
much when you get to the end.”
Michael shrugged. “As long as its a nice hike.”
“Oh, its a beautiful hike,” I said. “I prefer the more technical
ones, but its a nice walk through the woods.”
“Technical ones are the best kind. Not a big fan of the ones that
actually involve serious climbing, though.”
“Yeah, tell me about it.”
He glanced at me, eyes darting toward my shoulder, and
grimaced. “Yeah, I guess rock-climbing isnt very high on your list
right now, is it?”
“Well, thats why Im going to you, right?” I grinned. “So I can
climb Horton Peak by the end of the summer?”
“Good luck with that,” he said dryly. “Im not a miracle
worker.”
“What?” I sighed dramatically. “Seth is a fucking liar, then.” We exchanged glances, and both laughed again.
Then Michael cleared his throat and turned around, looking up
at the house. “So, the rent. You said its a grand a month. All
inclusive.”
“Yes.”
“Seems like a steal now that Ive seen it in person,” he said.
“Are you absolutely sure you dont want me paying half?” “Its fine,” I said. “A thousand a month, and were good.” “All right, well,” he said. “I have to give my landlord