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This was as angry as I had been in months.
And neither of them were even worried about it.
No, they had been just... accepting it?
Fuck no.
Not on my watch.
"I'm listening," I said through a clenched jaw.
"She doesn't mind, Eli. Believe me, I've had a round or two with her about this."
"Why are you even leaving it up to her, though? Why aren't, I don't know, the cops involved?"
"Ease up there, Hottie Mc Death Row," Peyton said, coming out of the bathroom in a robe.
"Peyton, the fucking asshole was standing outside the window watching you take a bath," I objected.
I had been walking Coop, and just so happened around that side of the building. And I knew Peyton was in the tub because she had it running when I left and was murmuring something about 'sizzle you hot bitches' at, I imagined, her bath bombs.
Luckily, Coop had barked and spooked the guy before I could break out of the dazed shock I had been in momentarily.
I might have killed the guy, making Peyton's nickname for me come true.
"I know. He tends to do that. If I were paranoid about it, I would shut the curtains."
"You shouldn't fucking have to because he shouldn't be looking in them. Peeping Toms are committing crimes, Peyton. And, fine, maybe you don't mind--" Though I sure as shit did. "But what about the other women in this building who may be spied on, who might not even know they are being watched?"
"The only other apartments on our level are men and a little old lady. I doubt he's peeping there."
"Jesus Christ. There's no talking to you about this, huh?"
"It's not--" Autumn started.
"A big deal," I finished for her. "I get it."
"Where are you going?"
"To the gym," I answered, not feeling the need to tell her I was making a stop at Ryan's office first.
"What's this?" Autumn asked a couple of weeks later when it was official.
"The deed to this apartment building."
"What!"
So, she wasn't happy about it. To be perfectly honest, I expected that, and it didn't matter. Since I had no proof that Randy was a Peeping Tom - and it could take weeks to get some - and Peyton likely wouldn't testify, and the owner didn't give a shit if the super was a creep so long as the rent checks came on time, I was left with little other option.
"I get you're pissed," I said, rocking back on my heels. "But it was the only way to get Randy out of here. He's packing as we speak."
"You can't just... just buy everything to fix problems," she objected. "I mean, what, if I struggle to cover the rent at the store, are you going to buy that too?"
"Stop," Peyton said, smirking, "you're giving him ideas now."
"You can't own my apartment building."
My.
See, that was another part of the surprise that day.
"That's the thing. I was wondering if you would think about moving in with me in my old apartment."
She had been there several times with me, helping me get my new shit in there, you know, the stuff I was keeping from the duplex, which was very little. She even spent the night a few times. She loved the decor there, the building itself, the common rooms, the land around it. I actually caught her lovingly stroking the countertops while she sipped her coffee.
There was a heavy silence following that.
I knew what I was asking.
I knew that the dynamic with Autumn and Peyton and me was important to them, to me as well. I loved having Peyton around. But we couldn't all be roomies forever. Some day, she was going to find herself a man too, and then there would be a rush for everyone to figure out living situations.
"I'm not saying full-time," I qualified. "You can keep your room here, and we can spend as much time here as you want. Oh, and the rent here is dropping. That asshole was gouging all of you to fund a gambling habit."
"Okay, wait," Autumn said, shaking her head. "One thing at a time. You bought this building."
"Yes."
"How?"
"I sold the tutoring place to a friend of my father's which gave me enough. It's a smart business move - income properties. That's why Shane has one."
"Ah, okay," she said, eyes a little unfocused like she wasn't getting it. "So... this was your solution to the thing that we told you wasn't a problem?"
"Look, sweetheart, if you're moving in with me - and, yes, I know that is still an if - but if you do, Peyton will be here alone most of the time. I know he's seemed relatively harmless up until now, but do you want to take that chance? I don't."
"Aw, Autumn, he loves me. He wants to protect my quote-unquote honor."
"Something like that," I agreed. "And since we're taking Coop, you're getting a dog of your own."
