Chapter Three
Apartment Hunting
“Can we see another place?”
Val asked.
This was the third apartment we’d seen today and if my pregnant ass had to climb up another flight of stairs just to see another set of empty, boring rooms I might actually go insane and claw the first person next to me.
“I’m afraid this is the last one,”
Amber said as she side-eyed Val. She was looking at us like we were wasting her time. She kept advising us, what would be affordable for people like us, such and such, which only earned an eye roll out of me.
If I wasn’t pregnant, I swear I would’ve gone out of my way to tour all her properties just to piss her off. But since I was pregnant, I was giving her a pass. I was ecstatic to hear that this was the last place. Val was already indecisive as it is, if there were more places he’d never settle down and chose before it was time for my shift.
We’d been out looking at houses and apartments since nine-thirty. I was exhausted, and my first shift was in just two hours. I already had enough bad history with Marshall as it was, I didn’t want to keep reminding him that hiring me was probably a terrible decision.
I turned to face Val with my hands on my hips. “Okay Val, this is a yes for me,”
I said as I looked around the place.
The apartment wasn’t too bad, and for the low price Amber was offering I considered this a steal. Two bedrooms, a nice kitchen with a fancy island. I’m pretty sure Amber said it was new. The place did look like it had a facelift. There was only one bathroom, but it was practically a master bedroom kind of bathroom, there was a bath and a shower.
Val frowned. “the last two places were also a yes for you.”
“Okay, well, Amber has been showing us great places, fully furnished and with no bugs or loose nails hanging around, but this one is a hell yes in my book. Look at the bathroom, the kitchen, and the master bedroom,”
I leaned in closer to Val, like I was about to whisper some top-secret stuff and I didn’t want Amber to hear any of it. “This kind of deal is really hard to come by, Val. She could literally raise the price at any moment. Don’t be stupid.” I glared at him.
He gave me a long look, but I knew he agreed with me. “You’re right, and it’s furnished pretty well,”
he said as he looked around the place.
“No, the furniture’s just for display,”
Amber chimed in.
“What?”
I snapped. “This is a scam, you’re running a scam.”
They both looked at me confused. “Huh?”
“They’re showing us the place fully furnished just to take everything away the second we decide to take the place.”
Val came to my side and rubbed my shoulders to console me before I started to cry. “This happens all the time, Jules,”
he said softly.
“I know, it’s just that we’ve been seeing places all day and I’m really tired and hungry. My shift starts really soon. It doesn’t look like you’ll make a decision anytime soon,” I whined.
It was my fault for agreeing to participate in whatever this was. Val told me he was getting a new place because his bartending position became officially permanent at Molly’s and instead of having a feast to celebrate like a normal person he thought it was best to immediately start looking for a place. I agreed, like an idiot, with a small amount of hope that finding a place would be quick and easy and then we’d stuff our faces with lots of food after.
“I’ll take this place, it’s closer to my job and to you. So, we can wrap this up.”
He turned to look at Amber, and she instantly nodded. Val glanced at me again. “We can go now Jules, I’ll deal with the paperwork later.”
“What about work?”
I mumbled.
He nodded. “I’ll go with you to work, and we can meet up later at Molly’s for food.”
I grinned. “I love being pregnant.”
He chuckled. “I know you do.”
Val dropped me off work, well we drove together to work because I needed my car for my job, and I had to practically beg him not to make a scene in front of the store. He didn’t scream out my name and say he was proud of me, but he settled with a simple good luck and when I opened the door to walk in he rolled down his window and blew me a few air kisses and told me he’d see me later. I chuckled as I shook my head.
Bailey looked petrified after having to witness that and I had to explain how happy the both of us were that I secured this job.
“I wrote down all the addresses for you. As for right now it’s all the orders we have in. When people heard our delivery system was up and running they started calling in the morning,”
Bailey explained.
I grabbed the clipboard from him. “Good evening to you too, Bailey.”
I guess he wasn’t planning on putting our history behind as well like Marshall decided.
He didn’t say anything after, he just went back to doing whatever task he was doing. Bailey seemed to be in his teenage years, so he had plenty of energy to hold a grudge and I didn’t have any plans to change his mind about me.
“Marshall’s in the back, he has everything ready for you to go,”
he said when he noticed I was still standing there.
I nodded and started to make my way back there.
“Drive your car out back,” he said.
