The Woman Upstairs

by Camryn Eyde

  A gasp up the hallway caught their attention. Tara paled.

  “Your mother is behind you,” Tara whispered. Ricci had refused to turn around to confirm.

  “So is she your roommate, or lover?”

  “Estevan!” Ricci’s mom screeched.

  “Why are they all here?” Tara hissed, dragging Ricci into her bedroom.

  Ricci groaned. “It’s game night. I completely forgot. Alicia is here, too.”

  Tara hid her head behind her hands and sat on the edge of the bed. “Wonderful. I didn’t need another round of rumors in the office.”

  Ricci sat down beside her after a small internal monologue. “Hey. Look. About the other night—”

  “Forget about it.”

  “What?”

  Tara uncovered her face. “We were drunk. Really drunk…again.” Tara groaned.

  “I know, but—”

  “I’m not looking for another relationship.”

  Ricci’s hands went up automatically. “Woah. I said nothing about a relationship.”

  Tara put her hand on Ricci’s knee. “I had a good time, and I apologize for coming on so strong. I don’t regret it, but this ends here. I have a marriage to clean up. I can’t be running around making out with you, or…you know.”

  Ricci filled in the blanks with memories of searching fingers. She squirmed. “I understand that. I wasn’t really planning on dating anyone anyway. Like ever.”

  “Friends?” Tara held her hand out to shake.

  Taking it, Ricci said, “Friends.”

  Ricci’s ‘friend’ moved out that same night. Citing the avoidance of straining their friendship, Tara moved into her apartment. She still hadn’t signed the paperwork. Unfortunately, her departure meant interrogation by her family, and Alicia when she realized there was something afoot. Ricci refused to enlighten them, and the entire group had gone home frustrated. Serves them right for sticking their nose in, Ricci figured.

  It took an entire day to build up the courage to call Tara about the tenancy forms. Sunday at noon, she plucked up enough nerve to go upstairs. Tara wasn’t there, so she left a note and her number. At two, she received a politely worded text: I shall join you for dinner. Thank you for the invitation. Tara.

  It was a strange feeling opening the door to Tara when she arrived that night. She had resided in her home for the better part of two weeks, and the sudden relegation to stranger status was uncomfortable. Giving her a smile, the women entertained each other briefly with polite, but stilted small talk.

  Tara glanced at the dining table. “Candles?”

  I knew that was a bad idea. “Uh. Yeah. I thought it’d be…nice?” Ricci quickly blew them out. This isn’t a date you idiot. She winced as a crack of thunder rattled the terrace windows. They both studied the storm raging outside. Another flash and a crack made Ricci edge closer to Tara. She stepped back with a rush when their arms touched. “Sorry,” she muttered. Storms weren’t one of her greatest loves.

  “Perhaps the candles might be appropriate considering the weather,” Tara said.

  “You mean if the lights go out?”

  “Yes.”

  “Won’t happen. I have a backup generator in the basement.”

  “I see.”

  “That’s the point.”

  Tara furrowed her brows. “Pardon?”

  “To see. You know, when the lights go out in the city, you can still see because of the generator.” Ricci took a deep inhale as she finished off her sentence with slow stilted words. What the hell was wrong with her?

  Tara smirked. “I see.”

  “Yeah,” Ricci said quietly, walking to the kitchen and telling herself to stop being such an imbecile. Sleeping with Tara must have short-circuited her brain. Since the woman walked in, she had tried not to notice her perfume, and she definitely didn’t pay any attention to the way her skirt crinkled around her hips. Nor was the sight of her in her oxford shirt with sleeves rolled part way up the arms in any way sexy. Ricci took the plates to the table, and absolutely didn’t peek down Tara’s top as she leaned over to sit. It should be a crime to undo the buttons that low down. Ricci scowled as her lust ruined her brain function.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Hmm? Fine. Good. Dig in.” Ricci shoved a pile of food into her mouth. Tara crinkled her nose.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Tara asked when Ricci finished her meal in record time. Inspecting the other woman’s plate, Ricci noticed she’d barely eaten a third of her meal.

