Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
It was strange and wonderful to have so many people around me who wanted to spend time with me, who were kind and supportive and, above all else, loyal. Because that was the most important thing in this big found family I now found myself as a part of.
I got distracted by my books, sorting through them and carrying them out stack by stack. On my last trip out, Rico had finished the round, rotating bookshelf and put it in its new home.
“You want help organizing them?” he asked, waving toward the books piled on the coffee table.
“Actually, first, I should maybe thank you for all your hard work,” I said, walking over to him, watching his eyes go heated as I lowered down onto my knees in front of him and slid my hands up my thighs.
Then I went ahead and showed him this new technique I’d read about in one of those books on the table.
Rico - 8 months
“You gotta have an open mind,” I told Kick as we walked up the street toward the condo I was thinking of buying.
“Okay…” she said, brows pinching.
“It’s about the potential,” I added as we approached the building.
“Is this your careful way of telling me it’s a complete wreck?” she asked, clearly knowing me too well already.
“It… needs some work,” I admitted as the real estate agent moved outside to let us in.
The building itself was nice. New floor, new paint, all the bells and whistles when it came to security and amenities.
But the previous owners of the penthouse had started to do major renovations only to run out of money. Then go to jail for their insider trading.
“I’m starting to think you are lying just to surprise me,” Kick said as we walked off the elevator to the top hall featuring two penthouses, looking at the 3D wallpaper and the bronze wall sconces.
The real estate agent shot me a knowing smile as she pressed the key into the lock, then let us move inside on our own.
“Oh… wow,” Kick said, eyes going round as she took in the mess.
The walls were stripped down to the studs. The floors had been ripped up, leaving just the plywood underneath our feet as we moved inside.
“I did warn you,” I said. “But, look at it this way, we can choose every detail. Even where the walls go,” I added. “We could do two bigger spare rooms. Or three slightly smaller ones,” I told her, leading her around the space. “I even saved some ideas for built-in features for Evander. And bookshelves for you.”
“You don’t have to—“
“We,” I cut her off, “will be making it the perfect place for us and that includes somewhere to put your books. But if you’d rather pick somewhere fully finished already, we can do that. This will be a solid eight to twelve months of construction here.” Even with tossing as much money at the Costa construction company as I wanted to incentivize them.
“I’m not in a rush,” she said. “I like spending time with Bass,” she insisted. I was sure it helped that Bastian still spent most nights out of the apartment, only coming home in the early hours of the morning to catch a shower and some sleep. “I like the idea of getting to pick everything out ourselves. I mean, not that I am any good at that kind of thing. But you are.”
And after living with her for months, I was starting to see the types of things she liked and needed, so I could incorporate that kind of shit into the build too. More space in the bathroom cabinets. More linen closets. A comfortable chair to read in. Room for the plant collection that seemed to be growing by the day.
“Wanna see one of the best parts?” I asked, reaching for her hand.
“Absolutely,” she agreed, letting me lead her through what would, eventually, be the primary bedroom. Then through the sliding glass doors and out onto the massive balcony.
“Oh, wow,” she gasped, eyes going wide. “We could put plants out here! An actual garden. And furniture. We could start hosting outdoor parties,” she said, rounding the edge of the building. There was a tall cement wall blocking our side of the balcony from the other penthouse’s one.
By the time she came back around, I already had the box out of my pocket and in my hand.
“What…” she started, then her gaze went to the ring nestled in the blue velvet.
“Marry me,” I said, watching as her eyes went glassy. “And I promise I’ll build you your very own library.”
“With a ladder for gliding on?” she asked, sniffling.
“And room on top for plants,” I agreed.
“Yes,” she said, reaching to grab my face and pull it to hers, sealing her lips to mine before I could even get the ring on her finger.