My arms were already sore as I tried to pull the hand truck stacked with three boxes full of my clothes across the threshold before the door to my apartment building closed on me. I was neither dressed nor prepared to be moving boxes in the July sun of Washington, D.C., and certainly not in these heels.
"God damn moving company. I knew that price was too good to be true", I thought as I tried to maneuver backwards into the lobby. I heard the elevator doors open and I glanced over my shoulder to see a middle aged woman and a younger man step in.
"Hold the door, please!", I asked slightly exasperated. I heard the door begin to slide closed before opening again, the man frantically pressing the "Door Open" button for me. I pulled the hand truck into the elevator with some struggle, the man grabbing the handle for me and adding a helping tug to get it in just as the doors attempted to close once more.
"Thank you," I said, finally letting go of the handle and mustering up whatever smile I could through the pain in my arm. He was about 18 or 19 I had guessed, somewhat fit and wearing dark rimmed glasses with short curly hair. I hit the button for the 14th floor.
"No problem," he said nonchalantly.
"Are you just moving in today?" The woman asked.
I nodded. "That was the plan before the moving company screwed me. Turns out they won't bring the boxes up, just deliver them to the door. Most of my stuff arrives tomorrow," I said, not even trying to hide the irritation in my voice.
"Where are you moving from?" She asked, before extending her hand to me. "I'm Caroline and that is my son Josh," she added.
"Elisa," I said, shaking both of their hands. My light brown skin contrasted to the pale white of Caroline, whose natural blond hair and light complexion gave away her Nordic roots.
The elevator was slowly making its way up, stopping at a couple of floors along the way where no one seemed to actually get on.
"I'm just moving from Houston to start a new job," I said. "I'm an attorney,"
"Welcome, and sorry to hear about the movers. Josh, maybe you can help her?" Caroline asked her son with a nudge to his shoulder.
Josh, who appeared to have been staring at my breasts, looked up.
"Uh, sure I guess, What time will they be here?" Josh asked, finally making eye contact.
"Around 9, supposedly. I'm at 1404, just come by. Don't worry, I'll pay" I said as the elevator doors opened on the 14th floor. I stepped off, pulling my hand truck again through the elevator door with little grace, waving goodbye as it closed.
I opened the apartment door, backing in while pulling my hand truck. Despite the drama with the move, I was excited to start a new job in Washington, which came with a huge pay raise over Houston, and some exposure to politics now through the lobbying arm of my company.
My 14th floor apartment had a nice view, and I could see the Washington monument in the distance. This place certainly wasn't cheap, but starting a new life as a single Black woman in a city like D.C. felt like a good fit.
I caught a glimpse of myself in the bathroom mirror as I walked by, ready to head out to get the last two boxes out of my Volvo station wagon, when I realized why Josh had been staring. My top was wet with sweat, the outline of my DD breasts clearly visible, and the cold air conditioning of the apartment building had my nipples rock hard. I gave that kid quite a show. I adjusted my top a bit and headed back down to finish off what I could.
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The next morning I had just finished putting on my clothes, some yoga attire, which is about all I had that was clean, when Josh knocked on the door just after 9 AM. He was wearing athletic shorts and a tank top. He was a bit taller and more well built than I recall from yesterday.
"Hey, thanks again Josh. Come in," I said. "Sorry, there's no real furniture but you are free to sit on the windowsill or the counter," I added apologetically.
"All good, no worries. Are they here yet? Josh asked.
"Should be texting me shortly when the truck pulls up. By the way, there is water here," I said as I bent down, before realizing I was giving him a good view of my ass, as I pulled some bottles of water out of the package.
We sat in awkward silence for a moment. "So, tell me more about yourself? You live here with your parents?" I asked.
"Just my mom. She is divorced. I just graduated high school two weeks ago. I will start college in the fall in Pittsburgh," Josh said, not sounding terribly excited.
"What is your major? Which, by the way, is a question you should get used to hearing," I added with a laugh.
"Political science but I want to be a lawyer," he added, this time a bit more excited. His gaze periodically looking down at my breasts and thighs as he spoke. Both features I was quite proud of.
"Oh then, we should talk. I have some experience here," I said with a wink, just as my phone buzzed.
"Party time," I said as I grabbed the hand truck. "Let's do this."
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We fell into a good rhythm, and over the next 4 hours we managed to move the boxes in and what little furniture I had decided to bring, opting to purchase new stuff here in DC rather than lug a 15 year old mattress across the country. We passed each other in the hallway and elevator, and each time I could feel his eyes scanning me, and at one point I am sure he saw that I was sporting a camel toe. I guess I couldn't help the low key peep show with this boy.
Finally, Josh brought the last box and we plopped down on the carpet together, the air conditioning cranking. Both of us had worked up a sweat in the heat of the D.C. summer.
"I really want a beer," I said, getting up to grab one of the few things in my fridge, an ice cold Heineken. "Want one?" I added
"I'm 18," he said as though I had just made him accomplice to murder. I just stared in response.
"So what? You never drank in high school?", I said, grabbing him a beer anyway. I put my finger to my lips as I handed it to him.
"Let's just say I didn't do much of anything in high school," Josh said, before mumbling. "Which I already regret."
"You're too young for regrets. You're about to go to college. Live a little," I said. "I'm 35 and I don't give a second thought to high school anymore."
"Well, let's see. I never drank or had a girlfriend. Never got past second base," Josh said.
"Really? You're an attractive man, " I said, resting my hand on his thigh without thinking.
"You think?" he said as he glanced down at his watch, a black G-shock. "Shit, I gotta go. Supposed to meet my new roommate for dinner."
"Come back tomorrow and I can pay you. I may also need some more help moving things around and hanging some art," I said. "2 o'clock?"
"Ok", he said, chugging the rest of his beer and resting it on the top of a box of my shoes before heading out in a hurry,