Tina hadn’t said yes, nor did she say no. I didn’t want to push the issue so I humored her by going with her to check out these apartments and lofts she heard about. None of them struck her fancy and were kind of out of the way from Jackson’s school. A bit defeated, we went back to her house where I helped her pack the rest of hers and Jackson’s things.

We finished in the early evening and we were most exhausted. We had successfully packed everything and loaded it into the trailer. I still wanted to talk to Tina more about her living situation, so we decided to have dinner. I went home to shower and change so that Tina and Jackson could do the same before dinner.

“You asked her to move in with you,” Shane said, “are you insane?”

“Why would that make me insane? She has no place else to go and she really needs a stable home for Jackson.”

“You hardly know her, I mean for all you know she could be a praying mantis, fucking rip your head off or some shit.”

“Shane I love her, we love each other and I also love Jackson,” I said, pulling into a parking spot at the restaurant, Tina wasn’t there yet, “why are we even having this debate? You’re a commitment phob.”

“Hey not true Porter,” she said, “I am full on committing to get Carmen in the sack.”

“Jesus Shane, you never change,” I said and we both laugh.

“Seriously though, I am trying to get this chick to go out with me. I feel differently towards her. She’s fighting me, and it makes me want her more.”

“Well, keep working on it. Prove to her you won’t treat her like all the other girls.”

“I know, I will try for her,” she said and sighed, “hey, is your neighbor Tim still wanting to rent that extra room out?”

“Last time we talked yeah. Although he’s moving his girlfriend out here soon, so if you rent from him, play nice.”

“I know my boundaries,” she said and we laughed, Shane had no boundaries, “seriously though; I’m on mission Carmen right now.”

“You’re hilarious,” I said and laughed, “Tina’s here, I gotta go.”