Jen tilted her head upward and pointed a finger up at the pressed-tin ceiling. “Fancy. You have any issues with the neighbors?”
“Nah,” Erin replied. “Super quiet. Not like the last place.”
Jen gave an exaggerated shudder. “A bar below, a wannabe DJ across the hall, and screaming kids in Irish dance lessons above? I still don’t know how you survived with your sanity. Or why you stayed so long.”
Her friend shrugged and rose off the couch. “Who said I was sane? Besides, it was cheap. Which let me save for this place. More wine?”
“Please.” The conversation meandered into mundane commentary about Erin’s new apartment and decoration options.
Jen was gathering her purse and waiting for an Uber when the conversation swung back to the neighbors.
“Seriously, it’s like no one lives there,” Jen marveled. “You’ve got to let me know when this place has a vacancy.”
“Oh, there’s a good thump every morning, but it coincides with my alarm clock,” Erin said. “It’s all the night flying.”
“Pardon?” Jen gave an odd titter. “Oh, like a pilot.”
“More like a cop,” Erin explained. “Spends all day snoozing with the gargoyles, eats a few muggers, jaunts around protecting the neighborhood at night, the usual.”
“Usual?” Jen squeaked.
“Oh, well. The landing is a big jolt, but he’s super friendly. Always wishes me a good day at work. Brought cookies my first day here.”
“Uh-huh,” Jen said faintly.
Erin shrugged. “Quiet like a dragon. Totally a selling point on this place.”
