Chapter 12
I’ve lived in nice places before. I mean, my ex-husband plays in the NBA and has the most high-end taste of anyone I’ve ever met, but this building I’ve been in for the last ten minutes feels like I’m in a resort.
And not because of the architecture, although it’s very fancy on the outside with fountains and valet. But it’s everything inside the building that feels so welcoming—despite my internal protest—Liam is making it feel like home already.
“Two apartments down to the right, and we’re over here on the left.” He points to the long hallway to his right and then tilts his head to the left.
I roll my eyes at his constant word choices. Us, we, ours. But I follow him down the hall, along the hardwood flooring that looks sparkling clean and smells like citrus.
“I’m right here,” Liam says, stopping in front of a black door. “So, you know, if you ever need anything. Eggs, milk, a movie companion. I don’t do bugs, though, we can call Rob for that.”
He grins at me, staying in place longer than I thought he would. He stalls for a moment, and I watch the sharp edge of his jaw twist.
“No one knows where I live. I mean, my friends and my brother do. But that’s about six people.” His eyes dart to the floor beneath his feet. His crisp white sneakers taking the smallest step back, as if he’s working on letting me into his space.
It’s surprising behavior from him. Before the last few days I probably would’ve made some comment about him bringing all his female guests here, but it doesn’t seem appropriate now.
“And yet you’re telling me where you live. Showing me, in fact,” I say softly, my eyes eagerly searching his for whatever reason.
Liam has a pull that constantly makes me want to know more about him, and I keep having to stop myself.
“I guess I trust you.” He shoves his hands into the pockets of his black athletic shorts, and I don’t miss his forearms flex as I glance down.
It feels like Liam has layers no one even knows about. I can’t help but wonder if it relates back to his childhood or what. His throat clears, shaking me out of the curiosity spinning. I’m a reporter after all, and it’s hard for me not to want the whole story.
“All right, and now for your new humble abode,” he says, gesturing to the last door at the end of the hall.
“We’ll see about that.”
“Rob gave me the master key for this instance. I don’t just have a key to this place,” he says as he twists the handle on the door and it swings open.
Holy shit. I mean, holy fucking shit. This apartment is amazing. I expected to walk into a place that was gaudy and had too much space for just one person, but somehow it’s exactly what I need.
There’s a sliding glass door that’s the first thing you see when you enter the apartment with a small patio area just beyond it.
The kitchen is off to the left with a spacious island and great light fixtures hanging from the ceiling.
There isn’t a big dining room space, but I’m thankful for that.
I was never the one who liked to entertain in my last house—all the entertainment spaces were Brandon’s needs.
“I know it has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. What else do you want to know?”
I laugh to myself, peeking my head around the corner to a short hallway where I spot a bedroom and bathroom right away.
“Thought you were trying to sell me this place,” I tease, looking back at him with a quick smile.
“I just needed to get you in the door. I knew it would speak for itself.”
I nod, but he doesn’t see me as I’m walking in and out of bedrooms because he’s still in the common area.
I can’t believe I love this apartment. I also hate that I love it because it means Liam would be my neighbor.
That alone should be a reason to turn it down, but for some reason all it does is end up in the pros column.
I want to feel safe in my own home again.
And as much as I hate admitting it, I’ve always felt safe near Liam.
The master bedroom has one big window that has a partial view of the city, and the rest shows off the glistening water of the bay. It looks like I can see a small portion of a handrail on another balcony too.
There’s a good size walk-in closet and a gorgeous bathroom with a giant bathtub as the focal point.
The sound of knocking grabs my attention, and I twist my head back and forth trying to determine where it’s coming from.
“Yeah, that’s Walt.” Liam’s deep voice pulls me toward him.
He’s standing against the doorframe, leaning with both hands in his pockets and one foot casually placed over the other.
“And Walt is?” I ask.
He blows out a loud breath, lifting himself from the frame and strolls over to the window.
“A fucking menace, that’s what.” He peers out the window and then lightly pounds on the wall beside it. “I was hoping he would’ve waited to introduce himself to you until after you were already moved in.”
I still don’t know if Walt is a ghost, a rodent, or something else. My eyes widen at him, an urge for more information.
“It’s a bird. Knocks on the building sometimes.” He pauses. “Okay, all the fucking time he knocks on the building. Kind of surprised you hear it here, though, actually. I can see him from my bedroom window so I thought he was closer to my place.”
“I love birds.”
“Really?” The look of confusion and slight concern rises on his face.
“Yeah. I grew up with birds as a kid, I’ve always liked them.” Shrugging, I continue walking around as I head back to the common area. “I’m just glad it’s not a rodent of any kind,” I call out behind me. “A bird is fine with me.”
I’ve officially seen all that I need to see and now have to ask the soul crushing question of how much it costs.
“All right, so I’ll admit the apartment is great. But let me down easy with the price, okay?” I lean against the island in the kitchen, studying the beige and gray swirls in the marble.
“Take a guess.” Liam nods his chin in my direction as he’s walking toward the kitchen. He leans his back against the counter next to me and stares down.
“Is everything a game to you?” I scoff, with a laugh.
“Not everything.”
I roll my eyes as I consider the pricing. It’s almost twelve-hundred square feet, two bedrooms and bathrooms, private floor in a fancy downtown building, with security and water views. I nearly choke on the amount as it leaves my chest.
“Easy five-grand a month.”
The smile on his face grows, and I know that look. He’s just dying to prove me wrong.
“And how would you like it for an easy two a month?”
“Liam, there is no way in hell this apartment goes for two grand a month. The place I’m staying now is two grand a month and it’s smaller, older, and uglier.”
“Two grand, that’s the price.”
I narrow my eyes at him suspiciously.
“What did you do?”
“I found a place for a friend to stay and made sure it was affordable for her. That’s all I did.”
There’s a part of my brain yelling at me to stop asking questions and just accept the very nice offer that’s currently in front of me on a silver fucking platter.
There’s a knock at the front door just before it opens and a man with jet-black hair and glasses walks in, holding a packet of paper as he smiles at Liam and then me.
“Hi, I’m glad you were able to look around. I’m the leasing director, Marcus.”
“Hey, Marcus. Thanks for letting me show her around a bit. I think she likes it,” Liam replies, giving me a quick wink. He’s not wrong, though. I love it. Dammit.
“If you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer them.” Marcus steps closer to me, placing the paperwork on the counter in front of him. He smells like baked goods, and it has me craving a nice warm chocolate chip cookie.
“I have to run to a meeting, but glad you like it, Dem. And again, thanks, Marcus, for all your help.” Liam’s hand grazes the small of my back when he passes by and the hair on the back of my neck immediately stands up.
I watch as Liam leaves the apartment, practically memorizing his steps.
I know he made some kind of arrangement for me to be able to move in here, and as annoyed as I want to be by that, I’m tired of looking for a place, tired of living where I’m living, and ready to be somewhere new. I want a fresh start. I need it.
I think of the promise I made to myself after my divorce.
This new chapter I’m starting is about me.
Doing what I need to do for me. I need to live on my own—I’ve never done that.
I need to live somewhere out of my comfort zone—never done that either.
Both admissions feel pathetic at thirty-five, but that’s what happened when I went from living at home, to college roommates, to getting married.
I tagged along with Brandon for years as we moved where we needed to, based on where he was playing.
And now I finally have the chance to make my own decisions about my life—every single part of it.
And I want to say yes to this apartment.
I’ll talk with Liam about whatever he pulled for the rent another time, but for now I’m going to be selfish.
“This place is great, Marcus. I’d love to sign a lease.”