Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“I hope he’s eating her.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“Her stuff, I mean,” I quickly added on. “And using her shampoo. Her razor too,” I added for good measure.
Hannah laughed. “Oh. Yeah. Me too.”
“I’m pretty easy. We can decide who does what, and I have no problem helping out. Brett and I did our own laundry and cleaned our bathrooms, but we divided the rest up. As for cooking, we can figure that out. Whatever works for us is good. I won’t weigh my cereal. Just don’t pick out all the marshmallows in the Lucky Charms.” I winked at her.
She chuckled. “Deal.”
“Where are you living now?”
“Crashing on a friend’s sofa.”
“Do you have a lot to move in?”
“My bedroom furniture, some boxes, and I do have a newer sofa I want to keep. And a couple of chairs. Some tables and pictures. They’re all in my friend’s storage locker.”
“No worries. The living room is kinda sparse. I haven’t really done much since Brett moved out with Kelly. Most of the stuff was his, although he left me a few pieces.”
“So I can put that in the living room?”
“Knock yourself out.”
“When can I move in?”
“Today works.”
“Don’t you want to check my references or do a background check on me? I could be trouble,” she added with a wink.
“I think the police force is enough of a background check. And I trust you.”
I didn’t say anything about the trouble remark. I already knew she was going to be trouble. The very best kind.
She laughed and extended her hand. “You just got yourself a new roomie, Chase. I’ll go get some paint swatches today.”
I wrapped my hand around hers, pleased at how well they fit together. “Welcome.”
“Awesome.”
CHAPTER TWO
Chase
On Sunday, I went to Stefano’s for a barbecue. I loved being included in the group. These men and women had become my family. My own had wanted little to do with me, and once my father and brother died, I was alone. That was until I’d gotten up the balls to apologize to Charly for my past behavior and she had taken me under her wing.
Now I had all of them. Maxx and Charly. Stefano, Gabby, Brett, and Kelly. Theo and the smaller kids. Brett’s dad, Mack, and Stefano’s mom, Rosa, had recently been married, and they were often at the barbecues or get-togethers. Mary and her new beau joined us on a regular basis. All of them I now considered my family.
I grabbed a beer and headed to the barbecue pit where Stefano and Brett were basting a huge roast beef, the smell enticing. We clinked bottles in silent hellos and watched Theo kicking a soccer ball with Mack and Thomas. Vivvy sat with her mom, occasionally investigating the game, toddling over to be closer, only to be led back by Theo, who always watched over her.
“How was the roommate search?”
I picked at the label on my bottle, trying to appear casual. “Some odd people out there. But I think I found a good one.”
“Well, there might be a problem,” Brett said with a frown.
“What?” I asked.
“Old Man Hyde called me last night. He was calling me back because I had left him a message about transferring the lease to your name only. But he said he thinks he’s going to sell the place.”
“Damn. Why?”
“He’s moving closer to be with his daughter. He doesn’t want the responsibility of being a landlord anymore, even though he says we were great tenants and he was sure you would carry that on.”
I took a sip of my beer. I thought about how excited Hannah was the day before, mulling over colors, asking if maybe we could paint the living room too. She had walked around the garden again, full of ideas about what vegetables and flowers to plant. I could hardly wait for her to move in and get to know her more.
“…you should really think about it, Chase.”
I looked up, startled. I had been so deep in my thoughts, I hadn’t heard what Brett said.
“What?”
He laughed. “I said you should get over this issue with your money. Buy the house. It’s a good, solid investment. You’re not proving anything by keeping the money in the bank.”
Stefano nodded, lifting the lid of the barbecue and basting the meat again. “You won’t even touch the principal to buy the house. So technically, you’re not using your dad’s money. You’re using the money you made with it. And Brett is right. You like the place. You can buy it, do some improvements, and make it yours—really yours.”
I pursed my lips. They made sense. And if the place were mine, Hannah could do whatever she wanted and I wouldn’t have to get permission. I could give her leave to do whatever made her happy.
“I think you’re right,” I said.
They both stopped what they were doing.