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Finding an apartment turned out to be far more difficult than Evan expected. Most of the places were easily twice what he’d budgeted to spend on housing, and the ones he could afford were all the way on the south side of Atlanta. The ones he showed Russ made him frown and shake his head. One by one, Russ shot down the apartments Evan was considering. They were either in bad neighborhoods or so far out of Atlanta he’d have a horrible commute.
“None of them?” Evan said, slumping in disappointment. “Where the hell am I going to live?”
“Have you thought about getting a roommate?” Russ asked. “I had one for a while.”
Evan winced. “I guess. I’d rather find a place of my own, but I guess if I can’t find anything else.” He sighed again. “I like having my own space.”
Stephen nodded sympathetically. “I know how you feel. I never liked having roommates either.”
“I’m right here,” Russ said wryly.
Stephen chuckled. “Having a partner isn’t the same thing. No matter how much you like a roommate, it feels like you’re always a little on edge and can never quite relax.”
Russ shrugged. “I always chalked it up to the fact that my roommate before I met Stephen was an obnoxious slob. But you’re right. Living with a roommate is different than living with someone you love.”
“When you do meet someone, Evan, you’ll know he’s the right one when coming home to him is better than being alone.” Stephen said, reaching out and running an affectionate hand over the back of Russ’ head.
Evan looked away, smiling to himself, although there was a familiar little pang of longing for a relationship like theirs. He spoke softly. “Well, I don’t think that’s going to happen in the next few weeks, so I may have to have a roommate I don’t like.”
“Have you thought about subletting a place?” Russ asked, turning back to him.
“I saw some listed online but they’re still pretty pricy.”
“Hmm.” Russ rubbed his chin. “Maybe I should see if Monty knows someone.”
“Monty?” Evan asked.
“Oh, God, how do I explain Montgomery Doyle?” Russ threw a grin at Stephen. “He’s my former roommate, actually. He’s ... uhh, imagine a cross between a surfer and a redneck. He’s a nice guy, but he’s pretty abrasive at first and kind of an acquired taste.”
“So you think he’ll need another roommate?” Evan asked, dreading the thought of living with someone like that.
“No, and I can’t imagine you living with Monty anyway. However, he’s a bartender at a place in Buckhead. If there’s someone who’s looking for a roommate or a sublet, he’ll know.” Russ pulled his phone out of his pocket. “I’ll text him and see what he has to say.”
The following day, Russ had good news for him when he got home from work.
“Monty got back to me, and I think I found something promising.”
“Someone needs a roommate?”
“Even better, Monty’s looking to get out of his lease on his studio apartment. He’s been thinking about moving in with his girlfriend, and when he does, he wants to sublet his place until the lease is up. The landlord’s cool with it, and you’d probably be able to take over once the lease ends.”
“Hmm.” Evan was afraid to get his hopes up. “Where is it and how much?”
“Right in Bucktown. It’s pretty much straight up Peachtree Ave. Maybe a fifteen-twenty minute drive from your work in heavy traffic, but a little less most days, I think. It’s tucked away on a little side street. It’s not a bad complex—basic but safe and quiet. Way nicer than the place Monty and I used to live in together. I think you’ll feel comfortable there, and the price is pretty reasonable. Seven hundred a month with all the utilities included.”
“Yeah, tell him I’m interested.”
Russ beamed. “Awesome. This will work out great for both of you, I think. I’ll text him, and we can figure out a time to check it out.”
***
“So, I feel like I should warn you about Monty,” Russ said on Sunday afternoon, as they drove toward the apartment Evan might sublet. “He’ll probably say something completely horrifying at some point. I swear his brain doesn’t work like anyone else’s. He really is a nice guy, but don’t be surprised if he says something offensive.”
“Okay.” Evan was vaguely confused. This was someone Russ was supposed to like?
Russ chuckled as if he knew what Evan was thinking. Evan was going to ask him more about Monty but when they pulled onto Rumson street, he got distracted looking at all of the fancy new buildings. Russ pulled up in front of an older, two story brick building and got out. It was quite plain compared to the others, but nicely kept up with flowers and trees planted in front of the building. The whole street was quiet and safe feeling.
Evan followed Russ inside the building and toward the back. As Russ stopped and knocked on the door in front of them, Evan tried to convince himself he shouldn’t get his hopes up too high because it wasn’t necessarily going to work out. But he wanted it to so badly.
