“Okay, deep breaths.” I inhaled slowly and released. “You got this… look cool… . “ I cleared my throat. “Not desperate.” I whispered fearfully.

Knuckles prepped, I looked down and knocked loudly on the sky blue door.

I took in my surroundings again.

You’re on an island Lee. On a motherfucking island. Life doesn’t get better than this, so act like it. This is what dreams are made of. Sand in your toes, sun on your back, sea salt in your hair.

I exhaled and knocked again.

My muscles tensed. That good for nothing buck tooth son of a bitch.

“Uurrgghh.” I groaned, fists curled, foot stomping the ground. God he just made me so mad. So fucking mad. I got played so hard and for what? For fucking what?

I am swearing off white boys forever. Those two timing scheming ass---don't get worked up. I took a deep breath. Don’t get worked up. I inhaled and exhaled, my arms out as if looking for equilibrium.

Mom said what she said. “why you like them white folks so much?”

“I don’t like them white folks!” I’d respond defensively. “I just happen to be around them all the time.”

Then she’ll huff and puff, but dare I bring in a black guy that did not look like he graduated from Harvard, well I’ll never hear the end of it.

“Eloise who the hell is that negro you brought home?”

I couldn’t win for shit.

I knocked on the door harder. Shit were they not home?

Anyways, I should have listened to my mom. I should have. I wouldn’t have followed Tyler halfway across the world to some speck on a map, only to catch him dick deep in some slut with a cheetah print top.

His excuse. “Oh come on Lee, it’s island life. Shit happens.”

“Shit! Shit! Shit happens?!” That blue eyed monster had me fucked up.

\

But I blame myself. I do. Love is blind right? Blind. So blind I ignored the four other time in our three year stint he cheated.

Yeah I said it four.

A bitch was in love okay!

A bitch could forgive.

But on my motherfucking birthday?!

When I was looking so fucking delectable?!

Like where they do that at?

Hair, for him. Nails, for him. Makeup, for him. Getting used to ripping hair off my skin, for him. He liked his women smooth. Smooth as a baby he would joke.

Now it just made me want to throw-up.

But I did.

I sure did.

But the fifth time, enough is enough right?

I mean I was on an island, no family, no work and now currently homeless.

Homeless because my pride decided to show up high and mighty and force me to walk out that pent house without so much as a backwards glance.

I’ve been crashing at Lady’s house for about a week, but her brother was some kind of special.

He stared too much for my liking. He was cute no lie… but something was off about him. Just a little off.

And yesterday when I woke up on the couch, to him sitting across from me, dick out, jerking off without an ounce of shame as he watched me, had me high tailing my ass out that door.

I shuddered. He was 38 years old. Why was he like that?

But then again, the island life seemed to doom everybody to becoming like that.

Shit look at me. 27, bitter, jobless, homeless, I was basically there myself.

“Oh my god, is anybody home!” I yelled, knocking obnoxiously loud on the door.

I retreated my hand quickly.

Fuck. Cool not desperate.

“I heard you the first thousand times.” A low grumpy voice spoke from behind the door. I could hear him hitting something by the door. “I was in the shower. “

“Sorry.” I squeaked.

“Goddammit!”

I jumped back at the loud smack from the other side.

“What’s the fucking code!” He swore again. I could hear the beeping and the indicator that whatever button he was pushing was wrong.

“Jesus fucking Chri---oh..”

The door opened and I stepped back instinctively.

“Sorry, I don’t know why he keeps using this

fucking technology.” The door opened wider.

I was greeted by a glistening bare chest. Trickles of water slid down it Creating a perfect path down to his abs, well Mimi will call them skinny boy abs, and she was right. He had a large beige towel wrapped, but hanging dangerously low where sprinkles of fine brown hair could be seen. His legs were wet, and hairy, He stood barefoot.

I wasn’t oogling, I swear. All of that probably only took 5 seconds to see cause I quickly shot my head up to look at the face of a still somewhat pale boy who ironically was living on an island.

