I keep my tone light. “I like it, but for now, it has to come down.”
Jensen scrunches her nose then takes a look around. “Beck, this is insane, how are we going to get everything out today? We have zero boxes and getting all my furniture is going to be a pain. Where are we even going to put it?”
It takes me no time at all to answer. “Leave it here.”
“What?”
“You got any emotional attachment to the big stuff? The bed, tiny kitchen table, and one love seat?”
“Well…no? But it’s my stuff. I don’t want to have to buy new things when I find a new place to live.”
“I’ll buy them.”
“Beck, no, that’s ridiculous. You arenotbuying me new furniture.”
Before I can begin to win this argument with her, there’s a knock at the door. “Perfect, Callie and Will are here, more people to back me up on this.”
Stepping around Jensen, I open the door, but it’s not Callie and Will.
“Can we help you?” I ask the weasel of a man standing in the hall. His salt-and-pepper hair is slicked back, and it takes all my willpower to not punch him in the face when I notice his cut-off shirt that readsWarning, choking hazardwith an arrow pointing down.
“Don’t believe you’re my tenant,” he snarls. “Jensen, I know you’re in there. You get rid of the damn dog yet? Or maybe you want to talk about a deal?”
“The fuck?” I mutter as Jensen appears beside me and sighs heavily.
“This is Charlie, my landlord.” Her disdain is very clearly written all over her face. “I told you, Charlie, I’m not getting rid of my dog.”
Charlie eyes her in a way that has me seeing red. He steps closer as if he were going to just walk right in. I lift my arm to block the door. “I think the fuck not.”
“You heard her, this is my place. I can come in if I so please.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Landlords are required to provide a minimum of twenty-four hours’ notice before entering, and not to mention, have a legitimate reason. So, why don’t you back the fuck up. You’re not coming inside.”
Charlie takes two small steps back and huffs an arrogant laugh. “I see when I said no dogs, you didn’t get the complete picture. Seems like you have this one on a pretty tight leash.”
Jensen looks him dead in the eye. “Yeah, and he’ll bite if I tell him to.”
I’ll bite her, that’s for damn sure.
Jensen places her hand on my arm, lowering it so she can step in front of me. “You know what? I’m so done with letting all this bullshit go. Fuck you. Fuck your rent. You want to change policies, be my guest. I’m moving out of this shithole.”
Charlie takes a small step forward, and, while I hate him breathing the same air as her, Jensen doesn’t flinch, and I’m not about to stop her from standing up for herself. I’ll be here if she needs me.
“Go ahead, you want to be this prick’s whore instead of living here? Go for it, but according to our lease agreement, you owe rent through the month of January.”
Yep, this one’s me.“Consider it paid.” When he blanches, I smile. “I bark on command for her too.”
Jensen’s lips fold tight and her cheeks start to turn bright red. This amazing reaction I get out of her doesn’t last long. She seems to force it down then turns back to Charlie. “Now if you’ll excuse us.”
Charlie looks over at her one more time, then to me before starting his retreat.
“Oh, and Charlie?” Jensen says before he gets too far. “Tell Hank and Tally whatever false narrative they want to spin about me won’t make their shitty reality any better.”
Charlie opens his mouth, but I’m done hearing his voice. I take one step into the hallway and he spins on his heels and out of eyesight.
“Pussy,” I mumble.
“Tip of the iceberg, Beckham,” Jensen groans and walks back in this box of an apartment. She folds her hands on top of her and with the click of the door she spins around to me. “I’ll pay you back for the rent money.”
