“Ah! Everybody and the Ms. Summerlin spiel. Et tu, Brute?”
“So, if I need you for anything, which I probably won’t since we already grabbed dinner, I guess you’re off the hook for a few hours.”
“Oh, thank you, Ms. Gaderow. You’re so generous.” Cheyenne spun around, spread her arms, and bent in a sweeping, exaggerated bow.
“Yeah, yeah. You can bow down before me when you get back.” Ember waved the halfling off and chuckled as she started the process of making a fully furnished apartment feel more like they lived there.
“Seriously, call me about anything. Even if, I don’t know, you need snacks or something.”
“Oh, so only for emergencies. Got it. Bye.” The fae wiggled her fingers, and Cheyenne spun back around with a snort before stepping out of their new apartment and into the hallway.
She locked the door behind her and paused. That’s a good habit to keep. Especially if she’s in there by herself.
Nodding, Cheyenne headed down the hall and smirked when she pressed the elevator call button. “So much better than stairs.”
* * *
She got back to her old, crappy apartment half an hour later, chuckling to herself as she unlocked the front door. This place was a dump even without comparing it to Pellerville Gables Apartments. Maybe now Mom will come down for a visit.
That thought made her stop, and she blinked as the image of Bianca Summerlin heading into Richmond for the day entered her mind. “Not a chance.” She laughed and shoved open the door.
Most of her clothes were still in the dryer, which made shoving them into a giant trash bag that much easier. Then she went through her closet and the bathroom, sweeping random things into the bag until it felt full enough. Cheyenne dropped the trash bag by the front door and got to work disassembling her desktop setup. I didn’t think I’d be moving again for a while, but at least I made it easy on myself.
She found an empty shoebox in the front closet and stacked all the cords and cables into it, then broke Glen down as much as possible without compromising any of the larger tech pieces. She stood back and surveyed the scattered parts and shook her head. “Gonna take a few trips. Trash bag first.”
Once she was sure the black plastic bag wouldn’t rip open the way she’d slung it over her shoulder, Cheyenne stepped out into the hall again and walked toward the staircase. I feel like Goth Santa right now.
The door three apartments down from hers opened, and R’mahr stuck out his head. “Cheyenne! Hello! I was just about to come knock on your door and ask if you…” The troll’s gaze fell on the huge black sack bouncing against the back of the halfling’s legs, and his eyes widened in concern. “What’s that?”
“Some things I’m taking…somewhere else.” She smiled and watched the guy’s excitement melt into confused sadness. Oh, man. He’s gonna take this personally no matter what I say. “How you doin’ today, R’mahr?”
“Are you…are you moving?”
“What?” Yadje stomped across their apartment before squeezing into the doorway beside her husband. “Why would you even suggest a fool thing like that, you—” When the troll woman caught sight of the halfling’s black bag, her wide scarlet eyes took on the same level of deep hurt. “That’s an awfully large bag.”
“Yeah, I’m just taking a few things out to my car.”
“You know, Cheyenne, if you’re moving out of your apartment, you could have asked us for help.” Yadje glanced over her shoulder at their young daughter curled up on the couch with another book. “Bryl is exceptionally talented at organizing. We would have helped you pack in a heartbeat.”
“We would have?” R’mahr shot his wife a dumbfounded look.
“Oh, don’t let your mouth hang open like that. You look like my Uncle Danriz.” Clicking her tongue, Yadje stepped into the hallway and waved toward Cheyenne’s trash bag. “We can help you now, at least. And then we’ll be out of your hair when you’re out of the building.”
“Oh, no.” Fighting back a laugh, the halfling dropped her bag onto the floor. “I’m not moving out, okay? I’ll still be around.”
“Then what’s that?” R’mahr stared at the bag.
“Just a few things I’m taking with me. I found a new office on the other side of town. You know, like one of those co-working spaces.” Wow. Lies just rolling off the tongue.
“You got an office job?” Yadje frowned. “That doesn’t seem like you.”
“No, it’s…okay.” Cheyenne scratched her head, her wrist chains clinking as they slid down her arm. “Space for me to do what I’m already doing, only not in my apartment.”
The corners of R’mahr’s mouth turned down in confusion. “Why would you do that?”
“I don’t know. I read something about how unhealthy it is to stay in your house all the time, so I figured I’d try this out.”
The troll man’s laugh didn’t sound convinced or amused. “Cheyenne, you’re gone most of the time. We can see your car right outside our window.”
“Oh, you can, huh?” Trolls keeping an eye on me too. I know they mean well, but it’s time to get out. “Did you see it blow up yesterday?”
“That was your car?” Husband and wife gawked at her, then glanced at each other. “Who would want to blow up your car?”
“That’s so far beyond me right now, R’mahr, I can’t even pretend to come up with an answer.”
“That’s awful, Cheyenne.” Yadje clasped her hands in front of her chest and slowly shook her head. “Are you okay?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m fine, thanks. Listen, I didn’t mean to worry you guys. If I were actually moving out, of course I would’ve said something.” Not technically a lie. “I’m just rearranging things and trying to keep everything running smoothly, you know?”
Yadje raised an eyebrow, her scarlet eyes narrowing as she lifted her chin toward the Drow halfling. “It’s a good thing to strive for improvement.”
Yeah, she’s calling bullshit. “Right.
