“Josh, this is the girl I was telling you about who wants to switch rooms. Maybe you two can discuss it?” Holly broke the tense silence between the man and me.


    I walked over. “Hi, I’m Zoe. Would it be possible for us to switch rooms?”


    “No,” he replied quickly, as bluntly as when he’d been washing his hair earlier.


    I couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed, a stubborn streak ring up. “Why not?”


    He nced at me but didn’t answer. Draping a green towel over his shoulder, he walked past me without a word. A cold draft from the damp towel made me shiver for no reason.


    “Zo… Zoe, right?” Holly came over. “Don’t be upset. Josh’s not the type to sweet-talk girls. I’ll have a word with himter.”


    I was no stranger to being a bit hot-headed, so I raised my voice on purpose. “It’s fine. Whoever wants that room can take it.”


    Holly grabbed my arm. “Don’t be so harsh! He’s been in the military, and he’s tough. If you really push him, he could just throw you out.”


    I couldn’t help butugh. I’d been treating this proud soldier like some sort of criminal.


    “Don’tugh, girl,” Holly said, dead serious. “I’m not kidding. That widow from across the street, the one they call Effie-she used to knock on his door all the time.


    “One day, he just wrapped her up in a sheet and tossed her out. Everyone in the neighborhood saw


    it.”


    I thought, ‘Another widow? Looks like I have some sort of connection to them.’


    “Really? Did she end up in his bed?” I asked, now fully intrigued.


    “She tried, but didn’t get very far. He tossed her out before anything happened. It was so embarrassing.” Holly clicked her tongue, almost like she was reliving the scene.


    I forced a smile. “Don’t worry, I’m not interested in the kind of man a widow might fancy.”


    Just then, Josh walked out. He wasn’t in just a tank top anymore but had changed into a ck T- shirt and a ck leather jacket. He looked… intimidating.


    “Josh, you’re heading out thiste?” Holly asked him, clearly concerned.


    “Yes,” he answered, his tone t, like he’d been asked about the weather.


    “Well, don’te back toote. I’ll be locking up soon, and you don’t want any thieves sneaking in…” Holly barely finished her sentence before Josh was already gone, disappearing into the night.


    I turned and started heading back to my room, but Holly called after me. “Josh’s a good guy. Very


    upright. Any girl who ends up with him will be lucky.”


    I thought, ‘Lucky? If that’s lucky, I’m better off on my own. My heart wasn’t broken, but it sure felt battered after everything had happened.


    Sighing, I was halfway to my room when she called me again.


    “Zoe,” she said.


    I turned back. “What is it now?”


    “Josh never locks his door when he leaves. If you want, I can take you to check out his room. If you like it, I’ll talk to him tomorrow.” Holly had clearly taken my casual remark seriously.


    I raised an eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound quite right.”


    “There’s nothing wrong with it. We’re not taking his stuff, and he’s a grown man. His room’s just his room-there’s no woman hidden away in there,” she said, already starting toward his door.


    “No, it’s fine,” I said, feeling awkward. “I don’t want to switch rooms anymore. My room’s fine as it


    is.”


    Holly paused in her tracks, and I gave her a warm, grateful smile. “Thank


    some rest too.”


    “I can’t sleep,” I heard her mumble as I closed the door behind me.


    you,


    and you should get


    Honestly, I couldn’t sleep either. Even though today had been more exciting than the past ten years of my life, I should’ve been exhausted and ready to crash.