I pushed my buzzing phone off my nightstand. I’d had another long week at work, and I didn’t actually know what time it was since my eyes refused to open. It felt obscenely early.

But the buzzing refused to stop. I cracked an eyelid and looked at the clock. Eight thirty. What a disgusting time to be awake on a Sunday morning.

When I picked up my phone, I shouldn’t have been surprised to see a video chat request from my mom. I wasn’t sure she actually ever slept. Eight thirty was probably midday for her.

“Hi, Mom,” I answered.

“Laurel, baby! Are you sick? Why are you still in bed?”

I rubbed my eyes and groaned. “Ma, it’s Sunday morning! Some of us like to catch up on sleep on this holy day.”

“Holy day? Pshaw! You’d probably set fire if you stepped in a church.”

I gasped and clutched my chest. “My own mother calling me evil? What has the world come to?”

All of a sudden, two little voices screamed, “Aunt Laurel! Aunt Laurel!”

A cheek-aching grin spread across my face. “Antonella! Lucia! What are my little angels doing at Nonna’s house?”

My seven-year-old niece, Lucia, who had the biggest eyes that looked like they held all the mysteries of the universe, spoke first. “Daddy and Mommy went to the city and left us here! They said they might come back, if we’re lucky!”

I laughed. That sounded like something my second oldest brother, Matt, would say.

“Did Nonna feed you guys a lot of veggies and make you go to bed super early?” I asked.

“No!” giggled my five-year-old niece, Antonella. She was a tiny sprite of a girl with the spirit of an angel. My brother had gotten lucky with his two girls. We were only a year apart and he’d driven me nuts my entire life, so I had no idea how he’d gotten two such fabulous children. They must have inherited all of his wife’s genes…which is what I liked to tell him whenever I saw him.

“Aunt Laurel! Can we see your new house?” asked Antonella.

“You want to come visit?”

“Yes, yes! Daddy says you’re too busy kissing boys for us to visit, though,” Antonella said.

I snorted. Matt would be getting a nice text from me when I got off the phone.

“Now, Antonella, you know your aunt is a very important lawyer. She doesn’t have time for stinky boys,” my mom corrected.

“You guys want me to give you a tour right now?” I asked.

“Can we see your closet?” Lucia asked in a quiet, reverential voice.

Antonella was my sweet, sweet angel, but I sensed a kindred spirit in Lucia. When she last came to Baltimore, we sat together in my apartment closet talking about life, school, and pantsuits.

I hopped out of bed, and pointing the camera on my phone away from me, showed them my room, then flipped on the light switch and went into my closet.

“This is my favorite, favorite spot,” I said.

“The light looks like diamonds!” Antonella cried.

“It’s so pretty, Aunt Laurel. When I come visit, can I sit in there with you?” Lucia asked.

“Of course, my love. I even put fuzzy rugs on the floor so it’s super comfy!”

I walked down the hallway, stopping in my office and the bathroom, and then went downstairs. I wasn’t sure if Avi was awake or not—I hadn’t quite figured out if he was an early bird or night owl—so I tried to be quiet as I showed them around the living room and kitchen.

“Aunt Laurel?” Antonella asked, sweetly batting her eyelashes at me.

“Yeah, sugarplum?”

“Will you bake me cookies and mail them like you did last time? I promise to share!”

If my heart could have broken out of my chest and run to her, it would have. I needed to get myself to Jersey to see my family, stat.

“I can definitely do that, baby. What if I come visit soon too?”

Lucia clapped. “Yes, yes, yes!”

“Who’s that, Aunt Laurel?” Antonella asked.

I looked over my shoulder at a shirtless Avi coming into the living room, stretching his arms over his head and yawning.

“That’s my roommate, Avi.”

He sauntered over, and I held up the phone so the girls could get a better look at him. When he saw their little faces on my screen, he grinned and sat next to me.

“You look like a prince,” Antonella breathed.

Lucia didn’t say anything. She just covered her mouth and giggled.

