Chapter 20
Aubrey
You only live once. That’s the saying, right? I may be making the biggest mistake of my life, but if there’s a chance that I can have what my best friend has, I need to take the leap.
Kristin’s words echoing in my ears do little to deter me as Jamie and I continue eating dinner.
A man uprooted his life to be here, why shouldn’t I give him a chance?
He has all of the facts to make an informed decision and is still interested.
Coming out of a marriage where my husband treated me like I was an employee more than a wife, I’ve been jaded, but for the first time in a really long time, I feel seen.
Most men are threatened by women with any kind of power, it doesn’t seem to faze Jamie.
I’m only able to eat a quarter of my sandwich, and sink into my chair with a groan. “I think I ate too much.”
“Eyes bigger than your stomach?”
“Maybe,” I chuckle. “How’s the pasta?”
“Do you want an honest answer or a polite one?”
“Both.”
He smirks and all I want to do is kiss it away. “It’s good, but I’ve had better.”
“Want the rest of mine? I can’t have another bite.”
“Give it here,” he laughs with gestures with an expectant hand for me to pass it to him.
When I do, he grips my wrist and takes a large bite out of the sandwich before releasing me.
Once he’s done chewing, he has a gulp of his drink, then offers an approving nod.
“Better than mine, but you should have a few more bites. You haven’t had a lot of protein today, and there’s a little life growing inside you. ”
I rub my belly. “I’m pretty sure it’s just a food baby.”
“I’d suggest unbuttoning your pants, but you’re wearing a skirt.”
Not caring that I’m not wearing underwear, I unzip it from the back halfway and pull out my blouse. “Fuck, that’s better.”
“You never cease to surprise me.”
“I’m just too old and too bloated to care what anyone thinks.”
As he sips his drink, he rolls his eyes. “You’re not old and you’re fucking beautiful… and you know it.”
“Aw, don’t make me blush,” I preen. “Nothing sexier than a woman who had her panties and shapewear stolen and can’t fit into her skirt after half of a chicken sandwich.”
Jamie reaches into his pocket, pulling out my lacy thong.
“You mean these?” I reach across the table to snatch them out of his hand, but he’s too fast. “You can have them back later. Eat up, mama. We’re taking dessert to go.
” He spots Walter and gestures for him to come over.
“Could we have a dessert menu and a to-go box?”
“Of course.” He leaves and returns less than a minute later, handing the menu to me. “I’ll be back in a few.”
“What sounds good?”
I only glance at it for a moment before spotting one of my favorites. “Strawberry cheesecake… unless you’d like—”
“No, strawberry cheesecake is perfect.”
I set down the menu and take a few more bites of the sandwich.
It’s delicious, but my eyes really were bigger than my stomach.
Jamie’s right that I need to prioritize protein and make a mental note to adjust my grocery delivery for next week, especially since we’ll be on the road most of the time and I’ll want healthy snacks.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
“Oh, it’s nothing,” I sigh. “I was just thinking about how I need to adjust my grocery order for next week.”
“Order?”
“Yeah, most of us leaned into grocery delivery and curbside pickup during the pandemic and it kind of stuck. I don’t remember the last time I stepped foot in a store.”
“I’ve always meal-planned, but I like picking out unexpected items. Are there any good grocery stores within walking distance?”
“A few.” I pull out my phone to search. “It really depends on what you’re looking for,” I muse as I scroll. “Where’s your new apartment?”
“The new building at N and 16th.”
I freeze. “What?”
“Yeah, I was looking for something within walking distance until I figured out if I wanted to buy a car here or not. I sold mine before I moved.”
I switch to a different browser and pull up a map, then switch to city view and zoom in on my apartment building. Shifting my phone to show him, I ask the question I already know the answer to, “Is this it?”
“Yeah,” he laughs. “How did you know?”
“Because that’s where I live.”
“You’re fucking with me.”
“No! I’m in 412.”
Jamie attempts to smother his amusement, but the twinkle in his eyes is undeniable. “You have the corner unit?”
“Yeah. Are you seriously living in my building?”
“Try the one-bedroom next door.”
“Now you’re fucking with me!” I say it a bit too loud and mouth ‘I’m sorry’ to the people dining next to us. “You’re seriously my next-door neighbor?”
He takes out his phone, and after a few taps and swipes, shows me his electronically signed lease agreement.
“I promise I had no idea. When I was hired, I asked Olivia for recommendations. All of my interviews were remote and I wouldn’t have a chance to look into housing in person.
She sent me a list of five locations, with this one at the top. The others were out of my price range.”
“Of course they were,” I grumble. “Sorry, I’m not upset that you’re living next door, I’m just annoyed that she went out of her way to meddle like this.”
As he’s about to say something, Walter comes by for our dessert order. Once he’s scrawled it into his small pad and leaves, Jamie tuts, “I guess if I stay with you this week, it would be no different than being next door.” And, of course, he has his stupidly adorable smirk.
“Don’t you see how bad this is? In less than nine months, I’m going to have a newborn who’ll probably have me up at all hours of the night. You’ll be sharing a wall with my baby, which means you’ll also be up all night too.”
Jamie’s perpetual grin falls, his gaze searing into me as he leans forward.
“Let me be perfectly clear. I moved here because I met a woman that I could see myself spending the rest of my life with. Yes, we only spent a week together, but the day you left I realized that I would regret it if I didn’t take a leap of faith.
I came here to see if we could make a go of it.
I had no idea you lived in the same building when I began calling around, but it’s just proof that I made the right choice taking the job.
And, no, if I have any say in it, I won’t be sharing a wall, unless the baby’s room is next door to ours.
Even then, I’ll already be up because if the person I care about is awake with a baby, then I should be too. ”
While the declaration is sweet, the skeptic in me can’t help asking, “How can you be so sure about someone you hardly know?”
He doesn’t have a chance to respond because Walter makes a beeline for us with our check, an open to-go container, and a paper bag with a handle with what must be our cheesecake.
“Sorry for the wait, we’re a little understaffed tonight.
If you need anything else, just flag me down, but here is your dessert, a container, and your check. ”
As Walter rushes off as quickly as he came, Jamie teases, “Maybe I should’ve thrown on an apron after all.”
“Nah, as hot as it was seeing you behind a bar, I prefer when you’re suggesting eco-friendly alternatives in meetings.”
I reach for the bill, but he grabs it before I can. “Not a chance. This isn’t a business meeting you can expense.”
“So, what is this exactly?”
My favorite smirk makes its appearance. “The first of many more dates. I’ll let you pay once in a while, but definitely not tonight.”