Chapter 24 Ethan #2
We already ran into one old fling this weekend.
The last thing I need is Margot thinking Denver is just one endless highlight reel of my one-night stands.
I’m confident that I don’t recognize the woman standing in front of me right now, and absolutely certain that we never went on a date, much less slept together.
The woman nods in acknowledgement, but her eyes continue searching my face for several long, uncomfortable beats.
“We’re looking for a one-bedroom apartment,” I say, redirecting the conversation. “Do you have one available to tour?”
Finally, the woman snaps out of it. She clears her throat and flashes a rehearsed smile. “I have an amazing unit to show you,” she gushes, glancing between Margot and me. “It’s a fourth-floor unit with great views of the park. I’ll just need both of your IDs to hold while we tour the apartment.”
We both fish our driver’s licenses out and hand them to the leasing agent.
“Great,” she says, a little too cheery. “Let me just go lock these up in my office and grab the keys to the apartment. I’ll be back in a second.”
The woman trots off toward an office at the back of the lobby.
“Another ex of yours?” Margot asks under her breath. Her tone is light but brittle around the edges.
I turn to face her. “I’ve never met that woman before in my life. She must be mistaking me for someone else.”
Margot studies my face for a second then nods as if she’s satisfied by my response. Still, there’s a hint of tension in her expression that wasn’t there a few minutes ago.
Luckily, it fades the second Margot lays eyes on the apartment.
The place is clean and spacious, with fresh paint, vinyl plank flooring, and top-of-the-line appliances. But it’s the views that really win her over. From a large window in the living room, she can see all the way from the bustling green park across the street to the downtown Denver skyline.
Amanda, the leasing agent, has turned her attention to Margot, but every once in a while, her eyes drift back to me and linger a moment too long.
Whether her attention is meant to flirt or flatter, I find myself nothing but annoyed by it.
It’s obvious that Margot and I are together.
We’re all small touches and sweet smiles as we move through the apartment.
We’ve made no mention of the fact that Margot will be the only one living here.
When we step back out into the common area, the leasing agent is looking down at her phone, thumbs flying across the screen as she types something. She glances up at us and smiles, tucking her phone away.
“So, what do you think?” Amanda asks.
“It’s amazing,” Margot says.
Amanda beams at Margot like an old friend.
“Isn’t it? If this unit had been available when I moved in, I would have snatched it up in a heartbeat.
If you’d like to follow me back to my office, we can fill out a bit of paperwork and reserve the unit for you.
It’s just a standard non-refundable $75 application fee plus first month’s rent to hold this apartment. ”
The leasing agent is practically shoving us out the door when Margot interjects. “Actually, I’d like to tour a few more properties before I commit.”
“Oh,” Amanda says, her smile wavering. “Sure, that’s no problem at all. Just keep in mind that this unit will go quickly, so I encourage you to put a deposit down as soon as possible if you’re interested.”
“Understood,” Margot replies.
We follow Amanda back to the leasing office, where she retrieves our IDs and makes a last-ditch effort to pry a deposit out of us. Margot stands firm on her decision though, and we head back to the parking lot.
Once we’re in the car, Margot sits back in her seat and stares out the window like she’s pondering something.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“Yeah,” she says easily, but her voice carries a note of tension. “It’s just… are you sure you don’t know that woman from somewhere?”
“Absolutely positive.”
Margot nods, mostly to herself.
My stomach clenches a little, guilt pooling deep in my gut.
This is an unfortunate side effect of these last couple years of dating apps and one-night stands.
I never really stopped to consider how it might affect a future partner, mostly because I didn’t actually expect to fall for anyone.
I hate the thought of Margot second-guessing my past with any of these other women, or my future with her.
“Listen,” I say softly, turning to face her, “I know I have a past, and I’m sorry that sometimes it catches up to me. I never want you to feel uncomfortable or wonder if I’m telling the truth. I’ll never lie to you about anything, Margot.”
Her smile is soft, reserved, but her gaze still feels a million miles away. “No, I know. I just got a weird vibe from that woman, but let’s not dwell on it.”
I agree that whole interaction was a bit strange, but I also agree that it’s not worth dwelling on.
“Okay,” I say. Then I lift my eyebrows suggestively, changing the tone of the conversation. “Want to go back to my place for a nooner then order some Thai food?”
Margot’s smile widens and her eyes finally find mine. “Obviously,” she says with a laugh.