Chapter Eight
Weston
“So, do you have a list of places you wanna check out?” I ask Brittany as we step out onto the New York City streets. “Or are we just winging it?”
“Mmm…” Her lips purse together as she digs into her bag. “I have a list of properties I’d like to tour.” I wait for her to pull out the folded piece of paper entirely, and then take it from her when she holds it out.
As I unfold it, my eyes widen. There’s alot.
“There’s no way we can make it to all of these in a day.” I scan the list, seeing that it’s all over the city. “We should probably narrow this down.”
“Well, I want to make sure I have diverse options.” Brittany leans over my shoulder, and I catch a whiff of her perfume—some sort of mix between vanilla and orange? I can’t pinpointwhatit is, but I just know it smells like heaven. “I guess I could eliminate the ones that are out of my budget?” She cuts back into my thoughts.
I clear my throat and lean away. “Yeah, that’s a good plan. Let’s start with the ones that are well within your budget and that maybe you have some favoritism toward the area?”
Brittany looks up at me, her pretty eyes intensely scrutinizing my face. “You’re thorough. I like that.”
I swallow. “Nah, just trying to be helpful. It’s a long list.”
“You’re underestimating my abilities.” Her tone shifts to teasing, and the way she sticks her tongue out at me causes me to chuckle.
“I can’t believe you’re related to Parker,” I joke, shaking my head, before starting in the direction of the first one on the list. It’s only a few blocks from Parker’s, and while I can’t really imagine Brittany living in this area, I’m not opposed to it either.
I wonder if she’d be around more.
“I’d have a long commute from here,” she mentions casually as we walk along the sidewalk, weaving around the slow walkers. “I don’t know that this is the best choice.”
I nod, ignoring the disappointment. “So … should we skip it?”
“Nah,” Brittany says. “I want to see it. It would be kind of cool to be closer to Parker. I’m not sure he’d like that idea though.”
“He might not outwardly show appreciation.” I guide her through the front door of the building. “But I bet he would inwardly be really happy about you being close by. I think he secretly enjoys you staying with him. He’s got the equivalent of the Wall of China up, but beyond that, he’s a softie.”
She’s quiet for a moment as I jab the elevator button. “I never really thought about it like that. But you know, he has his moments.”
I glance back at her as the door slides open. “I think he has a lot more of those moments than he lets on.”
She shrugs, and right as the elevator opens, there’s a real estate agent. I can spot an NYC agent from a mile away, based solely on their attire, and this lady is wearing a pink dress suit with sparkly heels. The pearly white smile she gives us confirms my suspicions.
Uh oh.
“Are you two here to take a look at Apartment 403?”
Brittany smiles, and I realize she can outshine even the most bougie of them all. “Yeah, we are, actually.”
“Iknewit!” The real estate agent beams, sticking out her hand. “I’m Krystal McDella, and I actually just walked through it for one of my clients. Are you represented?”
I look to Brit.Please don’t tell her…
“No, I’m not.”
Ugh. Great. Here’s to being dragged around byKrystalall day.
“I’dloveto help you out!” Krystal explodes with the opportunity, and I wince at the enthusiasm. There is such a thing as being too much.
And that’sexactlywhat Krystal is. Too much.
“I’d love to have the help.” Brittany sighs, and the relief in her voice causes me to feel a little guilty. She turns to me, holding out her hand. “Maybe we can give Krystal the list to sort through? She might know some of these places already?”