He had strong features. A heart shaped face, Thick eyebrows, chiseled jaw, long somewhat hourglass nose as if it belonged to an antique sculpture. His lips were a dusty rose, fuller on the bottom than the top. And fuck… fuck… fuck… . I was a sucker for green eyes. And his were mesmerizing.

“Hi.” I forced myself to say with a smile and a wave. Did my voice sound breathless? Come on Lee, cool not desperate.

Why did I wave?

“Hi.” He replied looking me over. His green eyes rested on my face as if inspecting it. It lowered, taking in my orange cropped shirt, my high waisted mom shorts and Birkenstock sandals.

Eeeww he stared at my toes. I wanted to bury them. I hated toes, especially mine.

Don’t look. Don’t look. I took everything in me not to move my feet.

“Uhm so… “ I cleared my throat. “I uh saw you’re looking for a roommate. $400 a month, everything included.”

He nodded and looked me over again, was it my imagination or was it slower this time?

“Joseph posted it.” He responded slowly.

I nodded, not knowing who Joseph was. “uh… okay… . Um… . Is Joseph here?”

Green eyes lifted up to me. “No….”He replied just as slow.

“uh… . “

“Can you cook?”

I narrowed my eyes and shook my head in confusion. “No…”

“Clean?”

I shrugged. “I guess… .”

“Do laundry?”

My lips parted as I put my arms out. “Y’all lookin for a roommate or a maid?”

He cocked his head to the side. “Y’all… . Where you from?”

“Texas… . Kind of. “ I brushed it off. Mom had wanted to erase the South out of us.

“Texas?” He replied amused. “What are you doing all the way out here.”

“Bad decisions.” I admitted honestly. “Just plain old bad decisions, one after the other.”

He nodded, his damp, chin length brown hair moving slightly.

We stared at each other for a couple more seconds and he stepped to the side and ushered me in. “Wanna tour?”

I blinked a couple times and nodded. “Yeah, yeah.”

I stepped up and exhaled with a smile, moving into the space he’d provided for me.

He adjusted his towel and walked ahead.

“Uh… . Joseph’s better at this kind of things but he’s got an audition today.” he scratched his head and looked around in confusion, wondering where to start.

I took it all in. The beach house from the outside did not do it justice at all. Oh my freaking Lord, those floor to ceiling windows at the back was everything. The house was big, spacious. Not a lot of furniture, mostly grey and beige with splash of colors.

My mouth dropped as I stared at the large painting in the living room.

He walked over and stood by me.

I tilted my head slightly. Well damn.

“It’s pretty accurate if I do say so myself.” He smirked knowingly.

I inhaled sharply. Well whoever the guy was, he was definitely well endowed.

“Okay so yeah, living room, over there dining room, uh kitchen, cover to the right there is the laundry room… . Uuuhhh my studio room and that closet is Joseph’s instrument junk.”

He was talking and pointing, too fast. I was trying to take it all in.

“Uh upstairs are the bedrooms.”

He held his towel securely in one hand as he took the steps two by two.

I almost had to run to catch up.

“Our master bedroom.” He opened the door quickly. Huge king bed, disheveled sheets, very white. Clothes sprawled everywhere. A painting on the wall I couldn’t make out because he’d moved to the next room. “Uh guest room/slash storage.”

Storage indeed. Somebody was a musician and another was an artist. That I could decipher for sure.

“And uh… your bedroom.”

He opened the door and I inhaled sharply. It was fucking gorgeous. A queen bed, pristine white sheets, lace curtains and a balcony overlooking the beach, are you fucking kidding me?

“I cleaned this room up.” He said proudly.

I nodded and smiled. It smelled fresh. It had such good vibes. There was a sunflower picture similar to that of Van Gogh hanging over the bed.

I loved it.

Van Gogh was my favorite painter.

“You like it?”

