I know that as soon as she moves out, things will change. She’ll be busy with class and work. I’ll be busy with hockey. We’ll hardly see each other.
I can’t keep her from moving though. I just want to make sure she’s safe.
“Will you at least let me come with you when you look at places?” I ask. “I know you’re capable of doing this on your own, but I’ve lived in Denver longer. I know what neighborhoods are decent and which ones suck. It’ll be better to have help instead of doing this all on your own.”
She flashes that warm smile. “That would be amazing. Thanks, Blake.”
Chapter 4
Briar
“Wait, this is a basement unit?” I glance around. “I thought the listing said it was on the first floor?”
The landlord flashes a wide smile. “It is on the first floor.”
I look out the window in the living room, frowning at how half of the apartment is underground.
“Technically, because sixty percent of the unit is above ground, it counts as first floor,” she says.
“Oh.” I can’t hide the disappointment in my tone. I look around at the dark space. It’s mid-morning and sunny out, but hardly any direct sunlight comes into the apartment.
I’d hate living in such a dark space all the time.
“You’re still interested, right?” she asks brightly.
I hesitate for a moment as I try to think of a way to politely break it to her that I don’t actually want to rent this place, but before I can say anything, Blake speaks.
“She’s got some other places to look at today before she makes a decision,” he says.
I let out a quiet breath, relieved at how smoothly he handled that.
“Oh, of course. I understand,” the landlord says. “It’s just that I have quite a few people interested in viewing this unit, and I don’t want you to miss out.”
I make my way to the door. Blake follows me.
“We’ll be in touch,” Blake says.
“Thanks for taking the time to show this to us,” I say.
We walk out the front door, out of the building, and down the sidewalk.
I let out a breath and grab Blake’s arm. “I really didn’t like that place.”
“I could tell. It was written all over your face.” The corner of his mouth hooks up in a playful smile as he looks down at me.
I scrunch my face, a little embarrassed. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
“I hope I wasn’t rude.”
“You weren’t. But even if you were, it would have been justified. It was misleading of her to list that place as a first-floor apartment when half of it was underground.”
“Yeah, I think so too.”
I realize I’m still holding his arm, so I let go. I probably shouldn’t be touching him so much. Especially after overhearing his conversation with his roommates earlier this morning.
I think about how, when I was walking down the stairs and into the kitchen, I overheard him say he was going to hook up with that beautiful dark-haired girl from the party last night, but he didn’t because I was sleeping in his bed.
