Silas walked out into the cool morning air. It would get warmer later, but if the realtor was to be believed, the backyard would be protected by the giant oak trees. They were impressive. Their canopies stretching out to cover almost the entirety of the property. The sound of birds chirping made Silas curious to know if there were any of the birds that he’d talked about living in the branches.
As he stood in the shade, he imagined the backyard filled with a playset and laughing children. Would they have his dark coloring or her fair one?
Slow down, Silas, you’ve got to convince her to date you before you start conjuring up a family.
He pulled out his phone and looked at the screen. Miriam was officially ten minutes late. He wondered if, somehow, she was having a hard time finding the place. Maybe the ‘For Sale’ sign in the front yard was throwing her off since Silas hadn’t told her anything about why he was asking her to meet him.
If he stood in the front yard, he could wave her down as she drove by. Silas walked through the house, and heard Bernard talking on the phone to the owner’s agent. Silas wasn’t sure what he was listening for, but he hoped the congenial tone Bernard used was a good sign.
With one last look at the foyer, he walked out the front door and stood on the sidewalk. He looked for Miriam’s car parked on the street, but his search came up empty. The only thing Silas saw was a woman jogging down the sidewalk. Her dark ponytail swayed with every step.
Silas heart plummeted when he realized that it was McKensie.
The girl seemed to be everywhere.
They’d bumped into each other at Big Results earlier in the week, and the way she ran over to him when he first walked in the door of the gym made him think that she’d been waiting for him to arrive for some time.
And now she was outside of the house he was trying to buy. It didn’t feel like a coincidence.
Not only was she taking her love of the Storm to an uncomfortable level, her sudden appearance had the ability to ruin everything. All Silas needed was for Miriam to finally get here and see him talking to another woman. He tried to run back inside the house before she could see him.
“Silas!”
As he suspected, it was too late.
Silas wanted her gone—now. He rubbed his hand over his face. “Look, this isn’t a great time.”
“What are you talking about?” She looked at the sign in the front yard, and her mouth fell open. “Wait, are you buying this house?”
The reaction felt fake and forced. She already knew the answer. He didn’t knowhowshe knew he was making an offer today, only that shedid. If the sale went through, it would mean a lifetime of ‘accidentally’ running into each other. He’d been so excited to show Miriam he was serious about settling in Waterfront, and it was possible he’d made a huge mistake.
Silas closed his eyes as he tried to think through the reasons someone could cancel an offer on a house. He was pretty sure there was something about there being a grace period while inspections were performed. That small window could be what saved him from this potential nightmare.
“This is what you were so desperate to show me?”
His eyes snapped open at the sound of Miriam’s voice. Silas hadn’t heard her car pull up, and she’d walked up to see him with McKensie in front of a house that was for sale.
This was bad.
Silas held out his hands. “I can explain.”
“Explain what exactly? That you don’t want to be with me? You could have just told me instead of rubbing my face in it.” Miriam’s eyes shifted to McKensie, who made no attempt to move.
“It’s not like that. I invited you to see this.” He waved his hand at the building behind him.
“It’s a house.”
Silas took a step toward Miriam. “I’m buying it.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“I knew it,” McKensie said at the same time.
Silas wanted to scream. This was hard enough without McKensie standing here giving her commentary. He turned to face her. “Can you just go away or something?”
McKensie’s mouth fell open. “Do you talk to all your fans like that?”
“You’re not a fan, you’re a stalker.”
