“You look nice,” Seth said, as he walked into the kitchen where I was pouring myself a cup of coffee.

“Thanks,” I said. I had worn my favorite jeans, a white sleeveless blouse and a navy-blue blazer over it. It was kind of business chic but I wanted to make a good first impression. “I’m going to go check out a new apartment.”

“Where is it?”

“Pentrieve Lane,” I said. “Pretty close to campus and right next to the ice cream parlor I hope to work at. Professor Milton is putting in a word for me.”

“That’s nice of her,” Seth said. “She’s always been good to you.”

“She has,” I said, sipping my coffee distractedly.

Seth seemed to notice my preoccupation. “Are you alright?” he asked. “You seem a little… nervous.”

“I am nervous,” I nodded. “I’ve never had any luck with roommates.”

Seth frowned, and I knew he didn’t like the idea of me living with a total stranger. “Why not look into renting your own apartment… without a roommate?” he asked.

“Because I can’t afford that.”

“Maybe… I could help you out a little,” Seth said.

“Oh no,” I said immediately. “I love you for offering, but that’s really going to put a dent in your earnings, and I’m sure Cory would not be ok with that.”

“Cory won’t mind.” Seth was oblivious to his girlfriend’s obvious disdain for me. “She likes you.”

I smiled awkwardly but didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to get in the middle of Seth’s relationship. As long as he was happy, I would keep my mouth shut.

“So what do you say?” Seth asked.

“No,” I said firmly. “I can manage… once I get the job, I’ll be able to hold my own.”

“But you have school to think of too.”

“I’m doing well in school,” I said. “I’ve managed to keep on top of things, and anyway, this is my last year. After I graduate, I’ll look into finding myself a real job and things will be a lot easier when I do.”

Seth sighed. “So much pride… I mean, I’m proud of you for wanting to do this alone, but I wish you’d let me help you.”

“You’ve helped me by letting me crash here,” I said, giving Seth a little kiss on his cheek.

Maybe it was the eight-year age difference between us, but there were moments when Seth almost felt like my father. He was as protective as one, and he looked out for me like my biological father should have done. It was for that reason that I never felt the loss that badly when my father did leave.

“Who’s this person you’re meeting?” Seth asked. “Does she seem… normal?”

I paused. “Uh… I’m pretty sure he’s a man.”

“Your new roommate is a man?” Seth asked.

“He’s not my roommate yet,” I pointed out. “He might be if this meeting goes well.”

“I don’t know how I feel about you moving in with a strange man.”

“I don’t know how I feel about it either,” I smiled. “But desperate times.”

“Why don’t you just stay here until you find the perfect place and the perfect roommate… preferably a girl.”

I smiled. “Because there’s no such thing as the perfect roommate or the perfect apartment… at least in my price range. I appreciate your concern, but I’ll be ok. I think I can tell a jerk from a decent guy.”

“Maybe I should come with you?”

“Please don’t,” I said immediately. “I need to do this by myself, and I don’t want you scaring this guy into rejecting me.”

Seth smiled, and I shook my head at him. “You’re an ass.”

Seth laughed. “Ok, ok,” he said. “I’ll stay out of it. But if anything goes wrong—”

“Nothing’s going to go wrong,” I insisted. “You worry too much.”

“Part and parcel of being a big brother.”

“It must be exhausting.”

“It can be,” I nodded.

I heard the door to Seth’s room open, and I gulped down the rest of my coffee and grabbed my bag. “I better head out,” I said, wanting to avoid Cory. “I’ll see you tonight.”

“Ok,” Seth nodded. “Let me know how it goes.”

“Wish me luck,” I said, heading towards the door.

“Yeah ok,” Seth said.

I laughed. “That was really heartfelt.”

I closed the door on Seth’s laughter and headed towards Pentrieve Lane. I was actually really hoping this would work out. I passed Pentrieve Lane often, and I had always liked the apartment blocks there. They were modest, but they looked clean and sturdy and well kept.

The building was obviously an old one, but I kind of liked that. It had character and a certain old-world charm about it. I had to walk up four floors because the elevator didn’t seem to want to co-operate with me but I finally made it to apartment number four-oh-five. I crossed my fingers and knocked twice.

“Hang on,” a deep voice said from inside.

“Please let this guy be normal,” I prayed under my breath.

I heard footsteps approaching the door, and a second later I found myself staring at a handsome blue-eyed man that I had met before.

“Oh my God,” I breathed.

“Zoey?”

It was Devlin… the guy I had met at Seth’s station. This was the weirdest coincidence ever. I felt a little blindsided, and by the looks of it, he was too.

“Hi,” I said awkwardly.

