Chapter 58 Non-negotiables and Happy Coincidences
CHAPTER 58: NON-NEGOTIABLES AND HAPPY COINCIDENCES
LACEY
J ace grabs my hand and leads me out of the bathroom and to the staircase at the front of the house. We make our way upstairs and to the large owner’s suite.
“I thought this could be our room,” he says. “We could put a bed there and maybe a dresser here.” He points to different walls as he talks. “The owners recently painted almost everything white, so you can pick out whatever paint you want.”
He leads me into the adjoining bathroom. It’s stunning. A large chandelier hangs from the ceiling. The vanity is deep mahogany, and white marble covers every surface. The shower could easily fit both of us and has plenty of room for activities. A large stand-alone tub is surrounded by windows that overlook the woods behind the house.
“I love the tub,” I say, running my hand along the smooth porcelain.
“I knew you would,” he says. “A bathtub that could fit both of us was on my list of non-negotiables I gave the realtor.”
“And what else was on this list?”
“A large closet, a nice kitchen, a reading room, a?—”
“A reading room? What’s a reading room?” A grin overtakes his whole face, and he pulls me out of the bathroom and down the hall to another room.
“I was thinking we could make this a reading room. We could put a really big comfy chair in this corner and then on these walls we could do built-in bookshelves for all of your books.”
“A reading room was a non-negotiable?” I look at him with awe.
“You like to read,” he says. “And I need somewhere to finish books seven and eight.”
“I love you. I don’t know what I did to deserve you coming back to me, but I love you so fucking much.”
“I love you too. Now, come on, there is one more thing I know you’ll love.”
“Another part of your list?”
“No, but a happy coincidence.”
He leads me to the third bedroom. It’s a nice space in the back of the house, with plush tan carpet and white walls, but it’s underwhelming.
“It’s great it has three bedrooms,” I say, taking in the room.
“It has four, but that’s not what I want to show you.” He tugs my hand toward the window. “Look,” he says, pointing outside.
Outside is a carbon copy of the roof at my parents’ house. It’s our spot , but here. My breath hitches.
“Oh, Jace, it’s perfect.”
He wraps his arms around me from behind and rests his chin on my shoulder. His beard tickles the side of my face and I melt back into him.
“So, does that mean you want it?”
“Yes, I want it, but can we afford it?”
“We can.”
“Mr. Jackson, are you still here?” a woman calls from downstairs.
“That’ll be the realtor,” he says, checking his watch.
We walk back downstairs hand in hand. After some introductions, we talk through the next steps. I sit there listening to Jace talk through things. He doesn’t let go of my hand the entire time she speaks to us.
“I’ll get the offer paperwork all squared away and over to you tomorrow,” she says. “Y’all have a strong offer and the sellers are motivated to sell it, but I’ll be in touch.” She smiles, shaking both of our hands.
We climb into the Jeep and it hits me that we’re going to have to talk to our friends.
“When do we tell Poppy and Tanner we’re moving out?” I ask. “Shit, I feel like such a bad friend. I mean, our lease is up next month, so she’d need to find a roommate. Do we wait until they accept the offer or do we tell them now?”
“If we don’t get this house, I still want to live with you. If it’s not this one, then it’ll be a different one or we can find an apartment. Hell, I’d live in a tent with you. I think we have to tell them now.” He squeezes my hand. “Is that what you want?”
“Yeah, more than anything.”
“Okay, so we tell them now. It’ll give them time to find new roommates. Didn’t you say Wren said she might need a place to live? Maybe she can take over your lease.”
“Oh my god, you’re right. That’s good. Poppy is going to need a plan, so she doesn’t stress. I’ll remind her about Wren. What about Tanner?”
“Tanner will be fine,” he laughs. “Half the time he doesn’t even accept my rent payments.”
“He doesn’t accept your rent payments? What exactly does he do for a living?”
“Some type of office job with his dad. Honestly, he’s told me before and I can never remember what it is exactly.”
“He’s like if Chandler and Joey from Friends had a baby.”
“He really is.” Jace and I both start laughing. I look over to where he sits. His smile takes up his whole face, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that I want to spend forever laughing with him.
“I’m really happy, J.”
“Me too, pixie.”
We drive the rest of the short distance, and I tell him all the things I would want to do with the house. He doesn’t say a word; he just listens and nods. We talk about paint colors, furniture, and rugs. I take out my phone and start saving inspiration pictures, flashing them towards him as I talk.
“That would be great,” he says. “I can’t wait to make it ours.”