“Thank you, little one. What’s your name?” Avi asked.

“I’m Antonella. I like the way you talk!”

“I talk like this because my kingdom is in a faraway land called Israel.”

She gasped. “Are you really a real-life prince?”

I elbowed his side. His very bare and deliciously rock-hard side. “No, he isn’t. He’s crazy, is what he is.”

“Your aunt knows I am really a prince. She keeps me captive in the basement so I cannot escape.”

Both Antonella and Lucia dissolved into a fit of giggles until I heard my dad call that breakfast was ready, and then they went scurrying off. If I knew my dad, he’d made them chocolate chip pancakes, a Sunday tradition in the Campanella house.

And then we were left with my mom, and I could just see the questions firing in her brain, locked and loaded and ready to shoot.

“Avi, this is my mom, Maria. Ma, meet Avi, my new roommate.”

Avi raised his hand, and my mom raised her eyebrows. “Hello, Avi. Do you often walk around without a shirt on?”

He looked down at his chest as though it was just dawning on him that he was topless. “Uh…”

My mom laughed. “I’m just messing with you. If my husband had a body like yours, I’d take scissors to all his shirts.”

“Mom!”

She waved me off. “Oh, shush, Laurel. Avi knows he’s a handsome man. Don’t you?”

His eyes widened, and he looked panicked. “Uh…”

I patted his knee. “Run!”

He got up from the couch looking confused and retreated down the stairs to the basement, where his bedroom was.

“I cannot believe you just said that to him!” I whispered.

“And I can’t believe you failed to mention he looked like that!” she shrieked.

“Like what?”

“Like that! Gorgeous!”

I looked over my shoulder in the direction he’d gone. “Yeah, he is really cute, isn’t he?”

My mom held up a finger. “Not cute, Laurel. Gorgeous. Tell me he’s gay.”

I shook my head. “Don’t think so.”

“Well, you’re in trouble.”

“Oh, Mom, you drive me crazy. You do realize just because I find him attractive, doesn’t mean he finds me attractive, right?”

She frowned at me. “You’re my pretty little pixie, though.” She tapped her lip. “Just think, if you procreated, your kids might actually come out normal size!”

“Oh my god, Mother! Why are you like this?”

“I’m a delight! What on earth are you talking about?”

And she was a delight. Sometimes an embarrassing delight, but still a delight. By sheer luck of birth, I’d gotten this really fucking amazing family. There were times I’d cursed being the middle child—the only daughter—and having two younger and two older brothers, but as an adult, I came to realize my childhood had been idyllic. Two loving, crazy parents and four annoying, but genuinely awesome brothers was really more than anyone could ask for. And yes, I did sometimes try to give them back, but mostly, I counted my blessings. And now that three of my brothers had married cool women they’d somehow conned into giving birth to their children, I truly had an embarrassment of riches.

“I love you, Ma. I’m going to come visit soon, okay? Text me a good weekend and I’ll be there.”

“Love you too, honey. And bring that gorgeous man with you when you come. Ciao!”

“Bye!”

I threw my phone on the couch and leaned back against the cushions. It was only nine in the morning and my mom and nieces had exhausted me.

I went into the kitchen and stood for a moment, considering what I should make for breakfast. Coffee was the first order of the day, but for once, I wasn’t really in the mood to bake. I decided to throw on some clothes and walk to the little coffee shop I’d discovered close by.

I yelled down the stairs, “Hey, Avi, I’m going to get breakfast in ten minutes if you want to join me!”

I paused a beat, but when he didn’t reply, I figured he either wasn’t interested or he’d gone back to sleep, so I went upstairs to get dressed.

After taking a quick shower, I threw on a pair of leggings and one of my many message T’s—this one said “Not today, Satan”—which I thought appropriate considering my mom had implied I was a heathen. Then I brushed my teeth and wrapped my wet hair up in a bun. Lazy Sunday look complete.