The day went by quickly, and delivery wasn’t too bad. That was if I didn’t count the amount of time I got lost, cursing the confusing street signs of this town. But apart from my truck having no AC, I could survive this job until I gave birth. Besides, Marshall was starting to warm up to me. After I delivered everything and came back to the store he had Bailey prepare me a sandwich and a lemonade, just like last time. And even the baby was grateful for the meal. He said nothing while I ate my sandwich. When I was done and was about to head out, he told me same time tomorrow as we bid goodbyes.
Now I arrived at Molly’s to meet with Val so we could have our traditional celebratory meal whenever something small and insignificant happened in our lives.
I parked the truck, and the breeze picked up as the sun began to set. Today was a busy, productive day. Usually I’d be stuck at home, working, well at least trying to get some pottery done, but then when everything I mold breaks, I usually ended up taking out my frustrations on the vase that I was working on. Things would be different now. Every day would be different. I had a job to get to and I possibly had a baby on the way.
I swallowed at the thought.
I have a baby on the way.
When I spotted Val in one of the booths, I pushed all my thoughts and worries down and relaxed as my shoulder sagged. I made my way to him and plopped down to make it known how long and tiring my day was.
“Valerian.”
“Juliette, my love.”
He hummed.
I grinned.
That man always knew how to earn a smile out of me, even on my most tiring days, being around him provided me with so much support. Since the beginning of our friendship, I’ve felt how huge his support changed my life.
We were at Molly’s, a restaurant and bar. The number one local spot, and a very hot tourist spot. And since Val worked here, part of the perks was unlimited free food.
“How was your day?”
he asked after a beat.
“Marshall gave me another sandwich,”
I said as my smile widened.
“Oh, he’s in love with you,”
Val said scandalously, and we both laughed after a beat.
“What about you? How was your day? How many rowdy, drunk customers did you have to deal with today?”
He grabbed the glass of water that was already in front of him and took a sip, then he sighed. “It was just the usual people, it’s always the same. But my day was fine, as always.”
He smiled carelessly. It was always the easiest thing to do for him. “My day gets better the second I see that gorgeous face of yours.”
I rolled my eyes and scrunched my nose. “You’re always lying, my face is so puffy,”
I said and subconsciously squeezed my cheeks with my hands.
“You’re pregnant,”
he retorted.
“Gee, really? I couldn’t tell,”
I replied with dry sarcasm as I picked up the menu.
It was almost pointless to look at the menu because I already knew what I was going to order.
It would be the exact same as usual because apparently this baby was already addicted to juicy, barbecue baby back ribs.
I was really looking for a side.
I liked trying different sides on the menu.
It was strange because pregnant women always complained about not liking certain stuff and getting morning sickness or any other kind of nausea that came with being pregnant—I was never like that, morning sickness only lasted the first three months, then it was just constant cravings.
Trying different kinds of food never made me sick in any way.
Though, I am sensitive to smell at times, and my muscles get really sore every now and then, which was interfering with pottering because I couldn’t sit still for too long without feeling the burning ache down my back.
“So,”
I finally said, still looking at the menu, “there’s a next of kin.”
“What?!”
Val snapped, “and you didn’t say anything?”
I shrugged. “I wasn’t really sure either but, in the middle of delivering today, the lawyer called again and told me that the brother…um, signed the papers.”
“The brother?”
Val repeated, obviously asking for more context.
“I haven’t met him yet, but he’s Ardley’s older brother.”
Val nodded, “okay…so, when are you set to receive your payment?”
I shrugged. “Daniel said soon.”
I decided on having mashed potatoes and corn as my side today, and maybe if I have room I’d decide on dessert as well.
“I hate the fact that you don’t have your own lawyer involved as well. You’re just hanging on to every word that guy is telling you. Just a few days ago you were planning on having this baby all by yourself.”
I looked at Val and our eyes locked. “I know what I signed up for, and I’m technically this baby’s biological mother, it was my eggs we used,”
I mumbled.
Val sighed.
He always supported my decisions even if it meant swallowing his own beliefs.
When the waitress came around, Ava, I was set to order my food, and since Val worked here, he already knew what he wanted so Ava took our orders quickly and refilled our water as we thanked her.
When Ava came back with our food, I definitely confirmed I wasn’t going crazy, there was some lingering gaze—long, lingering gazes—coming from both Ava and Val.
I held back a smile and pretended I didn’t notice a single thing as I swallowed more water before dragging the plate of ribs in front of me.
I knew Val long enough to know he didn’t date.
He always just said he wasn’t interested or ready to invest that part of himself to anyone just yet, and I never pushed further to know why.
