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“I never paid the price of your decisions,” he told her. “I loved your decisions.” He cleared his throat. “Back when we made them together, they were the best decisions ever.”
She tried to ignore the way her heart flipped at his words. It was only muscle memory, wasn’t it? “You always know how to say the right thing.”
He smiled. “Not really. But I always know how to say the truthful thing, so maybe that helps.”
“Will you let me know if he causes you any problems?”
“I can handle him, Brooke. I’m not afraid of your father. The only hold he ever had over me was my mom, and… yeah. He doesn’t have that any more.”
Another heart lurch. She was almost getting used to them. “Even so, let me know, okay?” She was feeling stronger. Amazing how he always knew the right words to say. It had been way too long since she’d heard them, though.
“Okay,” he agreed. “And I’ll meet you at the school in the morning.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” She liked the idea of him coming with her. Maybe too much.
“Yes, I’m sure. As long as you’re okay with it.” His voice was warm, soft. Like a blanket she wanted to wrap herself in.
She took a deep breath. He wasn’t asking her to marry him, he wasn’t asking her to give up her firstborn. He wasn’t asking for anything at all. They were two adults looking for a space she could call home. “Yes,” she said, smiling at him. “I’d like your help with apartment hunting.”
“In that case, I’ll see you in the morning.”
14
He could tell by the slump in her shoulders this apartment was the same as the last. He didn’t even need to step inside to take a look – it was a bust. He watched as the realtor pointed things out to Brooke, and she nodded, her face taking on a look of polite interest. But he knew her, and he knew what she looked like when she was getting dejected. No wonder. With the little money she had available, she could never afford anything better than this.
“And you’re certain your father couldn’t help with the lease?” the realtor asked for the second time. “With his backing, you’d be able to secure something better. I have a few new listings which might interest you.”
“No, I want to pay for this on my own.” Brooke looked around the tiny living space, her expression neutral as she took in the gouges on the walls, the threadbare stained carpet, the kitchen cupboard doors hanging off. “I’m sure with a bit of work I can make this look like home.”
Aiden couldn’t stand it anymore. For the past two hours he’d tried to be silent as they looked at apartment after apartment, watching as she slowly began to accept exactly what her wages could get them. A home far worse than the one he’d grown up in. No place for a child to live.
“Brooke, can I talk to you for a moment?” He glanced at the realtor. “In private?”
The realtor nodded. “I’ll be outside. Come and find me when you’re ready.”
A moment later she closed the door behind her, leaving them alone in the fleapit masquerading as an apartment. Brooke looked around again, this time letting the dismay pull at her expression, her bottom lip trembling as she took everything in. “Can you believe this is at the top range of my budget?” she asked him, her voice quiet. “I feel so stupid. Like a poor little rich girl finally mingling with the masses.”
His laugh was small but genuine. “You’re hardly that. Why would you know how much rent cost if you hadn’t needed to before?”
“Because I’m an adult. And I’m a mother, too. I should know these things. Especially if I’ve made my son homeless.” She bit her lip. He hated the way she looked so sad. He wanted to pull her into his arms, make everything okay.
There went his knight in shining armor complex again. He should trade his Mercedes in for a prize steed.
“You know the price of a loaf of bread, right?” he asked her.
She looked up at him, confused. “Yes.”
“And a gallon of milk?”
“Yeah. But what does that have to do with anything?”
He took a step toward her, wanting to cut through the space between them. “It means you’re not out of touch with reality. There’s no possible reason for you to study the real estate market unless you were planning to dive into it. And until this week, you didn’t have those plans.”
“I never intended to live with my parents forever,” she told him. “I was always planning to move out as soon as I got a job after graduating.”
“There you go.” Aiden shrugged. “And by that point you would be able to afford something better.”
She let out a big sigh. “I guess. And until then we’ll have to settle for a place like this.”