“Hey, Monty,” Russ said as the guy in the doorway grinned.
“Russ, my man.” He stepped back. “Come on in.”
Monty wasn’t exactly hot—but he was interesting looking. He had shaggy blond hair and bright blue eyes and sort of looked like a cross between Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson, but a lot younger. And bigger. Jesus. He managed to make Russ look small. Evan felt puny beside him.
Monty grinned and grabbed Russ in a bear hug. “Good to see you, dude. It’s been too long.”
“Yeah, things have been kinda crazy. We’ll have to grab dinner sometime soon though.” Russ patted him on the back.
“Awesome.”
Across the room, a girl with reddish blonde hair cleared her throat, smiling. “Would you like to introduce us, Monty?”
“Sorry, darlin’,” Monty grinned at her as he crossed the room and hooked an arm around her waist. “Russ, meet my girlfriend, Emily. Emily, this is Russ and uhh....”
“Evan,” he supplied.
“It’s so nice to meet y’all,” she said. She had dimples and Evan liked the way she smiled at him.
Once everyone was introduced and they got past the small talk, Monty rubbed his palms together. “So, Evan, you’re homeless, right?”
Evan blinked. “Uh, yeah, kinda. Although Russ and Stephen have been letting me stay at their place.”
“Russ told me your parents kicked you out ’cause you like dick.”
Beside him, Russ groaned. “I didn’t word it that way!”
Emily lightly thwacked Monty on the stomach with her arm. “Montgomery Doyle! You can’t just say things like that!”
Evan was torn between embarrassment and laughter. “Uhh, I’m gay, yeah. And my family wasn’t okay with it.”
“Dude, that sucks.”
“Pretty much,” Evan agreed, jamming his hands in his pockets. It had been over a month and they hadn’t called him once.
“So, what do you think of the place, Evan?”
“Oh, I haven’t really looked around yet,” Evan admitted. He glanced around the apartment. It was small; a tiny single room with a kitchenette at one end with a stove, sink, and refrigerator, a couple of cabinets, and a few square feet of counter space. At the far end, Evan could see a closed door—a closet maybe—and an open door that was clearly to a bathroom. There was another closet by the entrance and most of the space in the room was taken up by a bed. According to Russ, the place was only about three hundred square feet, but that was plenty for Evan. He didn’t own much.
“I like it,” he said, smiling at Monty. It looked clean and bright and he liked that there were two windows to let in a lot of light. It felt cozy and it would be all his own. Perfect.
“You’ve definitely learned a lot about cleaning since we lived together in the old place,” Russ said. “Are those vacuum marks on the carpet?”
Emily beamed. “He’s learning. He was such a train wreck when we met! I don’t know how you lived with him, Russ.”
Russ’ tone was deadpan. “Desperation. It’s amazing what you’ll do when you have student loans to pay off.”
Monty shot him the finger but laughed anyway. “Yeah well, I had to downsize to a studio when he ditched me for his sugar daddy.”
“Stephen is not my sugar daddy.” Russ sounded exasperated.
“Hey, you hooked up with him, moved into a fancy apartment, got a new car.... Smells like sugar daddy to me. How many times a day do you have to suck cock to get that?”
“Monty!” Emily chastised.
Evan’s eyes widened. He was starting to understand what Russ had been talking about. But there was no malice in Monty’s voice. He didn’t seem like he was trying to be cruel.
Russ laughed. “Fuck you, Monty. You know damn well I love that man.”
Smirking, Monty nodded. “Yeah, I know ya’ do. Just givin’ you shit. That’s what friends are for, right?”
“Something like that.” Russ’ tone was dry. “Now, let’s get down to business and talk about Evan subletting. You said it would be seven hundred with all utilities?”
“Yep. That’s what I pay. I’m not looking to make any money here. I just want someone to cover the payments.”
By the time they left the building, Evan had met with the landlord, filled out an application, and Monty had agreed to leave some of the furniture behind.
“I’d suggest you get a new mattress though,” Russ suggested as they climbed into his car. “Emily seems to have introduced him to the wonders of dish soap and vacuums, but in case he’s had the mattress since before he met her....”
Evan shuddered. “Good call. I can definitely manage a new mattress, especially since I won’t have to buy the frame.”
