Part of me feels guilty for making him wait, but another part—the part that’s still buzzing from forty minutes of conversation with Weston—doesn’t regret our coffee detour one bit.
I haven’t laughed that much in months, maybe longer.
“Look who finally decided to show up,” Parker calls out. “Did you two stop for a full-course meal, or just coffee?”
“Sorry,” I say. “The line was crazy.”
“Uh-huh.” Parker eyes our coffee cups with suspicion. “Must’ve been some line.”
“My fault. I insisted we get the best coffee in the city,” Weston insists.
“He’s very persuasive,” I add, trying to help Weston out. “Very compelling arguments about the importance of proper hydration during physical labor.”
“Coffee is dehydrating,” Parker points out dryly.
“Details.” I wave dismissively. “Let’s get moving. I’m dying to get settled.”
I grab the same box I carried out, and lock up the car, awkwardly fumbling with the key fob.
“Show me to the service elevator,” Parker grunts, arms full, nodding to the door.
Since I really don’t know where I’m going, I completely wing it, following the signs until we come to the oversized door. I use my knee to punch theUpbutton, and then step back, sandwiched in between Parker and Weston. The doors finally slide open, and we step inside.
I try not to grimace as the weight of the box makes my arms shake.
“Want me to take that?” Weston asks quietly, noticing my struggle.
“I’ve got it,” I insist, though my biceps are screaming in protest.
He raises an eyebrow but doesn’t push. Instead, he shifts his position slightly, casually supporting part of the box’s weight with his arm while pretending not to. It’s a small gesture, but it touches me—helping without making me feel incapable.
As we reach the seventh floor, Parker turns to me. “Are you sure you wanna live here?”
“Well, considering I just signed a year lease, I don’t think I have a choice.” I laugh, shaking my head as we navigate down the hallway to Apartment 714. My apartment. The thought sends a flutter of both excitement and anxiety through my stomach.
This is really happening. I’m starting over.
“Aww, are you a little sad she’s moving out?” Weston looks past me to Parker, who’s trailing behind us. “I think you’re sad.”
“No. No way.” Parker has an overconfident tone, and I can’t lie, it makes me feel good inside. I know it’s his way of communicating that hewillmiss me. “She’s a grown woman; she needs to have her own place.”
Weston and Parker continue to go back and forth, while I carefully punch the code into the door. I push it in when it unlocks, and breathe in the unfamiliar scent of cinnamon and something else. The whole place is clean, but it’s nothomeyet.
“Whoa, that picture…” Parker’s eyes grow wide as he looks at the strange bear-like creature hanging on the wall. “That is … That isdifferent.”
“Isn’t it though?” Weston chuckles, eyeing me.
Something about the intensity of his ocean blue eyes makes my heart race in my chest, and I look away quickly, searching for a place to set my box of things. The apartment came partiallyfurnished, which was nice, but the movers still have more to bring.
And four hours later, my apartment is filled to the brim with the rest of my things.
I brush my hair from my face as Weston and Parker give the movers a final thanks, and I’m left standing in a sea of boxes. I have no idea what’s in half of them, having paid movers to box it all up from my old place—back when I was on cloud nine about moving in with Cal. After he begged me to break my lease.
Oh, how the tables have turned.
“You okay?” Parker’s voice cuts into my thoughts as I’m zoned out on one of the boxes labeledfragile.I have no idea what’s even in it. I couldn’t even come up with a good guess.
Ugh.
