When we finished cleaning the kitchen, I looked around, needing to go. “I um, should probably go. I could use some time at the library.”
Looking around for where I left my things, I remembered I didn’t have a car. And with all that food, I’d have to go home first.
“No. Not yet.” Axel’s voice had lost some of the edge. “I want to look at houses.”
Fuck. I forgot about that. “Okay, yes. Do you have a computer?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “No. I should probably order a new one.”
“It’s okay. Your non-realtor has one. We can use mine.” I sat down in the middle of the sofa and pulled it out of my bag. Axel sat down beside me, leaving very little space between us. My thirteen-inch screen was going to be a challenge. Opening the computer, I powered it on and connected to my hotspot. Axel looked at my phone before taking it from my hand.
“Give that back.”
He smirked down at my screen. “You have dating apps.”
I took it out of his hand. When his fingers brushed mine, I wasn’t so angry at him anymore. “They’re not just for dating. You can find friends there, too. Maybe you should try it.”
“Really? How manyfriendshave you found?” I didn’t appreciate his tone, and the sarcasm made me want to punch him.
“Uh, none of your business.” When I got it back, I placed it under my thigh, well out of his reach. He’d have to wrestle me for it, and I was scrappy. Axel chuckled at me as I searched for real estate sites. “You really should get a qualified realtor to help you.”
“I will. When I’m ready to buy.”
My phone pinged with an incoming text. Opening my messages, I found a text with a link for an opening at the baseball stadium. “Yes,” I hissed. “Finally.”
Axel leaned closer. “What is it?”
I grinned. “A job selling beer at the stadium.”
His face crumpled in distaste. “Why would you want that?”
“Duh. To pay my rent.”
“Turn it down. I can get you a better job when hockey season starts. You can study between periods. I know a guy.”
I scowled at the ostentatious man in front of me. “I don’t need you to pull strings. I am more than capable of getting my own job.”
“If you take that, you’re never going to have time to study. The pay will be better, and you won’t have to work your ass off every night hawking weak beer.”
The big asshole had a point. “I want to apply on my own, without your help.”
He rolled his eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous. Business is all about who you know. And if you’re there, I can keep an eye on you.”
“How are you gonna do that and play hockey?”
He snorted. “Don’t underestimate me, Vaughn. That would be a mistake.”
“I would never,” I mocked, repeating what he said to me earlier. It wasn’t prudent to turn down more pay and a better schedule for the sake of my pride. I hated nepotism, and that was what it felt like. “Promise me you won’t pull any strings.”
He shrugged. “Fine.”
Axel moved closer, wrapping his long arm over the back of the sofa. “Come on. Find me a new place to live.”
As I clicked away, earning my thousand dollars, I allowed myself to dream about a life I’d probably never have. Apartments, brownstones, penthouses, and freestanding homes outside of the city. “I guess we should start with your price range.”
“Is five million enough? The price doesn’t really matter. I can pay more if the place is right.”
“Of course it doesn’t.” He found me funny. Inhaling deeply, I moved the scrollbar to five million to narrow the choices.