“I like when you say that.”
“Say what?”
“Ours. It has a nice ring to it. Don’t you think so?”
“A very nice ring to it.” He kisses the back of my hand and turns into the parking lot of my apartment complex.
“It’s going to be okay. She’ll understand,” he assures me, pulling into a parking spot.
“I hope so.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow?”
I nod. He unbuckles his seat belt and goes to open the door.
“You don’t have to walk me up. I need to get this conversation over with and if you come up you’ll distract me. Go home and tell Tanner. I’ll text you later.”
“I like to distract you, though.” I slap at his chest, and he pulls me into a chaste kiss.
“I love you.”
“I love you more,” I tease winking in his direction.
“I love you most,” he answers back. My heart skips a beat.
“You didn’t think I forgot did you?” he asks.
“No, I…”
“I know,” he says. After another quick kiss, I make my way out of the Jeep. He honks his horn when I make it to the door and I turn to see him backing out. My nerves fully set in when I turn the key, letting myself into the place Poppy and I have called home for three years.
“You here?” I yell, walking into our apartment. She walks out of her room.
“Hey, how was today? What was the big surprise?” she asks.
“Can we sit?” I gesture toward the sofa and close the door behind me.
“Sure.” She shrugs. “Is everything okay?” We both walk over and sit on the sofa, each taking our usual spots.
“Oh yeah. Jace took me to a house today.”
“A house? Like his dad’s house?”
“No, he took me to see a house that’s for sale.”
“Oh, wow. So, he’s staying? That’s so great.”
“Yeah, um, well, fuck,” I try again. “He took me to see a house that’s for sale because he wants us to buy it. He asked me to move in with him and I know we’ve been here for a long time and I don’t want you to freak out about a roommate, so I was thinking maybe you could talk to Wren and she could take over the lease for me when it ends next month. I mean she’s not me, but I think she would be fun to live with.”
Poppy laughs and tears run down her cheeks.
“What’s so funny?” I ask, suddenly extremely confused.
“Nothing.” She tries to catch her breath. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about the same thing and I’ve been so scared. Logan and I’ve been looking for our own place. We’ve been considering it all summer, especially since the parent who almost got him fired lives across the hall from him. She’s been fine, but running into her is getting hella awkward.”
“You’re kidding?” I begin to laugh too.
“No. Actually, the other day when you got home I was looking at places on my computer. I almost told you then, but I couldn’t do it. As much as I love Logan, I love living with you.”
“I know.” I pout. “This is weird. We’re going to be living with boys.”
“Super weird. Although, Logan is a lot cleaner than you are, so it might not be that bad.”
“You’re hilarious,” I deadpan.
“Wait a house? This is huge. What’s it like? Do you have pictures?”
I grab my phone and swipe up. I show her the pictures I snapped while we toured the home that will hopefully one day be ours.
“Goodness, the island is beautiful,” she says.
“Isn’t it great? It’s super sturdy.”
“Do I want to know what that means?”
I snicker to myself, then continue to swipe through the pictures. When I’m done, I set my phone back down on the coffee table.
“I’m so happy for you,” she says, wrapping me in a hug.
“I’m happy for you, too, babe. Are you and Logan looking for a house? Maybe one will go up for sale on the same street?” I laugh.
“I think we might rent for another year,” she says. “Finding an apartment that’s decent is impossible though. Do you realize how good we have it here? Nothing is as nice, and if it is, it’s like triple the price.”
“Why doesn’t he move in here?”
“Oh my god,” she shrieks. “You’re right. It’s perfect. You’re moving out and he can move in.”
She grabs her phone and starts typing away. Her phone rings and I wave her off. “Take it. Tell him the news.” She jumps up and moves back toward her room, and I grab my phone again.
I swipe through the pictures, imagining what life will be like with Jace by my side. I click out and find his name.
Lacey: Poppy and Logan are planning to move in with each other too!
Jace: You’re kidding.
Lacey: Nope! I think he might move in with her here. How’d Tanner take the news?
Jace: He’s devastated.
Lacey: Really? I thought you said he’d be cool.
Jace: LMAO! He’s fine. He said he’d start looking for a roommate.
Lacey: Good. I really hope we get the house. It’s perfect!
Jace: Me too!
Lacey: OMG! I think I have an idea. Hold on.
Lacey: I think I figured out your housing situation!
Wren: Please tell me Poppy is moving out and you suddenly need a roommate because I’m stressed.
Lacey: No, I don’t, but Tanner does.