“This one looks good,” Grant said, showing me his screen. “Three bedroom, close to the lake, updated kitchen.”
“Three bedrooms?”
“Office for you. Gym space for rehab. Master bedroom.”
I studied the listing. It was nice. Really nice. And completely out of our price range if we were splitting it.
“Grant, this is expensive.”
“We can afford it.”
“You can afford it. I haven’t signed the big contract yet.”
“Then I'll cover more until you sign your next deal.” He said it like it was simple. Like money wasn't something we needed to navigate carefully.
“I don't want you paying for everything.”
“Why not?”
“Because—” I stopped, not sure how to articulate it. “Because I don't want to feel like I'm being taken care of. I want this to be equal.”
Grant set his phone down and looked at me. “Jace. I'm forty-one. I've been saving for years. You're twenty-six and just starting out. Our financial situations aren't equal, and pretending they are doesn't help anyone.”
“But—”
“But nothing. We split utilities. We split groceries. We figure out a system that works for both of us. But if I can afford a nicer place and you can't, I'm not going to handicap us just to make it feel fair.”
I exhaled hard. “This is weird.”
“What is?”
“This. Us. Doing normal couple things. I don't know how to do this.”
His expression softened. “Neither do I. But we'll figure it out.”
My phone buzzed. Text from Rook.
Rook:
You guys still looking for a place?
Me:
Yeah why?
Rook:
House next to mine just went on the market. Owner's relocating. Thought you might want first look before it lists publicly.
I showed Grant the text. “Rook's got a lead.”
“Where does Rook live?”
“No idea. Somewhere outside the city, I think.”
Thirty seconds later, Rook sent a listing. I opened it and felt my stomach flip.
It wasn't an apartment. It was a house. Actual house with a yard and a porch and windows that looked out toward water.
