Chapter 28
On the drive over I did my best to contain my excitement.
I searched far and wide to find a home that met all of Aldi’s specifications.
And this home in a hidden gem of a neighborhood ticked off most of his boxes.
This two-story modern home had curb appeal and was just over five thousand square feet.
Which was conservative for an athlete. Most were living in full-out mansions, but Aldridge wanted something a bit more intimate.
In Kansas City, he owned a condo so this would be his first single-family home.
When we pulled up to the house, I could hear Aldridge gasp.
“Isn’t it stunning?”
“I’m impressed.” Aldi shifted the car into park.
“I’m not trying to overhype it, but I think you’re really going to like the layout.”
Walking toward the house, he asked, “What’s the neighborhood like?”
“Mix of young, rich professionals and established families. For entry into this area, you’ll need close to two million, and that’s for a basic build sans any add ons.”
“So expensive.”
“Baby this is Vegas. Everything costs. I’d be happy to show you a starter home for five hundred.”
“No, I get it, and I’m willing to pay for the right place.”
“As you should. You’re about to be the NBA’s best in show, and that comes with perks like a house to tool around in during the off season.”
“I prefer the term NBA champion. But you already know I’m a champion, especially after this morning and that humming thing I did on your clit.”
I blushed. “That was a masterclass.”
Aldi closed the space between us. “It was my greatest pleasure.”
“I’m working.”
“You can’t flirt at work?”
“No, because I’m a professional.”
“Okay, well just know on the drive home I plan on slipping my hand up your skirt.”
“Noted.” I opened the front door, stepping aside.
Aldridge’s face lit up as he took the space in. This home was expertly staged by me, and I left no detail to chance. Aldi was a visual person, and I wanted him to envision himself in this house the moment he walked in. “I did good, right?”
“Calm down. I’m liking what I see, but it’s just the entryway.”
“An entryway that leads to a formal dining room for dinner with friends or holidays.”
“You and I both know this room will be off limits to guest and I might even break out the plastic furniture covers.”
“You wouldn’t”
“My mom still has them. I bought her a brand-new house with all new furniture, and she specifically requested custom plastic covers for the sofas and all chairs. I said, mom if something gets stained I’ll just buy you a new one, but she wasn’t trying to hear that.”
“I guess old habits die hard. To your left, you have an office. Spacious enough for you to take meetings or invite your entire team to brainstorm.”
“Nice.”
“Straight ahead leads you to the main living area. But you have several living spaces in this home.”
“I can get with the open floor plan.”
“Outside we have a smaller structure that was being used as a gym by the previous owner. Equipped with a full bath, a sauna to soothe your muscles after a game, and a mini kitchen where you can make smoothies or after-workout snacks.”
“Finally, a place that speaks to my soul.”
“The backyard leads to this infinity pool with stunning views of the Las Vegas Strip. Back inside the kitchen is what you would expect from a home in this neighborhood and price tag.”
“I could put my culinary skills to the test. Have you ever had vegetarian lasagna? I had it at a restaurant a few months back and didn’t miss the meat. I’ve been dying to try and recreate it.”
“Sounds delicious.”
Aldi wrapped his arms around me. “I’ll make it for you. You can be my sous chef and taste tester.”
“I know what I’d like to taste.”
Aldridge frowned. “Not very professional,” he teased.
“You know what, you’re right. Let’s head upstairs.” Aldridge played grab ass with me as we made our way up.
I stayed in the hall while he walked from room to room.
This decision had to be his. I didn’t want my bias to get in the way.
This place would be almost anybody’s dream home.
It filled his criteria but the last thing I wanted was him to feel the pressure to buy from me because I’d shown him close to thirty houses with lukewarm reception.
It was up to Aldi to choose the type of life he wanted to create in Vegas.
Of course, I hoped that life featured me, but I didn’t want him buying a multimillion-dollar home because it made me happy and I could see us cuddled up in the living room or sharing a shower in the bathroom with full body shower heads.
When he returned to the upstairs loft space, I asked, “What do you think?”
“I like it. Do you like it?”
“I’m not buying it.”
“But I need you to like it.”
“Just tell me what you think.”
“I think this place is perfect and has damn near everything I’m looking for.”
“But?”
“This is a huge purchase. When I bought my mom’s house, I didn’t really think. She loved it so I bought it. But this is permanent and it’s a lot of house for two people.”
“Two?”
“You and I equals two.”
“No this is going to be your place. So you need to love it whether I’m here or not.”
“Not possible, because I can already envision glimpses of you throughout this house. Take this loft for instance, it’s nice and spacious but if we’re not sprawled on the floor vibing to classic R&B music together it just doesn’t work.
Walking from room to room all I can think about is you, me, and our future.
The room off the primary gets a ton of sunlight and would be great as your office. ”
We both wanted to make the other happy. But I wasn’t buying this house he was, and if I never called this place home he would have to be content with his decision. I reached for his hand, giving it a squeeze. “Do you want to put in an offer?”
“Oh my God. My stomach hurts. This would be the biggest purchase I’ve ever made.”
“You can sleep on it no need to decide now.”
“I could always move in with you.”
“No.”
“What?”
“Absolutely not. I don’t move in with men I’ve only been dating for months. It’s one of my rules.”
“I’m not just any man.”
“You could be Clark Kent and the answer would still be no.”
“Well Clark Kent was a flake and living a double life. Says he’s going to meet you for dinner and then after hours of waiting, you find out he’s halfway across town fighting Lex Luther.”
Aldridge leaned against the railing. “Could you see yourself living here someday?”
He was trying to pin me down, get me on record declaring this house was the one to help him feel better. But I wasn’t going to take the bait. “It’s possible. But this is about you.”
“It’s important to me that you like it too. I want this to feel like a place you can call home. Because for me home is where you are. So, I could live in a coffin apartment and still be good if you were laying on top of me.”
“You’d probably have to fold yourself in half to make it work.”
“And I’d gladly endure it with you because I love you that much. But in this house the possibilities are endless. We could get a green couch right there.” He pointed to the living space below.
“What do you know about green couches?”
“I know Black women go up for them. Point out a baddie and I can almost guarantee she has an emerald-colored couch back at the crib. Maybe we could get one with hidden storage to hide the blankets and all the kids’ random toys.”
“Kids, plural.”
“Oh yeah, I’m knocking you up once or twice in this house for sure. I don’t even care what we have as long as they have your eyes and my ears.”
“Wow the shade. Is this how you talk to the future mother of your long limb children?”
“Just speaking the truth in love. Plus, imagine the parties we can throw. With laidback vibes, dudes playing dominos in the backyard, a heated game of Spades in the formal dining room. The hum of conversations every direction you turn, and me stealing kisses any time you walk past.”
“Sounds like you have this all planned out.”
“Because this was the plan all along.”
“Even after we broke up?”
“Loving you was my best and only plan.”
“I’m sorry it took us so long to make it a reality.”
“Let’s put an offer in.”
“Are you sure?”
“Right now this place is just a pretty box, but you and I are going to make it a home.”
“Okay.”
He leaned in resting his forehead against mine. “Okay, let’s buy a house.”