When he opens his door, I follow suit and meet him around the rear of the vehicle where he retrieves his bags. I don’t offer to help this time because he clearly didn’t like it when I did it before. I get my first good look around as we head up a wide sidewalk. All the buildings are brick with black trim around the windows and doors. The inset balconies have matching metal railings. It’s different than the softly hued apartments I’m usedto in Texas, more modern but really nice. The grounds are a lush green like I’m accustomed to seeing in the spring, but I don’t think it gets nearly as hot or as dry here as it does back home.
We pass through a curved archway that’s made of a lighter stone before stepping through a glass door into a little vestibule. There is a row of buttons next to apartment numbers and a keyless entry system attached to the door.
Boone waves his keys near the black box. The red light flashes to green, and I hear a soft beep. The added security is a nice touch. He shoves the door open and motions for me to go ahead of him. “We’re in the penthouse,” he says after following me in.
We pass two units, one on the left and one on the right, before reaching the elevator. Down the hall, there seems to be two more units. It’s as neat as a pin and sparce, other than the simple architectural black and white photos hanging on the white walls.
“This place must be pretty new,” I comment as the elevator dings in arrival.
“Seven years or so. I’ve been here for three.” He waves me ahead of him.
“It’s really well taken care of.”
As soon as the door closes, Boone looks down at me. “Nervous, huh?”
“No,” I lie shamefully, which makes him grin.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re an open book?”
I tuck my hair behind my ear. “My granny, but she had an unfair advantage.”
“Eyes?” Boone teases as the elevator door opens to the fourth floor.
“She was actually blind.”
Boone freezes mid-step and snaps his head in my direction. I roll my lips in to keep from smiling, but I already know he’s onto me.
“You little liar,” he accuses with his mouth hanging open.
I step into his space and shimmy past his frozen form. I’m so focused on Boone, I don’t notice there’s a man in the hall until he speaks, calling out Boone’s name, causing me to spin around abruptly and back up into Boone until my butt hits his body, and he lets out an “oof” sound.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” The man looks at me quizzically. I feel like my reaction startled him just as much as he alarmed me. Eventually, his eyes rise to look over my head. “Hey, man,” he greets Boone again.
“Hey,” Boone responds while I’m still pressed against him. I shuffle slightly to the side, embarrassed by my overreaction.
“Just getting back from vacation?” The man’s eyes slide over me briefly. I don’t feel like he’s checking me out in a sleezy way, but he does seem curious.
“Just back,” Boone replies without answering with a lie or too much information. I’m beginning to notice a pattern. It’s kind of a relief to know it isn’t just with me.
“Cool, I’m Brian.” He introduces himself to me, giving me a practiced smile.
“Harlyn, nice to meet you.”
“Are you heading out?” Boone steps to the side, clearing a path to the elevator. The door starts to close just a few seconds after, but he reaches out to stop it. I don't know why, but something about it feels intentional, like Boone was rushing the interaction along.
“Yeah, I’ll let you two get settled. It was nice meeting you, Harlyn.”
Boone ushers me along with his body, so I end up calling over my shoulder, “You too.” Now I’m even more convinced he wasrushing me. “Embarrassed to be seen with a girl?” I pretend to tease him, because I’m feeling weird about the whole interaction now.
“No,” he scoffs, but it’s too quick, too forced.
“It’s just me then?” I walk into the door he pushed open, not sure how to feel. I know I don’t look my best. I’m still wearing his shirt, after all, and it’s not like it’s doing me any favors. It’s not even as baggy as I would have hoped.
“That’s a definite no.” He sounds more sure about that. The door snaps closed behind him, and he twists the lock on the knob and the deadbolt above it.
“You were weird about something,” I mutter, looking around the small entry, then down the hall to a living room I can’t see much of. Not wanting to lead the way, I step toward a set of bifold doors I’m certain hides a closet, while Boone tosses his keys into a bowl on a small, smoky glass table with silver legs. It’s sleek, and not really what I expected, but I’m not sure I really thought about what to expect. Maybe I assumed it would look like Olivia’s boyfriend’s house, because he’s the only guy I know who lives alone—well, almost alone. Liv stays with him so much, she might as well live there. The thought of her triggers a yearning to talk to her.
“Come on in.” Boone leaves his luggage near a sliding door that’s too modern to call barn style and motions toward it. “Office.” He walks down the short hall, stopping when it opens up. “Kitchen and living room. The bathroom and bedroom are through there.” This time, he points toward a dark set of pocket doors. One side is retracted, showing another hall with a narrow slatted closet door.