Downstairs, I slipped on my sneakers and bundled up, pulling a knit beanie down over my ears. As I opened the door, I heard, “I’m coming!”

I turned around to see Avi running up the stairs with damp hair and a freshly scrubbed look. I bet he smells delicious.

“Where are we going?” he asked as he slipped on his boots.

“There’s a cute coffee shop a couple blocks away. Excellent pastries and lattes.”

“Ah, I’ve been meaning to look for a coffee shop.”

We left the house, facing the bitter cold together. Avi walked close to me, his arm brushing mine.

“Have you explored the neighborhood?” I asked.

“Not really. I’ve been pretty busy.”

I hooked my arm through his. “Well, allow me to show you the ropes, young man.”

As we walked, I pointed out my favorite Chinese take-out place and the bookstore where they didn’t mind if you curled up in one of their big comfy chairs and read all day. I’d even taken my own book with me to read there. They probably didn’t love that so much.

Then we arrived at the cute, locally owned coffee shop I’d discovered right after I moved in. Even though I liked to bake, sometimes I just wanted a gooey cinnamon bun or flaky croissant without putting forth any effort. Today was a lazy Sunday, after all.

I ordered some of the delicious little Korean donut holes with red bean filling and a vanilla latte, then snagged us a cozy booth near the back while Avi placed his own order.

He came over a few minutes later carrying both our orders and sat down across from me. He’d opted for the cinnamon bun, and I was already eyeing it, wondering how he’d feel if I snuck a piece.

He chuckled when he caught me drooling over his food, then cut off a piece and transferred it to my plate.

“Oh, did you think I wanted that?” I asked.

He pointed toward my mouth. “I saw the bubbles of drool and just assumed…”

I laughed and gave him one of my balls. “Trade ya.”

He bit into the donut and made a shocked face as he chewed. “What the hell is this?” he asked through a mouthful.

“You’ve never had red beans? I live for Korean food, and this is my favorite dessert!”

He finally swallowed, then took a long drink of his iced coffee.

“I wasn’t expecting that.” He moved his cinnamon bun around with his fork, inspecting it. “Are there beans in here too?”

I kicked him under the table. “No, you goof! Actually, the guy who makes these is married to your coworker, Anna. He runs a commercial bakery and the coffee shop is one of his customers. I’m going to tell her you didn’t like his balls!”

He held a forkful of cinnamon bun up to his mouth. “Please tell her. I am sure she likes her husband’s balls enough for both of us.” Then he stuffed his fork in his mouth and gave me a smug look.

I didn’t predict Avi would get in on the ball puns. I really enjoyed that he could partake in terribly unsophisticated, lowbrow humor.

I popped a donut ball in my mouth and moaned as the taste of red beans hit my tongue. Avi might not have been a fan, but I was. After I took a drink of my latte, I said, “Sorry if I woke you up this morning.”

“Nah, it’s okay. I needed to get up anyway. Your nieces are cute.”

“I think they’re officially your biggest fans. Since you’re a real live prince and all.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You doubt I am a prince?”

I grinned. “You’re too pushy to be a prince. Would a prince invite himself to live with a woman he just met?”

“Since you’re a princess, it makes sense.”

“You cannot hold something I said when I was drunk against me! I am totally not a princess.”

“Okay, princess.” I kicked him under the table again, a bit harder this time. “Ow, you’re strong for such a small person!”

I shot him my meanest grimace. “And don’t you forget it.”

Avi took a sip of his coffee, then cocked his head, studying me. “You sounded different talking to your mom.”

I nodded. “Yeah, my Jersey comes out when I’m around my family. You should hear me after I spend a weekend with them. I’m all ‘fuhgeddaboutit.’ It takes a good week to fade back to my normal, lowkey Jerseyness.”

“I like how you sound. It’s, hmmm...melodic.”