“Uhm yeah… . It’s gorgeous.” I turned around and took a deep breath, clasping my hands together. “So… .. Here’s the thing.” I chuckled in embarrassment. “I don’t exactly have the $400… . Now?” I trailed off.

He looked me up and down. “Well then get the fuck out. “

My jaw dropped as an arrow pierced my soul. I mean I was expecting something a little less… abrasive.

He smiled broadly and threw his head back and laughed. “I’m just joking. Come on, I’ll put some pants on and we’ll talk. “

I sighed gratefully and crossed my fingers behind my back.

Please, please let him be an angel.

**

“So let me get this straight…”

I nodded.

“You have no money… . Except for like $200.”

I nodded.

“You have no job.”

“I’m going at 4 to the hotel interview.” I added

“Your boyfriend cheated on you.”

I narrowed my eyes. “That seemed unnecessary for you to add. “

“It’s for me to build up empathy.”

“Oh.” I nodded. “Yeah… so… not a great week.” I whispered, my hands in my lap.

“Wow… . “ He leaned back. He had put on shorts. Short shorts actually, they could have been boxers, but he was still shirtless and barefoot. “I mean we’re not a charity case…”

“I know.” I said quickly straightening up. “But, I promise I’ll have the money as soon as possible.”

“Marcel?”

“Ici!” He called back loudly to the voice in the hallway.

I shrugged. “Tu parles français ?”

Marcel looked attention me un surprise. “Madame Texas, tu parle Français?”

“un peu. “ I replied sheepishly by showing just the tiniest of gap between my index finger and thumb..

“Pourquoi ? T’a famille?”

I shook my head. “No school… . Like six years.”

“Oh my God, I’m starving.” footsteps entered the kitchen and Marcel and I turned.

My lips parted. My oh my, he was gorgeous. Tall, soft looking short blond hair. Blue eyes. Full. Pouty pink lips. He was an angel. He was the angel in the painting with the big dick.

“Oh hey!” He smiled at me brightly. I was blinded. I was starstruck. Was that possible? He leaned over and to my surprise kissed me on both cheeks.

My eyes widened at such an intimate gesture.

He turned and kissed Marcel lovingly on the lips.

OH… .. Oh yeah… .. Yeah of course.

“You didn’t tell me we were having a guest.”

“You’re the one that put out the roommate ad.”Marcel arched an eyebrow at him.

Why was my heart beating so fast?

“Oh yea, of course!” He turned around beaming. “I’m Joseph, I’m so glad you’re our new roommate.”

“Joseph…”

“Oh and a cute one too.” He winked at me.

I blushed as he went to the fridge.

“Joseph… .” Marcel hissed.

“What?”

“She’s not a roommate yet, she’s a prospective roommate.” He turned to me. “A prospective roommate sans argent.”

I stared at him guiltily. “Please, I’ll have all the money and the deposit by the end of the month.”

Joseph rolled his eyes. “Don’t worry beautiful, if Marcel let you into the house, you’re already our new roommate.”

“Oh…”

Marcel glared at the tall blond guy standing before us. Joseph looked back at him and shrugged. “It’s true..”

“She has no money… . “ Marcel pointed at me accusingly.

“I’ll get it.” I interjected quickly. Damn could he chill?

“She’ll get it.” Joseph backed me up. “Besides you already let her into the house.”

My hero. My angel. My golden man.

Marcel groaned and buried his face in his hands. “It’s a wonder you haven’t gotten us killed yet.”

“Again you let her into the house. You don’t let anybody into the house.”Joseph grinned and turned to me. “So roomie, what’s your name?”

“Eloise.” I said loudly. Maybe a little too loud, but I was floating. “But I always go by Lee… . I hate Eloise… . Please call me Lee.”

“Lee… . I love Lee. Such a cool name.”

Marcel ran his thumb over his bottom lip as he stared at me seriously. Joseph on the other hand clasped my hand in both of his enthusiastically.