Page 49 of Never Let Go

23

FOSTER

I went to check out the apartment I’d heard about at Kane’s place. Before I’d even walked in, I loved it. Since I’d scheduled a viewing, a parking spot had been reserved for me in a surprisingly light and airy parking lot beside the building. Even that made me fall in love with it a little bit.

Once I got into the actual building, it only kept getting better. The light and airy feeling of the parking lot continued with lots of huge windows to let in natural light, potted greenery, and a really fast elevator.

It deposited me on the top floor, letting me out into a wider and lighter than usual hallway. I strode to the open door right at the end. When my friends and coworkers had done their house-hunting in the past, they’d always told me that you just get a feeling about some places.

I’d thought it was bullshit. I’d chosen my current place based on price and proximity to the Sight Unseen office building, and I’d been perfectly happy there for years now, but this was different. As soon as I’d driven into the parking lot, I’d been able to see myself arriving home to it every day. With every step I took, I only got more and more certain.

Kane’s friend, Avery, met me at the door, grinning as he waved me in. “You have that look on your face. I don’t need to sell you on this place, do I?”

“No, not really,” I admitted, not too worried about it since the guy was Kane’s friend. “It’s doing a pretty great job of selling itself so far.”

He chuckled. “It does that. Come on in and take a look around, but if you really do like it, I’m going to need an answer from you soon.”

“Is there a lot of interest?”

He lifted both eyebrows and nodded firmly. “I’ve had six calls to arrange viewings so far just today and I’m not the only realtor on the place. When I arrived, someone else was here with another client. I’m not telling you this to pressure you, but to warn you. If you want it, you’re going to have to act fast.”

“Okay, let’s take a look around then.” I strode around him into the apartment, immediately struck by the amount of space it offered.

The ceilings were high and there were no unnecessary walls, creating almost cavernous living areas that were all open to one another but were somehow still warm and inviting. With slightly off-white paint on the solid walls and windows making up all the rest, the place seemed huge.

The kitchen was modern and functional, with everything exactly where I’d have put it if I’d done it myself. A center island with the stove in it made for a great place to hang out without being isolated while cooking. The two fireplaces—one wood and one not—added to the overall homey feel of the place, and it was a theme that continued throughout.

The rooms were large. The spaciousness continued as Avery gave me the tour. I’d been expecting it to end somewhere, but it didn’t. Every room also had amazing views of the water, the ferries, and the city, and it kind of felt like a modern, luxurious, huge treehouse, which I loved.

“And the best part,” Avery said as he led me up a flight of stairs and into the attic. “The Batcave.”

I blinked as my eyes adjusted to the light, and then I grinned. The place was like an adult male playground, with a built-in solid-wood bar, a pool table, some arcade games, and glass display cases showing sports paraphernalia like signed baseballs and collector’s cards. Flags for a variety of Seattle-based teams hung from the exposed rafters, and judging by the size of the speakers, the sound system was great.

Avery nodded as his gaze followed mine around the room. “The rest of this place is amazing, but this is what really sells it for me. I mean, the apartment will grow with you. Parties, marriage, kids, working from home, it can accommodate whatever you need it to. Plus, it’s really centrally located, so the commute to anywhere isn’t too bad, but this? This is what makes it special. This is what differentiates it from the other places in this price range.”

“I’m with you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it, but what’s the catch? Why are these people moving out?”

He grimaced. “It’s a pretty sad story. The current owner’s dad owns a farm in Arkansas. About three months ago, the old man got real sick. Passed a couple of weeks later. My client inherited the farm and he and his family are moving there.”

“Oh. Wow. That is sad.” I looked around and wondered how hard it had to be to leave this place behind. “It’s got nothing to do with the apartment, then?”

Avery chuckled. “Nope. In fact, they’re quite hesitant about selling it. They said they’d have had to be carried out of here feet first if this hadn’t happened, but they’ve got to do what they’ve got to do.”

“They’re not thinking about keeping it and staying here whenever they’re in town?”

He shook his head. “They want to make a clean break. The farm has been in the family for generations, so they don’t want to sell it and he wants to work the land himself instead of hiring someone to do it for him. Plus, his mom still lives on the property, so they’re worried about her. If you’re concerned that you’re going to make an offer and they’re going to reject it because they’re withdrawing the place from the market, don’t be. It’s not going to happen.”

“Sad as the story is, the place couldn’t have come on the market at a better time for me. I’d like to make an offer.”

A wave of dizziness swept through me when I said the words. I wasn’t usually an impulsive guy and buying a multimillion-dollar property wasn’t even something I’d have been able to consider a month ago, but I could afford it now just on the interest I’d be making from the inheritance money I’d invested.

Avery clapped me on the back and chuckled. “Good man. I’m going to expect to be invited to watch the games here a lot.”

“You got it.” I shoved down the nerves making my skin feel like there were bees living right underneath it.

I wanted this place, I could afford it, and if anything happened with the money, I could always back out of the offer within the next ten days. My next meeting with Shelby to sign off on everything was tomorrow, so I’d know in time if some kind of mistake had been made.

Avery extended his hand toward me when we reached the front door. “I’ll have paperwork drawn up and email it to you. If you have any questions, just call me.”