Kent looked over as Devon entered the apartment. Kent and Merritt were at the table having coffee.
Devon pointed out at the common area. “Are we supposed to dress up for this tonight?”
“This?” Merritt said. “I thought we were just hanging out.”
Devon shrugged. “Hannah, Emma, and Addison just retreated to their apartments to… Addison said ‘get dressed.’”
Merritt shrugged. “News to me.”
Kent picked up his phone and texted Hannah, telling her to contact Shay and Liza if there was going to be a plan of some sort, then he looked at Devon. “I was just making sure with Merritt that it’d be okay for me to use the dorm room tonight…”
Devon shook his head. “Why would it not? Nobody is using them. They were a good idea, for when we were swapping places, but now… not so much.”
Kent nodded and decided to bring up an idea. “So… listen guys… I got a plumbing problem with my house. The main line is leaking and it’s softened up the ground, so somehow the main sewer is sagging and on the verge of breaking… point is… I’m thinking about just selling it… What do you think Tom would say about me… moving into the dorm permanently… I don’t cook much, and the kitchenette is plenty for my needs…”
Merritt smiled. “I think it’s a good idea… If the four of us are going to be on missions, it makes sense you could be closer for our spaced-out days.”
Devon sat down and held up his hands. “Hold that thought…”
Devon looked down and laughed a little.
“What?” Kent asked.
“Guys, you’re not going to believe this. This morning David Ryder wanted to meet for coffee. He said he wanted to ‘front-load’ me for a question Shay is going to ask. She knows he did it..”
Merritt took a sip of coffee. “Go on…”
“Mr. Ryder said he had suggested I move into the Bank St. house. Third floor. The elevator goes right to it so I would never have to be on the floor with Shay and Liza. He said he liked the idea of a man being on the property… not that he had doubts about security, but what he called ‘high up and heavy’ duties. So… Yeah… Kent could take my place in this unit…”
Merritt and Kent both had a pile of questions, but it all actually made sense. Devon added that Liza pointed out it would be closer to both work and Columbia, then said, “It wouldn’t be much less private than sharing the common area with Emma… If her door’s open and ours is too, you can see each other.”
“So, is this a done-deal?” Merritt asked.
Devon shrugged. “I was thinking ‘no’ just cause I… don’t know… but it would be better for Kent. And me… of course… What do you guys think?”
The only issue they could think of was sharing the kitchen. Any problems that might cause were easily handled with bathrobes. The more they talked about it, the more it seemed like a good idea for a lot of reasons. Having Kent closeby for the mission events made a lot of sense.
In the end, Devon said, “Well then, I guess we just wait for Shay to ask the question.”
Merritt smiled. “…that her father already told you she was going to ask…”
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