“That sounds nice,” I said.
“Addison is always keeping me current.” Meredith nodded. “I don’t know where I’d be without her.”
“You’d be a workaholic with very little social life,” William said, stepping into the room.
“What do you think of the house?” Meredith asked him.
“I love it,” William said with some excitement in his voice. “I love the neighborhood, and the guest house would be perfect when we have our family visit,” William said to me as he put an arm around my waist. I responded by wrapping my arm around his so I wouldn’t be standing there awkwardly.
I followed Meredith and William out of the house. I went to the car and immediately googled William’s name and Most Eligible Bachelor. Nothing came up. I googled “Most Eligible Bachelor Ave Mag William.” I clicked the link to the article and scrolled through the list of names and photos until I saw William’s picture. He was walking on what appeared to be a red carpet. William looked like a fucking supermodel moving past a red velvet rope into who-knows-where. He wasn’t looking directly at a camera. He looked as if he just effortlessly existed among this glitz. He was listed asWill P. from NYC.
How did Veronica miss this? I pressed the arrow to send her the link and added the message, “Check out Will P. from NYC…”
Veronica immediately texted back “Fuck me. Are you kidding?”
William and Charles chatted on the porch for a few moments, then William joined me in the car. “I really liked this one,” William said. “Should we look at more houses tomorrow, or what do you think?”
“It feels so soon to make an offer,” I said. I could see the disappointment on William’s face, so I pivoted. “Look, if I wasn’t in the picture, what would you do? Would you make an offer tomorrow?”
He shook his head. “No, you’re very much in the picture. You’re in all the pictures now. You’re in all the future pictures. So, that’s what I’m going to consider. What you think matters to me.”
I pressed back into the car seat, and before I lost my nerve, I forced myself to say, “Do we know each other well enough to be moving this fast?”
William’s head whipped around toward me, and I could see the concern on his face, but his voice was measured and comforting. “Hey, where’s this coming from?”
I sighed and looked out the car window. “Veronica and I kind of got into it earlier today. She said we were moving too fast, and I barely know you.”
He reached across the car console and touched my leg. “Kit, you can ask me anything, I’m an open book.”
“Okay, when were you going to tell me you’re one of this year’s Most Eligible Bachelors in NYC?” I held up my phone so he could see the picture of himself.
“Well, technically, I was one oflastyear’s most eligible bachelors,” William said, tilting his chin up as if the distinctionwas important. “This year I’m one of the most committed and in love people in Atlanta.” William didn’t question how I had found the list.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Your charm will not win you points. In fact, I think this is how you got onto this list.”
William chuckled. “I am sure I got onto that list because Penny, in PR at our firm, wanted us to have a younger, hipper image to attract young-money investors—so she probably floated my name to the magazine editor over cocktails.”
I let my head drop back and looked at the headliner of the car. “That doesn’t make it any better, William.”
He laughed. “Okay. Well, I’m sure there are lots of things about you I don’t know.”
“Um, not really. You lived in my childhood home with me for five months. You met all my friends and saw where I worked. You’ve seen me wearing a retainer,” I retorted. “I think you have a really clear picture of who I am.”
William kept his eyes on the road. “Okay, I’m not on any other lists that I’m aware of. Is there anything else bothering you?”
“Addison said you’re rich,” I blurted out.
William tilted his head to one side and said, “I wouldn’t say I’m rich. It’s not like I’m old money rich. I was raised by a single, immigrant mom. I’m not rich likeCharleston coastal mansionrich—like Matt and his family—but yes, I’m not poor anymore.”
“But you’re rich enough that a house that’s listed for over half a million dollars feels within your budget. Like you didn’t even bat an eye when Charles told you the asking price,” I said sharply.
“I’m sorry,” William said hesitantly.
“I guess.”
“Well, are you sorry?” I asked in a huff.
“I want to make sure I know what I’m apologizing for,” William said cautiously. “I hear that you’re upset that you didn’t know how much money I was earning before and that it’s news to you that I am in a comfortable situation financially.”
