“Yes.”
“They take their baths in the same place they do the laundry?”
“Is that an American thing?” Alok adds.
I laugh. “He says that the previous owners washed their pets a lot.”
“Uh-huh. I still think it’s weird,” Alok says.
“And look how high off the floor it is. You have toclimbinto it,” Anil adds.
“But if you’re washing a dog, you don’t have to be on your knees to do so,” I point out.
The brothers make the same expression as they lift their shoulders as if thinking,fair point.
I leave the laundry room and stop at the kitchen, which is directly across from the entryway. The pantry is pretty nice too, though I’m not sure I have anything to compare it to. I love all the space for options, though.
The kitchen, dining and living is one open space in an L-shape, so we walk through into the living room where the walls of windows are on two sides. Bypassing the table, I press the phone to the glass.
Anil and Alok make appreciative sounds of approval about my view. I nod. Then I bring them to the other window perpendicular and show them that view.
“Julian says he chose the condo because of the windows and the tub in the laundry for his hockey pads,” I tell them.
“The views are definitely worth it, I think,” Anil says.
I move them through the living room and down into the hall, pushing open the door to the guest room that doesn’t have mystuff in it. I show them the door to the one that does and skip on by into Julian’s room.
I’m not sure why I’m pretending that I’m fully moved into Julian’s room. I think they’d understand if I was honest with them. A few days ago, I was at the point where I wanted to call and admit everything because I was… frustrated, confused, and maybe a little hurt. I didn’t know what to do.
But I feel better now. I feel like Julian and I are getting somewhere. Albeit slowly.
“I’m going to be honest,” Alok says. “Everything looks a little cold and devoid of personality.”
I laugh as I look around. “I agree.”
“Has he not let you add some color?” Alok asks.
“I haven’t asked. It hasn’t even crossed my mind to ask.”
“Would he be opposed to it, do you think?”
I look around as I consider his question. “I don’t know. I don’t think he would. He’s been learning how to cook our cuisine for me so I think he’d be open to it.”
“He is?” Anil asks, smiling hugely. “That’s sweet of him.”
“It is,” I agree. Considering he was doing this from almost the very first morning, despite him being thrown for a loop when I turned out to be a man instead of a woman, I think it’s actuallyincrediblysweet and thoughtful of him.
Jash joins the call then. “Sorry, I’m late. Putting the babies to bed. Why am I looking at a toilet?”
We laugh. “Sorry,” I say and take a step back to give him a broader view of the bathroom. “We started talking about décor and I guess I just stopped moving. This is the bathroom attached to the bedroom.”
“You missed the tour of their condo,” Alok says.
“That’s what you get for having home duties,” Anil says.
“No way. Start again,” Jash demands. “I like being a part of my babies’ routines. You’re just going to have to get used to it, spoiled brothers.”
I grin as I turn around and follow the path I took with Anil and Alok, but backwards, as they dispute whether they’re spoiled. Truth be told, I’m pretty sure we’re all spoiled. That’s just the world we grew up in.