“You’re Z-Lark?” Devlin asked.

“I am,” I nodded. “And you’re Angelo two-point-oh?”

Devlin smiled in embarrassment. “Uh, I’m a fan of Michelangelo.”

“This is so weird,” I said.

“I know,” Devlin nodded. “I did not expect this… come in… sorry, I didn’t mean to keep you out in the hall.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I said, as he moved aside a little so I could walk in.

I didn’t immediately register anything about the apartment because I was so taken aback by this twist of fate. I hesitated for a moment realizing that this might be a glaring sign that the universe was sending down to me. It had to be, right? Why would I meet Devlin almost two weeks prior only to end up interviewing to rent out the spare room in his apartment? Did that mean that perhaps moving in here was the right decision for me to make?

I turned around and saw that Devlin was watching me closely. He seemed to be processing the fact that I was standing in his apartment.

He smiled. “I’m sorry… I don’t mean to be such a weirdo about this but—”

“It’s weird,” I said. “Trust me, I get it. I guess we can only laugh about it. It’s some coincidence huh?”

“It is,” Devlin nodded. “I mean… I was hoping to see you again, but I didn’t expect to see you under these circumstances.”

I felt a blush creep onto my cheeks as I remembered the deal we had struck with one another. I was supposed to go back to the station and set up a date with Devlin if after two weeks I was still thinking about him.

“I have been thinking about you,” I blurted out before I could stop myself.

“Really?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.

“It’s just… not the right time for me to get involved with anyone,” I said.

“Is there ever a right time?”

I smiled. “Maybe there was a reason I hesitated,” I pointed out. “I mean… if we do end up living together being involved with each other might be a problem.”

“You couldn’t have anticipated this,” Devlin said.

“No,” I agreed. “But sometimes fate has a way of stepping in.”

“You believe in fate?” Devlin asked, with raised eyebrows.

I felt a little self-conscious suddenly, and I realized that I cared what he thought of me. I didn’t particularly like that I cared, but I was forced to admit it.

“Well… I mean… sometimes that’s the only explanation for certain things,” I said, trying to justify it. “And I like believing that everything happens for a reason. I know that’s cheesy.”

“It’s not cheesy,” Devlin replied. “I believe in fate too.”

“Really?” I said, feeling the same connection that I had felt the first time I had met him.

“Uh-huh,” Devlin nodded. “It’s the artist in me.”

I laughed, feeling immediately at ease with him. It made me think that living with Devlin might actually work. But I realized that if we did end up as roommates that basically nixed the potential for anything more happening between us. I looked around the apartment, and I realized how nice it was. I mean, it was certainly far from perfect. It was a total bachelor pad, but there were lots of things I liked about it.

There were enough windows that there was a lot of natural light coming through. The mess was comfortable rather than disgusting, and there were art supplies strewn around that I counted as a positive. He really was an artist, and I like that he was.

“This place is really nice.”

“Thanks,” Devlin said. “I was lucky to get this apartment in the first place. There was a high demand for it.”

“How did you manage to seal the deal?” I asked.

“I charmed the landlord,” Devlin replied. “And I guess I edged out all the other candidates. But I think sleeping with him also helped.”

I burst out laughing, and Devlin joined in. I could actually see us living together. I could see that we could be friends… good friends. I had never had that with my roommates before, and I knew I couldn’t let this opportunity pass.

“Devlin,” I said, wanting to get that out of the way immediately. “I’m going to be straight with you.”

“Please do.”

“I really need a place to stay, and I like the apartment… and I actually think you and I might get along well.”

“I do too,” Devlin nodded.

“Does that mean… you would consider letting me move in?” I asked, wondering if it was really going to be that easy.

“I’m way past considering it,” Devlin told me. “You can move in whenever you’re ready.”

I smiled. “Seriously.”

“Cross my heart and hope to die.”

For a moment I was ecstatic, and then I realized that there was something between us that needed to be addressed.

“Devlin,” I said. “I think we should make certain things clear… that is to say, I think we should take certain things off the table.”

“Urgh… I don’t like where this is heading.”

“We can’t live together and get involved with one another.”

“We’re not involved with one another,” he reminded me.

“And we can’t blur those lines going forward,” I said, trying to ignore my intense attraction to him. “Agreed?”

Devlin frowned and I saw the internal conflict in his eyes. After a moment he nodded. “Agreed,” he said, but his heart didn’t sound in it.

The sad fact was that I needed this apartment far more than I needed a boyfriend and I knew that Devlin knew that too.

“Ok,” I said. “I guess that’s settled.”

“Well then,” Devlin said, with a smile I couldn’t quite decipher. “Welcome to your new home… roomie.”