“Then find a place with a hot tub.” Stoney squeezes my shoulder. “Nobody has one of those yet. We could have parties.”
“If you find a place and need furniture, I have a guy,” DiCosta says.
“Let ’im find the apartment first,” Kapski says, cuffing him on the arm. “I hear it’s a tight market out there.”
“You’re not wrong.” I peel off from the pack. “Better see this place before someone snaps it up.”
“Go get it, rookie!” Kapski says.
I give him an awkward salute and head toward my Jeep. There’s an extra spring in my step because Forest is meeting me. I asked him to time the driving distance from his place in Erie to this place on the east side of Boulder.
My life is awesome but it’s also a logistical nightmare. I live in Loveland but effectively work in Boulder now. That’s a forty-two minute drive. And Forest’s place is also a forty-minute drive from Loveland.
So I’ve been spending a lot of time behind the wheel of my Jeep—but all for good reasons. The Cougars are starting me in the net once a week, and my performance has been almost as rock solid as my relationship with Forest.
For all these reasons, I’d like to rent something more convenient. The distance from Forest to this new apartment on the edge of Boulder should be like twenty minutes. If I move, I’d be closer to both Forest’s place and the Cougars. My two favorite places in the world.
I warm up the Jeep and text Forest.
Beck
On my way. Lunch after this?
Forest
You know it. Mexican food or horror movie sandwiches?
We’ll make it a game time decision.
Forest
“Units in this development are going FAST!” shouts Jean, the agent who’s showing Beck around. “I signed three leases today!”
I resist the urge to cover my ears. Jean is a tiny human, reaching only to my collar bone. But what she lacks in stature, she makes up for in volume.
“I’ll bear that in mind,” Beck says, taking a step back, trying to save his hearing. “Give me a minute to look around.”
“Absolutely! Take twenty of them, actually! That’s when my next showing is. My calendar is stacked with interested couples!”
Beck winces, but I can’t tell if it’s because of Jean, or because of the apartment. On the one hand, it’s roomy, and I like the open-plan layout. But I saw the price, and it costs a mint, probably because it’s brand new and sparkling.
Literally sparkling, in the case of the white marble countertop. In fact, everything is white. The walls, the surfaces, the sofa and the throw pillows. It’s blinding.
Beck heads into the spacious bedroom, and I follow him. “What do you think?”
I hesitate. I don’t like it, but it’s not my decision. “It’s very attractive in… a clinical sort of way.”
He turns to give me a sideways glance. “Yeah, especially if you’ve ever dreamed of living on the international space station.”
I snicker. “There’s a view of the mountains,” I say, still trying to be supportive. But even the landscaping has the barren feel of new construction.
“The price, though,” he grumbles. “Ouch.”
“Yeah.” I sigh. “It’s a little steamy for this end of Boulder. Maybe you’d rather live closer to the rink.”
“Would I?” He bites his lip. “This place is closer to you. You do realize that matters, right? I drive to Erie a lot.”
“Yeah, you do, and I’m grateful. It’s just that this place is a little… soulless.”
