I knew before I even laid eyes on him that I was going to like him. There was a tone to his email that made him stand out from the others–friendly and self-deprecating at the same time. He wrote that he worked from home trying to make boring software slightly less boring, and that he didn’t mind taking out the trash. He finished his email with: I’m quiet, clean, and I have a very nice coffee machine.

Well, let me tell you, I love coffee.

I messaged him back within the hour.

After briefly stalking him on social media, I decided he was safe and arranged a viewing for Thursday evening. I then spent most of that day wondering whether I should tidy the place properly or just let him see the apartment in its true form. On one hand, it felt weird to scrub the kitchen like I was trying to impress him, but on the other hand, the thought of losing a good candidate over a mug-stained coffee table would be a shame. I compromised by cleaning the lounge and leaving the kitchen as it was. I also vacuumed the hallway and lit a candle; French vanilla. I tried to act casual, but I knew Liv would’ve teased me if she could see the way I watched the entrance of the parking lot from the window, waiting for his car, twirling my hair nervously like this was some first date.

“Hey,” I said, opening the door ten minutes later. “You must be Jason.”

He was taller than I expected, with messy hair that looked like it had recently been wet. His clothes were simple but tidy, which I liked. No designer labels, no band logos. Just dark jeans, a soft-looking hoodie, and slightly scuffed sneakers.

“That’s me.” He gave me a small, quick smile. Not overly confident, just friendly, like someone who didn’t want to make a big deal out of being there. “So, this is the place? Sorry, stupid question.”

I laughed. “No, it’s fine! Come on in,” I said, stepping back. “Nice to meet you. Don’t worry about your shoes. You find the place okay?”

“Yeah, thanks. Oh, it smells nice in here.”

“I lit a candle,” I blurted. “Do you like it?”

“Yeah!” He smiled. “It’s cozy.”

I relaxed a little.

“Come on, I’ll give you a tour.”

“Awesome. Wait–is that Asteroidz Magazine? From the ‘60s?”

I followed his gaze to the little magazine rack on the wall, slightly askew from my DIY installation. (You really couldn’t tell it was off-center to look at it, but I knew.) I watched him as his eyes moved along them, the front covers depicting giant robotic women and intergalactic battleships. I felt a little heat rise up in my cheeks.

“It sure is. Hate to break it to you, but I’m…kind of a geek.”

“Ah, no, that’s great! I used to read these at the library as a kid all the time! Mars mining and robot uprisings. Even the ads were funny in a weird, kind of retro way.”

“Right?” I said, reaching across him and taking it out of the rack. I handed it to him and he thumbed through it. “One of them has a full-page spread for a ‘lunar colony investment opportunity’. You should see the letters to the editor, too. Some real time-capsule opinions in there…”

Jason gave a small laugh, his eyes going a little misty with nostalgia as he turned the pages. “Yeah, I can imagine that for sure…”

The space fell silent as he continued to look through for a moment and then seemed to regain his self-awareness, clearing his throat and handing me the magazine back. As he did so, his eyes rested on the plastic sword leaned up against the corner. He lowered his eyebrows.

“What the hell? You have Lord Stxylon’s Battle Blade?”

I nodded, relaxing a little bit further, remembering the woman who came for the viewing last week and thought it was an elaborate gardening tool. “I sure do! It’s plastic, obviously, but it looks pretty good, right?”

“Damn, you have no idea how long I spent grinding for the in-game version back in high school.”

“Of course I do,” I shot back, leaning against the wall and crossing my arms. “Because I ground for it too. And don’t even get me started on the drop rate for the matching shield.”

He let out a low whistle. “Okay, that settles it, we’re both losers.”

I smirked. “Speak for yourself. I’m actually a sophisticated and dangerously-awesome goddess.”

Jason grinned. “I absolutely do not doubt that.”

I nodded, brushing my hair back behind my ear and pretending not to enjoy his compliment. “Come on, follow me. There’s a lot more I need to show you.”

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Acorn Sweetleaf

Room For Rent [Part 2 - Interview]