Chapter 11
Calling it now. I just had my last first date.
Chase
Settling down? I’ll believe it when I see it.
Nate
LOL.
Ford
Sounds promising…
You’ll see.
Nate
Who is the lucky lady?
Demi.
I should be awarded for my willpower right now, because it’s taken everything in me not to beg one of the girls for Demi’s number so I can check in on her. I’m pretty certain Abby has it.
“Hey, Jules, is there any way you could tell me if the apartment next to mine has any interested renters or if it’s still just sitting on the market? You can call me back or just send a text, whatever is easier…thanks.” I leave a quick voicemail for my business manager.
My management team is the fucking best. When I started in the league, my dad tried to force his way into handling things for me, but every single person I spoke to advised against that. Although I didn’t need their warnings—I already knew that would’ve been a fucking nightmare.
My agent, Kat, is the president of football operations at her agency and has a team of talented, badass women who work with her. I’ve never had a single complaint. From contracts to my brand deals, public relations or overall business management—these women have it covered.
Jules handles a lot of business tasks for me, so she was my first call this morning when I couldn’t get Demi out of my head. She thinks the apartment is too expensive so I’m going to do just about whatever I can to make it in her price range.
I place my phone on the bathroom counter facing up, just in case Jules calls me back while I’m in the shower I’ll see her name.
I close my eyes the moment the water streams down my face. It feels so damn good. I’ve shamelessly spent plenty of time in this exact shower picturing Demi. Thinking of her in all the ways I shouldn’t. I want her so fucking badly, it’s enough to make me crazy some days.
The sound of a text tone goes off, and I peek my head out of the glass door to get a better look at the screen, except it isn’t Jules texting me back. It’s a number I don’t have saved in my phone and something tells me to get out and check it.
Unknown Number
Really? You saved your number in my phone as Hotshot Quarterback??? Do you realize it took me ten minutes to find your number?
I bark out a laugh and can’t help but smile from ear to goddamn ear.
Of course I did. I believe Hotshot Quarterback were your exact words.
Unknown Number
You’re insane.
You have no idea.
What do I owe the pleasure?
Unknown Number
Against my better judgment, I’m curious about that apartment you mentioned. I need a place to live and don’t want to spend a ton of time looking.
The Grove, 9 South Lancer Ave. Text me when you’re here, I’ll come down and get you.
Unknown Number
I won’t need an escort up.
Who else is going to give you the full tour? Text me
There’s no hiding my smile. Today is about to be a good one.
Before Demi gets here, I head down to the lobby once I finish the quickest shower of my life. Rob is standing at the desk and waves to me when he sees me exit the private elevator.
“Hey, my man. I have a question for the leasing department. Any way I can get in touch with someone right now?”
My phone vibrates in my pocket while Rob is taking a look at his computer for me, but I tell him never mind when I see it’s Jules calling.
“Hey,” I answer.
“I have some information from the leasing director for that apartment building. I just emailed you the numbers, along with a snapshot of some of your financials if you’re thinking of doing anything. Let me know if any paperwork needs to get done today or if things can wait until Monday.”
“Ah, thanks, Jules. You’re the best.”
I take in my surroundings before moving over to a corner where I can talk more freely without any eavesdroppers.
“Full disclosure, I want to rent the apartment. I know it sounds crazy, but I’m trying to help someone out. Whatever the rent is monthly, I want to cover half.” I can’t exactly tell Demi this place is just free, she won’t buy it, but fudging the numbers can’t hurt, right?
“You’re willing to pay your full rent, plus half the rent for your new neighbor?” She sighs into the receiver.
I know it can be done, there has to be a way.
“Exactly,” I confirm.
This feels like the right call. It doesn’t feel as impulsive as it probably sounds.
Demi needs a place to stay, and I want to help.
Simple as that. It just so happens to work out that my previous neighbor left last spring.
The apartment has been sitting empty for months and it’s a place I know Demi will be safe.
“And this is a stat situation?”
“I think so, Jules. If anyone can make this happen, I know you can.”
She laughs. “Liam, you don’t need to gas me up. I know I can get it done.”
“You’re the best,” I say one more time before we end the call.
Now, I just need to sell this place enough so Demi wants to move in.
Girl of my dreams
I’m about to walk into the building.
I’ve been hanging out in the lobby with Rob for the last thirty minutes so I’m already here when she walks in. I see her hesitate before she walks through the automatic doors. Her head instantly tilts up as she looks at the high ceilings and artwork on the walls.
Her lips are pulled together when she sees me, and she shakes her head back and forth as we walk toward one another.
Demi’s dark brown hair is pulled back away from her face and her sunglasses are sitting in her hair.
My eyes shoot to her waist, not missing the way the shorts hug her hips, and then I smile at the band T-shirt she’s wearing. blink-182.
“Nice music taste,” I say when we’re within earshot, gesturing to the black shirt hanging off her shoulder. Demi wears black and white exclusively, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her in something different—maybe gray.
“Just walking in here I can tell this is going to be a look, don’t buy situation. Like when I browse the candle section at the store, or stumble into a model home just for fun.”
“Ah, I think you’ll be surprised.” I motion my hand to have her step in front of me. “Before we start the tour, anything you need? Coffee, water, restroom?”
“Are you a realtor now?” She laughs. “First a barista, then this. I’m starting to think you’re prepping for life after retirement.”
“I’m a jack-of-all-trades, honey.”
Demi huffs out a chuckle as she passes by me, and god, she smells like Valentine’s Day. It’s all sweet fresh flowers as I let myself linger for a moment.
“Is this the elevator?” She jerks her thumb to the corridor to the left that says private access, and I nod.
My throat bobs as I finally move my feet toward her.
“Sure is, you’d just enter these doors here with the keypad,” I say, punching in my code.
Once the door unlocks and we walk through, there’s a set of elevators that goes directly up to the fifth floor. It’s not the highest in the building, and I’m thankful for that considering I’m not too keen on heights.
“Rob works at the front desk. He’ll make sure you don’t have any issues getting in, and of course the code is different for each resident on our floor.”
“Our floor?” she says, raising a brow at me as the elevator is rising.
I just smile. I’ll let the building speak for itself.
I haven’t been in the apartment next to mine in well over a year, but I remember the ins and outs of it.
The old tenants were a couple who owned some kind of gym franchise around the area, and I’d played poker with the husband there a handful of times.
“It’s probably nice having a private elevator. No one can come up without you knowing.”
“It has its perks.”
She glances at me from the corner of her eye before shifting her observant gaze back to the touchscreen where it shows us moving up.
The elevator dings and the doors slide open, making a killer first impression with the giant windows overlooking the water. Demi’s eyes widen, and I smile seeing her body perk up.
“Wow,” she breathes out.
Wow, indeed.