Free Saved by the Celebutante by Kirsty McManus

national television.
    It’s all about perspective.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    EIGHT
     
     
    Penny is sitting on her Ikea bar stool watching me make pancakes. She’s never been very good at cooking, so the kitchen is normally Michelle’s domain. Back when I lived in my own apartment, the kitchen was my domain too. Corey refused to cook for us after doing it all day at his restaurant, but I always felt a bit intimidated making stuff for him. He never said anything, yet I got the feeling I often fell short of his expectations.
    As I pour batter into the frying pan, Penny browses a clothing website on her iPad. I’ve been living here for over three weeks now and this seems to be our thing whenever Michelle is out. Me in the kitchen. Penny being lazy.
    “You know what you should do?” she says suddenly.
    “About what?” I adjust the temperature on the stove.
    “Your living situation. While you’re waiting for the apartment to sell, maybe you should ask Corey to get a roommate. That way, someone else can pay your share of the mortgage and you can find a place of your own.”
    “Don’t you want me here anymore?”
    “Oh, stop it. You know we’re happy for you to stay as long as you like, but I’m not sure you want to stay here long term. I’ve seen you looking at Craigslist. It’s okay. I’m not offended. I’d be the same.”
    “I just don’t want to wear out my welcome. And it does seem a bit unfair that I’m paying for a place I can’t even live in. Who knows how long it will take to sell? It might be months before we get a buyer.”
    “Exactly. It’s half your apartment, so you have rights. I say tell Corey to find someone, and if he hasn’t done it within a month, he has to pay the full mortgage himself.”
    “Yeah, I guess. He’s been behaving so weird lately that I just don’t know if I can rely on him anymore.”
    “You can’t. Give him the ultimatum and then do whatever you have to do.”
    To be honest, I am quite peeved. Corey has been acting really strangely since I moved out and he moved back in. I’ve tried calling him a few times to talk about the apartment sale and his thoughts on divorce, but he ends all our conversations abruptly and won’t commit to anything. It’s so frustrating. It’s like he’s morphed into this completely different person. I know he must be struggling, but he can’t keep avoiding me forever.
    “All right. I’ll text him and give him the option to find someone, and then I’ll start looking around for somewhere myself. I do really appreciate you putting me up, though.”
    “I know. You don’t have to justify wanting to get on with your life. Besides, it must be confusing when Rochelle comes over,” she says, winking.
    “Leave me alone,” I moan.
    “There’s nothing wrong with having a crush on a woman.”
    “I don’t have a crush! I just think she’s pretty, and it’s flattering she likes my hair.”
    She laughs. “You keep telling yourself that.”
    I message Corey and let him know the plan. I then finish making the pancakes, serving up a couple for both Penny and me, and get on my computer to browse for available rooms on Craigslist.
    There are a few possibilities, which is encouraging. I figure it can’t hurt to contact some of them and see what it’s like out there. I narrow it down to three.
    The first apartment belongs to a girl called Helen who lives a couple of blocks from Penny and Michelle in a converted warehouse. It looks and sounds awesome, but it’s slightly out of my budget. I’ll have to find out if she’s negotiable.
    The second place is owned by a woman called Susan. She sounds a lot older on the phone than the age listed in her ad, but I’m willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.
    And when I call about the third listing, the guy doesn’t answer his phone. His name is Brad and he lives in a three bedroom place with another guy. They might not want a female roommate, but I figure it can’t hurt to ask. I leave a