  “Nothing. Just keen to get to that paperwork.”

  Tara laid her fork on the table and sighed. “And get me out of your life, I suppose?”

  “What? No.”

  “Then why are you being so awkward?”

  Ricci blushed.

  Tara rubbed her forehead with a dainty hand. “I can’t afford this complication right now.”

  “Complication? What do you mean? Wait. You’re calling me complicated?”

  Tara took a deep breath and pushed it rapidly back out. “About the other night…it changed things.”

  Ricci leaned back in her chair and shrugged. “We had a one night stand. How is that complicated?” she asked, hoping some kind of nonchalance came across.

  “It’s complicated, because I cheated on my wife.”

  “She did it first. Twice.” At Tara’s scowl, Ricci found herself apologizing.

  “My complication is, that I find myself wanting more than one night.”

  Ricci couldn’t stop her grin if she tried. “Really?”

  “Despite the hangover, I rather enjoyed the evening we shared. Both evenings. I haven’t been intimate with anyone for some time.”

  Ricci’s grin widened before it fell away. “But…Zoe?”

  Tara squirmed and poked at her meal. “Zoe and I haven’t…it’s been a long time, and it’s really none of your business.”

  They fell silent as they played with their respective plates.

  “I didn’t mean to make things complicated for you.”

  Tara sighed. “It’s fine, dear. It takes two to tango, so they say.”

  They listened to the rain outside for a while. In the end, Ricci’s curiosity became too much. “So you…like me?”

  “Mmm.”

  “I haven’t liked anyone in forever.”

  “I gathered that from what Alicia was saying.”

  “Yeah, well, liking someone means things can get, well, complicated.” She let out a derisive snort. “Point is, I don’t want complicated either. I don’t want to date anyone. I don’t do relationships.” Ricci fidgeted again. “But…”

  “But?”

  Oh, God. This was going to sound so trite. Ricci cleared her throat. “I enjoyed our evenings, too. Like, a lot. I thought maybe we could…maybe…do the benefit thing? It might suit us better.” Ricci’s ears burned.

  “Benefit thing?”

  Rubbing the back of her neck, she explained further. “You know? Friends with benefits?”

  Tara’s eyes widened and she dropped her fork again. “You’re suggesting we—no. Not going to happen. That’s an appalling suggestion that does nothing but make this worse. I’d also like to point out that I’m still married.”

  “Okay. Okay. Sorry. Cease fire.”

  Tara huffed and ran her hands through her hair, ruffling it just enough to make Ricci want to reach over and smooth it out. “I just moved here. I’ve just moved upstairs, and paying you for the privilege to do so. If that doesn’t reek of nepotism, I’m not sure what does. I’m trying to sort out my divorce and arrange the delivery of the rest of my belongings, so dealing with my attraction to you is an obstacle I don’t need. I’m sure it’ll pass with time.”

  Ricci’s lip curled. That made her sound as desirable as a used cue tip. “Geez, I get it. Bad idea. Forget I mentioned it.”

  Tara rested her elbows on the table and buried her head in her hands.

  Studying her for a while, Ricci let concern wash over her. “I’m sorry
,” she said, reaching out and touching Tara’s arm. “You’re right. You have so much going on right now, and you don’t need someone like me making it harder. I’m serious about wanting to be your friend, but we can do that on your terms.”

  Tara blew out a breath and gave Ricci a small smile. “Thanks.”

  Smiling back, Ricci pulled her hand away. “How about we do that paperwork so you can go upstairs and get some sleep?”

  “I find that agreeable.”

  Ricci shook her head as she collected the paperwork. “You still talk like an aristocrat.”

  Tara arched an eyebrow.

  Thirty minutes later, Ricci had run her through the orientation of the top floor apartment. Smaller than the others in living space thanks to the terraced garden, she gave her the promotional spiel: marble bath, home automation, central heating, fireplace, video intercom, three bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, and twenty-four hour maintenance number. Tara smirked at that. Ricci handed over the new set of keys and bid farewell to her newest tenant. She then tried not to die in embarrassment for suggesting the friends with benefits idea. Idiot.

