Saving Rain

by Kelsey Kingsley

the door needed a good push after being unlocked. The interior wasn’t much better than the outside. Stained carpet, flaking paint, dirty appliances, and a bathroom I would’ve gotten written up for at Wayward greeted us. Harry stood at the crusty kitchen counter as I finished my tour of the bleak-looking place. His face was locked in a permanent grimace, like even he was ready to drop the Mr. Positivity act. “So, uh …” He rubbed a hand over his chin as his eyes frisked the living room-slash-dining room once again and the questionable brown stains on the carpet. “Listen … if you wanna say screw it, I wouldn’t—” “I like it.” He closed his eyes and pressed his fingers to his forehead, sighing exhaustedly. I was wearing the poor guy out. “Soldier, you don’t have to say that just because—” “Listen, is it the lap of luxury? No. Does it need some serious cleaning and work? Yeah. Could they use this place as the set for the next Texas Chain Saw Massacre movie? Absolutely. But what else do I have going on, Harry? I mean, apart from sweeping some floors and scrubbing a toilet at a grocery store, my schedule is pretty clear.” I looked around the grimy kitchen and nodded. “And honestly … even as is, it’s better than living with Diane.” Harry wasn’t convinced. He released a long breath that left his shoulders drooping and his head shaking. “Look, if you wanna give it a shot, that's fine. I'm just saying—” “Harry”—I held up a hand, already thinking about what I could do to spruce up that...