“Unless there’s NDAs,” Riley points out, giving me a motherly look. “That could totally be a thing.”
“Ugh,” I blow out a frustrated breath and lean back against the seat. I don’t even want toconsiderthat this might be the norm.
“It’s going to be okay,” Riley pats my knee. “It could totally be worse. You could’ve slept with all three of them.”
I glare at her, but don’t retort with a comeback before we reach the new apartment building. As we climb out of the car, the difference between this place and my last is striking.
I’m pretty sure the sidewalk outside this place is clean enough to eat off it. There are important-looking people with leather bags walking in and out, and a doorman. I’ve always wanted to live somewhere with a doorman.
We march to the front desk, where a woman with an updo and a blazer the color of wet cement greets us. “Welcome to The Apex,” she chirps. “I think your movers just arrived?”
Riley beams. “That’s us!”
The woman flashes us a super-white smile. “The moving elevator is prepped for you. Here’s your key fob, your pool pass, your—” she rifles through an envelope, hands us a stack of glossy pamphlets—“amenities information and complimentary drink tickets for the rooftop lounge.”
I take the fob, blinking with surprise. “There’s a lounge?” I guess I missed that.
“Of course,” she says. “You can see the entire city from the thirtieth floor.”
Riley does a little spin, jabbing me in the shoulder. “Hell.Yes.”
I let out a giggle and then follow her to the elevator. The thing is so quiet as it ascends toward our floor, that I have to double-check to make sure it’s moving. There’s a full-length mirror inside, which is unfortunate because I look like a woman who lost a wrestling match with a Salvation Army donation bin.
But Riley is grinning like a madwoman at our reflection.
“I swear, this is going to be amazing.” She nudges me. “Just smile.”
“I feel like we’re too poor to be here,” I mumble, watching the elevator numbers tick upward.
“Oh, stop.” She hooks an arm around my shoulder. “They’reluckyto have us. We’re going to be the best tenants ever. No loud noise, no parties, no annoying pets.”
The elevator opens on our floor. Our door is at the end of the hallway, black and heavy, with a keyless lock and a brushed silver knocker.
Riley unlocks it with the flourish of a game show host, and I swallow the hint of excitement building in my chest. Ishouldbe over-the-top like my best friend right now.
But I’m stillsoin my head about Caleb. And Beck. And even Adrian.
Stupid men. Stupid bosses. Stupid work.
Riley takes off, propping the door open as the movers start to carry our things in. I walk into my room. It’s empty, but huge. The closet is a wholeextraroom. The window looks out over the park. There’s even a little balcony, just big enough for a chair and maybe a small table.
I sit down on the carpet in the middle of the floor, and just… breathe.
Everything is totally going to be just fine. Caleb came onto me first. Beck clearly forgot we ever met before. And Adrian? He’s just a normal asshole boss with… weird moments.
Riley breaks my concentration and yanks me up. “Don’t get weird, Mad. You can meditate later. We haveto go see the pool!” She’s vibrating, so happy it feels like she’s going to explode.
“It’s going to besoamazing to wind down in a hot tub every day after work,” she chatters away, as she drags me behind her.
She tugs me out of the apartment and back to the elevator, this time taking it up to the roof. The air is warm, even though it’s still technically spring, and I breathe it in, as I take in the space around me.
“Holy hell,” the words slip from my mouth as I step outside.
The rooftop pool isgorgeous, and I feel a surge of excitement as I scan the cabanas with white curtains and chaise lounges with fluffy towels. There’s a hot tub steaming at the edge, a communal grill, and a row of potted plants that look too healthy to be real. The skyline is so close it feels like you could lean over the glass railing and touch the windows of the next building.
“This is seriously heaven,” Riley whispers. “Oh my god.”
A couple is sprawled in one of the cabanas, sharing a bottle of wine. Another guy is doing laps in the heated pool. There’s a speaker system playing chill house music, and a small group gathered around the outdoor kitchen, laughing with the ease that I watch on commercials and never see in real life.
