He sighs. “You already know what I’m going to say. But I don’t want to pressure you into staying with me. I know what we have is very new, and I am trying my hardest not to mess this up by pushing you too far, too quickly. Because if it were up to me, I’d have you moving in with me in a heartbeat.”
I place a hand on his bearded cheek as I press up on my tiptoes and place a gentle kiss on his lips. A part of me thought he would suggest this, but I didn’t want to assume he’d want me to become the official squatter of all of his properties.
“But,” he continues, “I also know you well enough to know that you need your own place. Somewhere that you can call your own.”
My heart soars at how deeply this man understands me.
I was already trying to line up the right words to express why it was important for me to have my own spot, but of course, he already knew.
Because this is Luke. My Luke.
“I want nothing more than to wake up in your arms every morning. And trust me, I will be enforcing an absurd number of sleepovers.” I continue to smile as he feigns indignation. “But I also know that I owe it to myself to finally stand on my own two feet. To live in a place where I’m allowed to paint the wall colors that make me happy. Buy fun and colorful throw pillows that match the season. Have a mismatched gallery wall full of the faces of loved ones and pictures of me and my mom together before she passed. I want to be able to live in a home that tells the story of who I was, who I am, and who I strive to be. Because for most of my life my home has been more of a prison cell, and now that I’m finally out, I need a safe space where I can feel free.”
He leans down and places a sweet kiss on my lips. “I know, Daisy. You don’t need to explain yourself to me. And you’re right. You deserve all that and more. And I think I can help.”
He pulls his phone from his pocket, then walks over to the cell booster. He gives me a teasing look and switches it back on so he can use his phone. After a couple of taps, he’s handing his phone over. The listing for a two-bedroom apartment with the most stunning views of the East River makes my jaw drop.
I start swiping immediately. The kitchen is decorated in warm tones of brown instead of bland whites and grays. The entire place has high ceilings, making it feel like you’re anywhere but an apartment in the busiest city in the world.
And in the description, it says that there are only two apartments per floor, so I won’t have to worry about privacy.
“Luke, this is amazing. How did you find this so fast?”
“My realtor has private listings I’m privy to” is all he offers, and I’m too busy salivating over the deep tub in the master bathroom to badger him with more questions like I typically would.
“This is probably already snatched up. Is it even for rent or sale? Do I need to send a deposit to show interest—”
“How about I shoot him an email with your number, and you two can go over the details? This is all you, Daisy. If you really want this place to be yours, tell him and don’t let him take no for an answer. The rest we can handle from here. It’s unfurnished, but that’s probably best so you can pick out every single piece of furniture yourself. If you close the deal today, we can have a mattress delivered by tonight. So at the very least you have a comfortable place to sleep while you decide what you want to do with the place.”
I throw my arms around his neck as I squeal. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” I kiss his cheek repeatedly. “The apartment is perfect. It’s… it’s a place where I can have friends over for game night!” I say excitedly.
He chuckles. “Hmm, only your friends?”
I nod along pensively. “You’re right. My brother as well. We have been a great cooking duo as of late.”
He catches on to my teasing. “I see. Anyone else missing from that guest list?”
I look up and to the side. “Oh, you’re right! Silly me. I’m sure some of the Monarchs players would love—”
I yelp as he lifts me easily and sets me on the kitchen island, quickly settling between my open legs. I keep my arms right where they are, not showing an ounce of remorse as his face warns me of what’s to come if I finish that sentence.
I blow a curl out of my face and sigh. “Well, I guess it might be nice to have a place where my boyfriend can come visit me when he comes home after a long stretch of away games.”
His face loses all traces of humor.
Shit.
I was really feeling overconfident there, trying to slyly slide in that boyfriend comment undetected. Looks like I gravely miscalculated.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
He pulls me in tighter, one hand now on the back of my head as if he’s bracing to kiss me. “You calling me your boyfriend now, Daisy?”
I clear my throat, nodding as I dig deep for my courage. “I am. Is that crazy?”
His eyes smile as they rove over mine. “Not any crazier than me secretly pining for an engaged woman over the last year.”
I smirk. “Yeah, I guess that was pretty certifiable.”
