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“Anyways, I’ll get this sent over to the Realtor when I get back to the office, and hopefully I’ll have some good news for you this evening or tomorrow.” I turn to the elevator and press the button.

“Should I regret calling your mom?”

“Oh yeah.” I look at him over my shoulder and swear I catch him in the act of checking out my ass before he lifts his eyes to mine. “And if I were you, I’d start planning what you’re going to wear for your TV debut.” The doors to the elevator swish open, and I pull my eyes off his as I step inside. Then I don’t look at him again, but I feel his eyes hot on me as the doors slide shut.

Chapter 7:

Ground Rules

Genevieve

In the apartment I shared with my ex in Chicago, we had a luxurious tiled shower with five showerheads that made me feel like I had just spent time in the spa each time I got out of it. When I had to give up that apartment because I couldn’t afford the rent on my own any longer, I got into a rent-share situation. The guy I shared an apartment with was a dude named Clark who was a wannabe YouTuber that spent his days playing video games, rarely showered, and never cleaned up after himself. When I was living with him, I never felt comfortable using the tub at our place. I barely felt comfortable showering in the bathroom we shared, so I didn’t dally. But since the evening Mom and Anna showed me around my new home, I have been dreaming about taking a bath in the old-timey standing tub. So this evening when I left work, after Mom took off to meet up with her knitting club, I stopped at the store, bought a cheap bottle of wine and an even cheaper bottle of bubble bath, and made the proactive decision to give myself a facial, take a bath, have a glass of wine, and read or listen to some true crime podcast while I relaxed.

Which is why when my house comes into view and I see Kolter’s truck parked in my driveway with the engine running, I’m more annoyed than I would normally be.

After pulling in and parking next to his truck and shutting off the engine, I reach over to the passenger seat to grab my shopping bag and purse before I open my door. I see him get out of his truck out of the corner of my eye.

Great, so much for enjoying a bath and a glass of wine tonight.

“Go home, Kolter,” I tell him, walking toward my house. He doesn’t respond to my request verbally. He also doesn’t listen and walk back to his truck. Then again, why would he start listening now? Since he was a kid, he’s refused every one of my requests. Stay out of my room; no, you can’t have the last of the candy I saved from Halloween because you ate all yours; no, you can’t date my friends. Okay, the last one is something I never brought up, but maybe I should have. Reaching my door, I try to open it, then remember that I locked it because, even if he was annoying this morning, Wyatt was right about the whole locking-the-door business.

I flip on the light after I get the door open, walk to the dining table and put down my stuff, then take off my coat.

“Okay, spit it out.” I cross my arms over my chest as I turn to face him.

“You know, since the day you told Anna that you were moving home, she has been floating on cloud nine.” My stomach twists. “She was so fucking happy that her best friend was going to be back, but mixed with that was worry because she knew you’d freak when you found out about us.”

“I didn’t freak, and I’m already over the fact that you two are together. I’m mad and hurt that neither of you told me that you were together.”

“She wanted to, but she didn’t want to tell you when you were going through shit.” I press my lips together.

“I broke off my engagement a long time ago, Kolter, and yeah, I wasn’t okay in the beginning, but I’ve been good for months. She could have told me before I moved home.” I point at him. “You could have told me.”

“You’re right.”

“I know.” I roll my eyes.

“I love her. I’m in love with her and want to marry her.” My heart lurches. I know I heard it in his voice this morning, but it’s right there in his eyes, plain as day, as he looks at me. “And she loves you. She’s been a mess all day over this.”

“I’ll call her.” I sigh, and his expression gentles. “But I’m still angry that no one told me what was going on.”

“You were heartbroken, Genevieve.” I was heartbroken, but who wouldn’t be after finding out that their fiancé was a cheating dirtbag? “We’ve all been worried about you.”

“I’m fine.”

“Yeah, now that you’re back here, you’ll be okay.” He tucks his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. “I’m supposed to get a beer with Gunner. Anna will be home alone for a few hours, if you want to go see her.”

“Are you two living together?” He doesn’t answer, but I guess his nonanswer is the answer. “Wow.”

“Just go see your best friend.” He turns and moves to the front door, and I eye my bottle of wine longingly before I grab my purse and follow him out of the house.

Ten minutes later, after driving across town, I drag in a breath before I knock on Anna’s apartment door. Regardless of whether I have or haven’t done anything wrong, my stomach is a mess of nerves. After a few seconds, the door slowly opens, and her eyes lock on mine.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.” I shake my head when her bottom lip pops out. “I just really wish you would have told me.”

“I know.” She moves to the side. “Do you want to come in?”