He wasn’t going to bother with a couch. There wasn’t room and it’s not like he expected to have a lot of visitors. Monty was leaving a kitchen table and two chairs, a dresser, and a little table by the entrance. Evan would need to buy sheets, towels, and some kitchen things along with the mattress but he could afford that as long as he shopped carefully.
It was all finally starting to come together.
***
Two weeks later, Evan moved into the new place. It was clean and empty except for the few pieces of furniture Monty left and a brand-new, still wrapped in plastic, mattress and box spring that he’d purchased the day before.
When Monty handed over the keys to Evan, it felt completely surreal.
“Thanks for doing this,” Evan said, slipping the new keys on his key ring. “I’m so grateful.”
“Naw, no problem,” Monty said, grinning. “Emily’s been pestering me about moving in with her for a while, and you did me a huge favor.”
“I haven’t been pestering you,” she protested. “And you’re the one who brought it up in the first place. You may try to hide it, but you’re a softy, Montgomery Doyle.”
Monty grumbled and kissed the top of her head. “Just for you, dollface.” He turned to Evan again. “So, you have my number if there’s any reason you need to get ahold of me, and I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
Emily pointed at a plant on the windowsill. “I left you a housewarming gift.”
“Uh, thanks, but I don’t know anything about plants,” Evan admitted. “What do I do?”
“There’re instructions right on the side of the tag,” she said. “Don’t you worry, sweetie, it’s real easy to take care of, I promise.”
“Oh, good. And thank you both.” He smiled at her. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”
After Monty and Emily said goodbye, Russ and Stephen helped Evan move his few possessions in. Russ carried several unfamiliar boxes, and when Stephen made a trip to move his car from the loading area to an actual parking spot, Evan asked Russ about them.
“Oh, they’re just a few hand-me-downs. My old kitchen stuff mostly. I thought you might want them. Feel free to take whatever you don’t need to a thrift store or something.”
“Oh. Wow, yeah. Thanks! That’ll be great.” Evan gave him an appreciative smile. The less he had to buy, the better. “That’s really generous.”
Russ shrugged. “I had them when I lived in the old place with Monty and figured there was no point in me holding on to them now. It was backup in case things didn’t work out with Stephen.”
“You think it’ll work out then?” Evan asked. “Like spending the rest of your life together?”
Russ’ smile was soft, the same one he got on his face whenever he looked at Stephen. “Yeah. I can’t imagine my life without him.”
“That’s awesome. I want to find what you have with Stephen someday.”
Russ clapped him on the back. “You’ll find it, Evan. I know you will.”
Stephen returned, and they helped him wrestle the mattress and box spring out of the plastic and onto the bed frame. When they were done, Russ put his hands on his hips and surveyed the room. “Anything else we can do to help?”
“No, no, I think it’s good,” Evan said. A huge wave of gratitude washed over him. “Thanks for all your help. I can’t begin to thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
Russ shrugged, as if Evan invading their space for a month and a half had been no big deal. Evan didn’t want to think about how much money they’d spent on him either. “We were glad to.”
“I really don’t know what I would have done without you guys.” He swallowed, his throat thick with emotion. “Are you sure you don’t want me to repay you?”
Stephen shook his head. “We’re sure. We’re glad you were brave enough to call and ask for help.”
Nodding, Russ grew serious. “I would have been so pissed if you’d tried to go it alone, Evan. Seriously, we were glad to help.”
“I told you before, Evan,” Stephen said. “Someday, when you can, pay it forward.”
“I will,” Evan promised.
Russ and Stephen both hugged him and made him promise to keep in touch. It was difficult saying goodbye to the only friends he’d had in years, and after weeks of living with them, his new apartment felt quiet and empty when they left.
Evan wandered around the apartment for a while, unpacking the boxes from Russ and putting away his few belongings. It didn’t take long for him to get settled, and he decided to go out and buy sheets and towels. He sat down and made a list, wincing as it grew in length and expense. He’d only had one paycheck from the funeral home so far, and although it was a lot more than he’d been paid by his uncle, it wasn’t going to last forever. He’d have to be careful.
That night, when he made his bed with brand new, freshly laundered sheets and turned out the light beside the bed, he was almost too excited to sleep. He hugged a pillow close and listened to the unfamiliar noises of his new home. He heard the hum of the air conditioner and car start outside, but otherwise it was very quiet.
To his surprise, he realized he missed the sound of Russ and Stephen talking in the other room, and it hit him how lonely the new place was.
Wonderful, but lonely.