  Chapter Twelve

  And Life Goes On

  Tara, like every other tenant, became nothing but a name on a list of rent payments. Her security deposit was paid, her monthly rent was paid in advance, and Ricci had little to do with her but send through receipts. The absurd amount of time she spent thinking of reasons to go to the top floor apartment left her feeling anxious and lonely. There was only one thing to do to combat that, and that was to build.

  And that’s why Alicia found her two weeks after Tara moved upstairs covered in sawdust.

  “What on earth are you doing?” she called out over the sound of a drill. “Now I understand why you didn’t hear me call.”

  Ricci frowned and cut the drill off, turning her head to find Alicia standing on her terrace. “Huh?” she asked, taking off her ear muffs.

  Alicia made her way into the construction zone. “I said, what are you doing?”

  Ricci cut her eyes to the structure beside the water feature that was starting to take shape. “I’m building a gazebo.”

  “Why?”

  “Because people like grilling and fresh air. I’m building in a grill and maybe a wood-fired pizza oven.”

  Alicia raised her eyebrows at her as she hugged her coat tighter. “You’re loco. You do know it’s supposed to be snowing next week.”

  “And I’d like to get it done before then. So…”

  Alicia snorted. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily. Come in out of this freezing weather and make me coffee.”

  “Make your own.”

  “Don’t make me call your mother and tell her you didn’t even offer the basic of hospitalities to your guest.”

  “As if you’d do that.”

  Alicia grinned and went inside.

  “Shit.” Ricci tossed her ear muffs to the ground and laid down the drill to sprint across the yard.

  “Buenos dias, Mrs. Velez. ¿Cómo estás?”

  “Don’t you dare,” Ricci said through a harsh whisper.

  Alicia held up a finger and listened. “Ci. Ci. Muy bien, gracias. Now…” Alicia smirked. “I wanted to let you know I’m at Rica’s.” Alicia nodded and said, “Ci. She’s building again.” Alicia’s grin broadened as Ricci could imagine her mother’s rant on the other end.

  “I hate you,” she whispered at her friend before stomping to the fixed coffee machine and got the contraption ready to make Alicia’s favored Macchiato.

  “I agree. We should catch up and see if we can do something to help her.”

  Ricci snarled and bared her teeth at Alicia.

  Chuckling, Alicia wrapped up the call. “So, your mother said to tell you to stop mending things and start mending yourself.”

  “Why are you here?” Ricci asked, pressing the button on the machine and enjoyed the hissing sound it made.

  “I’m here because I haven’t seen you or heard from you since game night. What’s up?”

  “Up?”

  “Yeah. Why so hermit-like?”

  Ricci inhaled deeply and concentrated on the espresso machine. “I’m not a hermit.”

  “Could’ve fooled me. Thanks,” Alicia said, accepting the coffee Ricci brewed. “Now. Spill.”

  “I’ve been busy. That thing is taking time,” she said, gesturing to the gazebo. “And I’ve had to make statements to the police and do a bunch of insurance paperwork thanks to the Carters’.”

  “Oh! I heard she was arrested in Spain.”

  “Yeah.” Mrs. Carter and Harrison had been arrested for being unable to pay their exorbitant hotel bills, and the US was notified. Due to be shipped back to the States in the coming weeks, Mr. and Mrs. Carter’s children had already been reunited with their innocent father.

  “So how’s Tara?”

  Ricci dropped the spoon she had been holding. “Tara?”

  Alicia’s eyes crinkled. “Yes, Tara? Has she been a model tenant?”

  Picking up the spoon, Ricci shrugged. “No idea. I haven’t seen her since she moved upstairs.”

  “Oh. Weird.”

  “Weird? Why?”

  “She just mentions you a bit, that’s all.” Alicia shrugged and sipped her coffee.

  Ricci gripped her arm. “Mentions me? How? What does she say?”

  Alicia put down her cup. “She mentioned the cocktail night.”

  Blushing, Ricci averted her eyes. “What about it?”

  “I know, Rica.”

  “Know what?”

  “That you slept with her.”

  Ricci hid her head and groaned. “God. Who else knows?”

