He takes a step back and moves to my side. “We’re doing this together. I have a deposit in my savings, and I bought this place a few years ago when apartments were cheaper, so I can sell this.”
I nod. “I still have the proceeds of the sale of my parents’ house. They had a mortgage, but there wasn’t a huge amount left, so that’s been my nest egg for all these years. I’d like to keep Gran’s place—I thought I could rent it out while I take my time to find a job here.” Turning the element off, I breathe in the tomato pasta sauce.
“That smells amazing. I can’t wait,” Patrick says.
“How about you take a seat and I’ll bring it to you?” I place a gentle kiss on his lips.
“Okay, but tomorrow I’ll take care of the dinner and the pampering.”
“Sounds good to me.”
I plate the two meals and carry them into the living room. The news is on the television in the background, and I take a seat next to him on the couch and hand him his plate.
“This feels very … domestic.” He smiles.
“Your apartment’s nice. Shame it’s not bigger.”
“Do you really want to live in an apartment?”
I lean back and shrug. “Right now I’d be happy that we’re all together.”
We eat in silence and when we’re done, I collect his plate despite his protests and rinse them both off before putting them in the dishwasher.
After pouring two glasses of wine, I return to the living room, placing the glasses on the coffee table.
“I ran into Vicki this afternoon.”
He frowns. “Vicki?”
“Vicki as in your ex-girlfriend?”
Patrick snorts. “What the hell? Of all the people you could meet.”
“I know. It really is a small world.”
He leans back on the couch. “I bet that was fun.”
I drop onto the couch beside him and snuggle against his side. He wraps one arm around me and pulls me closer.
“It was educational. I know what happened the night of the party now.”
His eyes search mine. “You spoke about it?”
“She brought it up.” I bite my bottom lip. “You didn’tcheat on me. I know we already decided that something went on, but it turns out that she put Kelly’s mother’s Valium in your drink. You got sleepy and she set the whole thing up.”
Patrick’s mouth falls open. “She drugged me?”
“Clearly it didn’t completely knock you out, but it does explain why your eyes were glazed over. I thought it was the alcohol.”
“I had one drink.”
“I thought you could be lying.” Tears prick my eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“No, you had no idea.” He cups my cheek. “I wish you hadn’t gone through that.”
“We’re together now.”
Patrick presses his forehead to mine. “We are, and once we get this house, I want to make that permanent.”
