AllFreeNovel
Share Us
That makes me smile, some of the tension in my shoulders fading. “Good point. What happens in Europe stays in Europe.”
“At least until we touch back down in Vancouver.”
“Speaking of, have you settled on a place yet? I’m assuming you’ll want to be ready to move in as soon as we get home.”
Ivy’s hunt for a new apartment has been a tedious one, with her extravagant ideas and medium-sized budget, but as far as I know, she has the search narrowed down to two places: a mid-size studio downtown only a short walk from her new job or a two-bedroom place twenty minutes west and a taxi ride away.
She blows a strand of curly hair out of her face and drops a neon yellow one-piece suit into my suitcase.
“The landlord for the place downtown won’t budge on the rent.”
“Can you afford it as it is?”
“Yes, but I don’twantto pay that much.”
I laugh softly, tossing a stack of shorts into my case. “You don’t have to move out, you know. I love having you as my roommate.”
She’s sweet, funny, and cleans up after herself. I mean, really, what’s not to like about living with your best friend? I’m going to miss her so much. Living on your own is great for a while, but the buzz wears off when you’re eating dinner alone for the fiftieth night in a row.
“You know I wouldn’t unless I didn’t have another choice. But this place is too far from work. It’s cheaper for me to pay more in rent than it is to keep taking the long Uber rides twice a day.”
I don’t bother hiding my frown. “I know. But I’m still sad.”
Her arm slips across my back as she squeezes me. I press my cheek to her shoulder. “We still have two months together before we have to think about it. Put it in the back of your mind. I’m going to get us a drink before we finish the rest of this.”
Releasing me, she rushes out of the room, and as I hear her open the fridge and pop the cork on a new bottle of wine, I let myself smile.
Two months of uninterrupted time with my best friend.
Yeah, I think I can focus on that.
2
ADALYN
“What doyou mean you can’t go?” I shriek, utterly horrified.
Ivy sucks in a breath through the phone. “I’m so sorry, Addie. He said I can have the place at a lower rate, but I have to move in at the end of this month. It’s that or nothing.”
“Tell me where you are, and I’ll be there as soon as I can. This dickwad has another thing coming if he thinks he’s going to take you from me. Fuck him!” I shout, not caring that I’m being watched and gawked at by a crowd of photographers and models.
Their judgment can kiss my ass.
“Please understand where I’m coming from here. I need this place, Addie. It’s perfect. I can’t pass it up,” Ivy pleads.
“Of course you can’t pass it up! That’s why I’m so pissed.” My voice drops to a whisper, one that shakes with nerves. “We leave in three days. I can’t go alone. I can’t do it.”
Fear grips me tight, squeezing and squeezing until I’m sure I’ll pop.
“Honey,” she sighs.
The tenderness in her tone has me waving pitifully at the lead photographer and scurrying out of the shoot, a sting behind my eyes.
“Where are you going, Adalyn? You’re up next!” I hear but don’t look back before entering the hall.
“Who tells a possible tenant they need to move into a place with a week’s notice? A total ass sucker, that’s who,” I hiss before angrily swiping at the tears streaking down my cheek, ruining my makeup. “Are you sure that’s who you want to rent a place from?”
The door to the dressing room is open, but I close it behind me, wanting—no,needing—privacy. Some time alone to think.
