It was a small studio apartment, with just a bed and a small kitchenette.
“It’s really something,” I said, not making any attempt to hide the humor from my voice.
“Well, there were cute curtains and some peel-and-stick wallpaper on the walls, but seeing as we’re about to blow this popsicle stand, I’ve taken the little bit of décor that I had down.”
“It’s charming. And you have the one tiny window at least.” I moved to glance out at the view of another tall building and chuckled. “But I think my favorite part is the bathtub in the middle of the room.”
She shrugged as a wide grin spread across her face. “You know a bathtub is my deal-breaker. I can’t go without my baths.”
I pulled her back into my arms, because I’d fucking missed her.
Her laugh and the smell of her strawberry and coconut hair.
“Well, you know there are multiple bathtubs at my house, because you designed it. So you can bathe as many times a day as you want to. And the view from the bathroom looks at the mountains, and the guest room has a nice view of the bay.”
“I can’t wait. And I’m sick of eating ramen noodles, so cooking in your kitchen will be a treat.”
“No more brick buildings and ramen noodles for you. You need a steak and some bread. You’re dwindling away.”
“You sound like my mother,” she said with a sigh as she stepped back. “Speaking of food, you must be starving. Let’s go downstairs and get something in your stomach. They insisted I come for a farewell meal on the house.” She chuckled.
Her long dark hair fell in waves down her back, and she adjusted the strap on her yellow sundress whenever it slid down her shoulder. She looked like she hadn’t seen the sun in a while, and normally her skin was a golden brown.
She clearly wasn’t getting out much.
Gracie was an outdoorsy girl. She loved the mountains. She loved the water. She loved to ride horses. Hell, the girl grew up with a pet pig. What in the hell was she doing in this tiny apartment all by herself?
It was time to get her home.
“I am starving. But you know me, I’m always hungry.” I chuckled as she leaned her head against my shoulder and blew out a breath.
“I’m so happy you’re here. You did not need to come, but I’m so glad you did.”
“Me too.”
She took my hand and led me out of her apartment and down the three flights of stairs to Le Café.
“Gracie! I still can’t believe you’re leaving me!” A woman who appeared to be around our age hurried toward her and gave her a hug.
“I’ll miss you, Maribel.” Gracie motioned to me. “This is my bestie, Cutler.”
“The infamous Cutler, a.k.a. Bear,” Maribel said with a mischievous grin on her face.
I smirked more at the fact that she knew about me than the mention of my nickname.
“He’s my Bear for sure.” A wide grin spread across Gracie’s face.
“Best friends, huh? She insists you two never dated, but I’ve never heard of a man and a woman being as close as you two are and not dating.”
People always gave us a hard time about why we’d never dated. Why we’d never crossed the line.
Hell, I was surprised myself.
But at the end of the day, the timing had never been right for us. Once we were teenagers, the friendship had grown so strong that neither of us ever wanted to mess with a good thing. And then I had a brief time where I lost my way. Gracie got a boyfriend, and she stayed with him for years.
I became a serial dater when I joined her our second year of college, and it became clear that we were best off as friends.
Hell, it was probably for the better.