I always thought he’d just meet someone that would naturally bring that side of him out, and with the lingering gazes and the vibes I got from this short interaction I already had hopes for Ava.
She was a new hire, like two months ago I think, she seemed like a very quiet private person, and Val has never once talked about her, and Val talks about everyone he works with, and he didn’t seem close with her, co-worker-wise, so that made things all the more interesting.
She’s very pretty, and she had an accent, something close like how Molly’s accent sounded.
So she was definitely from the Caribbean.
Tall, dark curly hair, silky smooth accent.
He used less words with her.
He talked less.
That blabbermouth talks less.
I grinned as I feasted on my juicy baby back ribs.
“Your number one craving is ribs, shouldn’t the baby be a lot bigger than the doctors are saying?”
Val asked.
Well, I’m certainly happy he found his words again.
I nodded as I licked my barbecue fingers. “That’s what I thought too, but apparently not,”
I said as I moved on to my mashed potatoes.
I looked at Val, suddenly feeling very grateful to have him in my life.
Since I disappeared from my old life and stumbled upon this town, Val was the first and only person who welcomed me. I’ve known him for an entire year, and I could say he knew me too—the me that exists now, not the me that survived behind the red door of my past.
That me is done and buried.
“Thank you, Val,”
I said through a stuffed mouth.
He made a face. “Eww, just eat your food.”
Val truly was amazing, and he certainly looked amazing too, long curly hair, nice tanned skin, beautiful brown eyes, and the tiniest shadow of a mustache, but it suits him well. And wearing a turtleneck with his hair pulled into a low bun was everything.
There’s no way Ava could say no to him.
I used my clean hand to grab a glass of water, chugging it down in a matter of a few seconds.
“Have you started looking for a place yet?”
I looked at Val and shook my head.
He slowly shook his head, mirroring me, “you’ll have the money Jules, and even after the baby comes you’ll need a better job than that delivery job.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m glad I can always count on you for a reality check,”
I said sarcastically.
He shrugged. “I don’t know why you’re changing your plan. You’re not keeping the baby anymore. You’ll get your payment soon, you’ll be able to invest into a place in town and open your own pottery shop.”
I remained quiet.
My stomach started turning, my fingers dug into my palm at the thought of opening a new shop. I couldn’t bear to lose that one too. It was always my dream and that’s why the last time I tried to make it come true I almost lost my life.
“I know you said you were in a lot of debt with your old shop, and that’s why you had to leave but you can start over here,”
Val said with a positive tone. “You’ll own the first pottery shop here, and everyone will love it.”
I didn’t come here to start over in that sense. I didn’t want to bring that kind of attention on me because if I open another shop, it’d do great like Val said, but it’d become a tourist hotspot as well, which will bring attention into my life and soon like he always did, he’d find me again.
I dug my fingers deeper into the palm of my hand and the light sting started and air finally rushed into my brain again. It didn’t calm me down though. My chest rose and fell with each heavy breath.
“Jules…”
a faint voice called out, “Jules…”
“Juliette,”
a sharp new voice echoed.
I looked up and instantly locked eyes with Callum.
His piercing blue eyes were starting to make mine teary. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the panic attack I just had or if it was because now that he was standing while I sat down it felt like he had a lot more authority.
“Are you…”
he tilted his head to the side as he examined me, “you crying?”
“No,”
I quickly said as I felt a traitorous tear slip down my skin. I pulled my lips into a thin line, “these are hormone tears.” I turned to look at Val who was scratching the back of his head. “Right, Val?”
“Right,”
he chuckled, “hormone tears, since she is indeed pregnant…with a baby.”
My brows furrowed as I stared at Val and gave him a clear what the fuck look. That blabbermouth really was incapable of lying.
I shook my head and turned to face Callum again. I wasn’t sure if I could describe the look on his face but he seemed to be…amused.
“So…”
I looked around us, “what now?”
Callum shrugged. “I just wanted to say hi.”
He grinned. “Hi, Juliette.”
I slowly looked at Val before looking at Callum again. “Hi, Callum?”
He pursed his lips into a thin line then walked away without a word.
Weird.
He walked to the bar side of the restaurant and took a seat on the stool. It was only then I registered that he wore a black tight-fitting T-shirt and jeans that hugged him well, but they weren’t skinny jeans. I could see the outline of his muscles in the shirt. I looked around just to confirm it wasn’t just my hormones speaking, and I was right. Almost every girl in the restaurant kept looking at him no matter how subtle they were trying to be.
I was disappointed to find myself a part of that crowd.