“I don’t think it counts if you call it bullshit five seconds after saying it.” Jack sweeps up a small pile of loose leaves, dumping them in the trash can.

“Whatever.” I take another step back, this time satisfied with what I see. I wipe down each of my “vases,” clearing away any excess water or stray bits of leaves before placing them around the lower level of the house. The coffee can goes in the center of the dining room table, the beer cans are scattered around on the bookshelves, and the ceramic vase finds a home in the kitchen. I’ll wait to take my pictures until tomorrow during the midday light, but overall, I’m pretty pleased with how each arrangement turned out.

Once I finish patting myself on the back for my floral brilliance, I spend a few minutes tidying up the counter, making sure I get every last scrap of waste, taking everything out back to the trash pile before wiping down the butcher block.

“See, good as new.” I wave my hands around the kitchen like I’m Vanna White.

“One could even argue better than new.” Jack is now perched on one of the stools at the peninsula, watching me flit about the kitchen.

“One could indeed.” I head over to the fridge. “Beer?”

“Sure.”

I pop the tops on two bottles, already thinking about how to cut the necks off and use them for next week’s flowers. Handing one to Jack, I hold mine up. “Cheers, roomie.”

He clinks his bottle against mine. “Cheers.”

An incredibly awkward silence falls over us, which is something I rarely allow to happen. But this is the first time Jack and I have really been alone, with no business guiding our conversation, and I don’t know what to say to him. I don’t know anything about him really, other than his parents died and apparently left him a shit-ton of money. And while I’m certainly not above putting my foot in my mouth and asking the awkward questions, I also don’t want to scare him too badly. It is our first full day, after all.

Jack clears his throat. “I’m just gonna go hang downstairs. Holler if you can’t find something or need a towel or whatever.” A red blush creeps up his cheeks, at least what I can see of them, and the overall effect borders on endearing.

“Yeah, cool. See you later.” I watch his back retreat down the basement stairs, sipping my beer and starting to question just how this guy is ever going to be able to live with me.