  Alicia gasped. “It’s true!”

  “What?” Ricci looked at her friend’s shocked face. It quickly morphed into one of smug satisfaction.

  “You little trollop. You’re sleeping with my boss. Your tenant!” Alicia squealed and clapped her hands together. “I’m so proud of you. Lizzie is going to be so buzzed.”

  “What?”

  “Lizzie told me you two were pashing it up on the dance floor at cocktail night. Damn. I owe her twenty bucks.” Alicia screwed her face up in disappointment.

  “You bet I was going to sleep with Tara?”

  “No, I bet that you weren’t…considering. Oh, my God. How long have you two been sleeping together?”

  “We’re not! Wait. What do you mean, considering?”

  “Rica, you’re destined to be a spinster. At least, I thought you were.”

  Ricci folded her arms and glared at her friend. “There’s nothing wrong with being independent.”

  “But what about sex? I don’t know what I’d do without my Keddy.”

  “You’re a nymphomaniac, and I’m pretty sure your boyfriend is too.”

  Alicia shrugged and smiled. “Point is, we’re made to want companionship.”

  “Why? So we can let others have the power to hurt us? To walk all over us? To come and go as they please. To make you weak enough not to tell them to take a hike? No thanks.”

  “Hey,” Alicia said, reaching out and touching Ricci’s shoulder. “Your dad was a loser. You shouldn’t use your parent’s relationship as an example.”

  Ricci shrugged off Alicia’s touch. “I watched that example for eighteen years. I saw how vulnerable loving someone is. Look at Tara’s marriage, for crying out loud. Another prime example of getting your heart broken. No thanks.” Ricci walked out of the kitchen and back into the yard.

  “That Zoe woman came back yesterday.”

  Ricci paused and looked back at her friend. “What?”

  “Zoe. She came past work and left with Tara.”

  Worry and a little bit of hurt knotted at the base of Ricci’s throat. “Oh? Why are you telling me this?”

  “I thought you had the right to know.”

  Ricci scrunched up her forehead. “I don’t.”

  “Tara looked pretty out of it today. Tired and puffy. Like she’d been c
rying. She left early.”

  Ricci stiffened at the news. Once declaring the woman a witch, she had learned differently after witnessing Zoe first-hand. That woman was evil. “Again, why are you telling me this?”

  “I think she needs a friend, and judging by the way you got on at cocktail night, and knowing that you like her enough to sleep with her, I figured you’d make sure she’s okay.”

  Ricci took a deep breath and couldn’t help the glance up to the fifth floor. By the time she looked back down, Alicia had left. “Damn.”

  She fidgeted like a nervous school kid as she stood in front of the fifth floor door, a bottle of wine in hand. She raised her hand to knock for the third time, once again letting it drop uselessly to her side.

  “Come on you idiot, knock. It’s not that hard. It’s just a door, like any other door you’ve seen. You installed this door. Scraped goop from it. It isn’t going to bite.” But the woman on the other side might, she added to herself. On a deep breath that turned into a choke, the door swung inwards with such speed it nearly sucked her into the apartment.

  “For God’s sake, Rica, what are you doing?”

  Ricci stood and gaped at Tara, noticing the tired eyes instantly. “You knew I was here?”

  “I heard the elevator ding, and you’ve been mumbling to yourself for ten minutes.”

  “Oh…I…” Ricci raised the rapidly warming wine. “Alcohol.”

  Tara raised her eyebrows. “Considering our track record, do you really think that’s a good idea?”

  Ricci inspected the wine bottle like it was her new nemesis. Tara had a point. She hid it behind her back. “Umm…yeah.” Clearing her throat and hating the way she now felt insecure, awkward, and shy in front of Tara, she said, “So…settling in well?”

  Tara leaned against the door frame and smirked. “Yes. Thank you.”

  “Any more problems that need fixing? I’m always available, you know, to take care of stuff.” Ricci shrugged. “Any sort of stuff. Chips in the paint, plants that need trimming, water pressure issues…you know…stuff.” God damn, what was wrong with her!

  Tara’s smirk widened.