That was the first time someone had told me my New Jersey accent was melodic. I looked over Avi’s shoulder, unable to meet his eyes for some reason. He had me flustered and nervous, my hands balling the ends of my T-shirt, my teeth gnawing a hole through the inside of my flaming cheek.

“Would you like to help me paint today?” I asked, desperately needing to change the subject.

“Yes, of course. I feel bad I haven’t helped you much yet.”

“Are you kidding? You unpacked at least sixty percent of my boxes!”

He tipped his chin down and smirked. “Laurel.”

I rolled my eyes. “Okay. Eighty percent. But that’s not the point. The point is you’ve already been a big help! And now that all my shit is out of the way, I can see how terrible the walls in the living room are.”

“What color were you thinking about?”

I shrugged. “Not sure. Probably a blue-gray. Isn’t that the ‘in’ color?”

“I have no idea. But you don’t strike me as a person who does something because it’s ‘in.’”

I don’t? I wondered how I did strike him, but it was possible I didn’t want to know.

“What am I, a rebel without a cause? I like things that are ‘in.’ I mean, things usually become popular because of their mass appeal. And I am nothing if not part of the masses. I don’t see a problem with having the same wall color as a million other people.”

Avi steepled his fingers under his chin. “It’s not a problem. But I think you would be happier with something that is more you. And you are not a blue-gray person.”

I had to laugh. I had no idea how he’d drawn such definitive conclusions about me after spending such little time together.

“I’m open to suggestions. Why don’t we finish up and then drive to the hardware store and stare at the paint swatches?”

He grinned, that wide open smile that took over his whole face. I almost threw my bra at him, it was so sexy. “I truly can’t think of a better way to spend my Sunday.”

Once we stuffed ourselves with sweets and caffeine, we meandered back toward home.

I nudged Avi’s arm. “If I’m not a blue-gray person, what color person am I?”

He looked down at me, narrowing his eyes as he studied my face. “Vibrant. Bright and unexpected.”

My stomach dipped, like I’d gone over the edge of Niagara Falls with nothing but a barrel and my hopes and dreams.

“What color is vibrant, bright, and unexpected?” I asked, trying to keep the shakiness he made me feel out of my voice.

“Maybe orange, or peacock blue.” He shrugged casually. “We’ll stare at paint swatches and figure it out.”

I giggled and nudged him again, but he stopped short, frowning at something ahead of us. I turned away from him to see what he was looking at and saw a woman standing on our front porch.

“Do you know her?” I asked.

Avi didn’t answer. Instead, he walked briskly toward her, leaving me behind, the question hanging in the air. Obviously, he did, and from his body language—stiff shoulders, head jerking back, hands stuffed in his pockets—he was utterly shocked and not entirely happy to see her.

I approached slowly, not wanting to intrude, but you know, they were in front of my home.

“What are you doing here?” Avi asked harshly.

The woman pressed her gloved hands to his chest. “Avi, don’t be like this.”

He grabbed her wrists and gently lowered her hands. “I told you I didn’t want to see you, Mara.”

“Can’t we talk? Just for a few minutes?” she asked in a wobbly, thick voice.

Avi threw his head back and blew out a heavy sigh. It was then that he noticed me standing there. “Laurel, I’m sorry…”

Mara, of the wild, curly hair and legs that went on forever, turned to me, her wet, brown eyes widening.

“Oh!” She clutched her chest. “I didn’t know you had a girlf—”

“Nope!” I yelled. “Not a girlfriend. Barely even a friend. We’re just roommates!” I didn’t know why I felt the need to clear that up in a rush, especially in a voice loud enough to echo off the rowhomes on either side of the street, but I did.

I took out my keys from my pocket. “I’m just heading to the hardware store. Avi, I’ll see you later!”

He opened his mouth to speak, but I turned, scurrying off to my car. I wasn’t quite sure why I felt embarrassed, like I’d intruded on a private moment or done something wrong, but my plan was to take my sweet ol’ time at the hardware store. Though…staring at paint swatches wouldn’t be nearly as fun without Avi there with me.