Chapter 86
As it got closer to lunchtime, I was feeling the extra hour I had worked. The hunger set in an hour earlier and by the time I logged out for my lunch break, I was grateful to have leftmer to just reheat. As I took out the container with food from the refrigerator, I saw the post it I had written Hunter stuck to the top of it. I smiled as I took it off and put the food in the mictimme. I thought about it for a while and then I walked to the bookshelf and put the post it on the front of the sketchbook Hunter was using at the moment. After devouring my lunch, and an apple for good measure. I looked through the information about the two apartments we would look at later, I still felt a little sad about moving out, and I didn’t know if I was comfortable with Hunter making sure I got a cheaper rent. But then, I really liked both apartments, and they were closer to Hunter’s place than my old one. It would also be nice to not have to worry about strange visitors. My old apartment had been a comfort and a haven when I first moved to it. It represented my independence from Simon. But now it didn’t feel that way. I felt a sense of dread at the thought of living there alone again. The many visitors with their net so friendly agendas had me wary of the place. After some thinking, I decided I was grateful Hunter insisted I get a new place and I would accept his help. Feeling better about the afternoon, I went back to work. About an hour before the end of the day. Hunter sent me a test
pick you up in then hours. After we look at the apartments, I’m taking you out for dinner.
Me. That sounds fun. I’ll be ready.
I didn’t see any reason to object. And even if I did, I could tell Hunter was set on taking me out. I had no plan on ohjecting to a casual date with him. When I laced off work I handed and took a quick showet and dressed in a skitt and blomme. I had five minutes to sit down before I got the text that Hunter was waiting downstairs. I smiled as I took the elevator down. Hunter stood right outside the elevator as the doors opened.
“Hello, sweetness. You look gorgeous today,” he said, holding out his arms, I hurried to walk into them and got a hug and a kiss.
“Hi. Thank you.” I said as I could breathe again. He led me to his car and opened my door for me. “Which one are we looking at first?” I asked as we were on our
“We’ll start with the first one on the list and then go to the one with the glazed balcony. Hector, the owner, sent me the keys so we can take as much time as we like to look around.” he told me.
“He sent you the keys?”
“Sure. We go way back, he trusts me not to do something stupid. And if I were to do something stupid, he knows I clean up after myself” Hunter said. I looked at him, wondering if he was joking or not. I decided he probably wasn’t, I still giggled and gave him a kiss on his cheek.
“What was that for?” he asked
“That’s for making all of this a little bit easier and making sure I’m as confortable with all this as you can. It’s sweet,” I told him. He glanced at me, took my hand and kissed it.
“Any time, sweetness,” he said. I knew he meant it. It was refreshing to be with someone that didn’t play games. I didn’t have to try and guess what Hunter meant when he said something. There were no hidden meanings, no expectations that I would be a mind reader and understand what he really meant. Being in this kind of relationship was a lot less exhausting than the ones I had been in before. Hunter parked the car in a public parking lot. “It’s close enough to both apartments that we can walk and I found a restaurant close by as well,” he told me as he took my hand.
“I don’t mind,” I said. I was usually cooped up in the apartment lately and the only regular exercise I got was on Hunter’s treadmill, and the one Hunter and t performed in bed, and in the shower, and on the couch, and all over the place really. I felt myself blush as my mind drifted “What are you thinking about?” Hunter asked in an amused voice.
“Nothing,” I said quickly. He chuckled.
“At least tell me I was part of nothing,” he teased me. I blushed again
“Always.” I said. He grinned and kissed my temple.
“This is the first place,” he told me. I looked at the building. It looked like the pictures I had seen. Modern, clean and well kept. There was a working lock on the main entrance, the mailboxes were set up inside and there was an elevator that seemed to be working. Hunter stepped in with me and pressed the twenty fourth floor. We stepped out onto a floor with five doors, each one looked like a study and reminded me of the new door Hunter had put into my old apartment. Hunter unlocked number 2401 and we walked inside. There was a small, but not too small, hallway with three doors leading further into the apartment. The first led to a large bathroom with both a tub and a shower. The other two doors lead to the kitchen and living room, both in good condition, modern and airy. In the living room there were two doors into each of the bedrooms. One a little bit larger than the other. It was a very nice apartment. But I didn’t feel it. Maybe it was because I didn’t want to leave Hunter’s apartment, but despite everything being perfect, I just couldn’t see myself living here. I looked out the windows and saw the street below.
“It’s amazing.” I said to Hunter.
“But you don’t love it,” he commented, “Don’t deny it, I can see it and to be honest, it isn’t you.”
10
Chapter 86
“You are right. But I wouldn’t mind living here.” I told him.
“Hmm. Let’s go see the other place.” He reached ou his hand to me and I took it and we walked out of the apartment and headed for the next nne. When we got there I noticed the small park that was on the other side of the street from the building It had a play area for children, some grass areas, pathways, trees and benches, It looked rony. This building had a donman. We took the elevator to the twentieth floor and Hanter opened the door. The apartment opened up in front of
It had an open plan kitchen and living room. Along the wall opposite from the hallway, there was a glazed balcony that spanned the entire length of the – apartment. From the living room you accessed the two bedrooms, the bigger one hul a walk in closet. The hathroom was almost identical to the one in the first apartment. I stepped out onto the balcony, it was a good size. It overlooked the park the other side of the street, Hunter walked up behind me and wrapped his
“What do you think?” he asked.
*I like it. I mean it this time. I can see myself living here. I could him. He chuckled.
ng here. I could put a cat tree out
out here so they can look at the people in the park and maybe look at birds,” I told
“Like a gigantic cat home entertainment centre,” he said.
“Yeah, I think they would like that. I can have a sofa out here as well. I can
in sit and read or work on my recipes. And when you come over, we can snuggle up here,” 1 continued.
“I like that idea. Thank you for making room for me in your new place,” he told me and kissed my neck. A shiver ran through me.
“There will always be room for you in my life,” I told him.
“Good. I’m selfish enough that I will demand it.” I giggled,
“That’s fine by me.” I took another look around the apartment and I still felt good about it. I would have preferred not to move out of Hunter’s place, but I needed
to do it and this was somewhere I could spend a few years. “Look, it even has a security bar on the door and not a chain,” I told Hunter. He chuckled.
“You noticed,” he said.
“I did. Six months ago I wouldn’t even have looked
for
“I will let Hector know you want it and ask when you can sign the lease.”
“Thank you. You have just fixed everything for me. I am a capable adult, you know,” I reminded him. He smiled and gave me a kiss.
“I know, I enjoy doing things for you. It helps me feel less helpless in all of this,” he told me. His answer had me pulling him into a hug. He was struggling with this just as much as I was.
“It feels really luxurious with two bedrooms,” I said.
“You need an office. It will be good now that you work from home and it will still be good when you open your own bakery. It’s good to have someplace to do all the boring paperwork where you won’t be disturbed.”
“That’s a
good point, I agreed.
“Ready for dinner or do you want to take another look?” Hunter asked.
“I’m ready for dinner,” I said.
“Good. I found a little Mexican restaurant around the corner. According to the article I read it’s family owned and the food is supposed to be delicious.”
“Take me to this heaven you speak about,” I told him.
