“Welcome home, lord of the manor,” I say, shaking my head.
He chuckles, pulling out his wallet and opening it. “Here’s the check. It should cover everything.”
“Excellent,” Chelsea says, setting the lease and check on the breakfast bar. She digs into her front pocket and brandishes a key. “This is officially yours. I know the first isn’t for a few more days, but the space is open. May as well move in whenever you’re ready. You said the house you’re in is closing, right?”
Wade nods. “Yeah, later this week.”
“Well, I hope it all goes well,” she says, pressing her lips tight. “I’m sure it’s a little bittersweet.”
“Definitely,” he says, taking a deep breath.
Surprised, I take a step back, watching their exchange. It’s obvious he’s talked to her beyond just knowing where and when to meet.
A twinge of jealousy snakes through my insides.
Should I be concerned?
“On the upside, this will make the transition much easier,” Wade continues, glancing around. “At least now I have someplace to move my stuff.”
“Indeed, you do. Well, if there’s nothing else, I’m going to go down to apartment twenty-two. The handyman is installing a new dishwasher and I need to breathe over his shoulder and make him nervous,” Chelsea says, grinning widely and making for the door. “God, I love my job.”
Wade snickers, then looks at me from the corner of his eye.
With a final glance into the apartment, Chelsea raises her hand and waves. “Have a nice rest of the day, guys. It was lovely to meet you both.” Then she trots off down the hallway.
“Yup, I like her, too,” Wade announces.
Despite my proclamation of liking her earlier, again, my gut clenches. I smile softly, hoping it masks the strange layer of possessiveness rearing its ugly head.
Wade walks over to the large picture window on the opposite end of the room. “Well, here it is. My first official apartment rented in my own name.”
“Have you never had your own before?” I ask, surprised. “I thought before your grandpa got sick, you were out on your own.”
He nods. “I was, but for the most part, I was too young to have my own lease. So I, uh, just stayed with different people.” He runs his hand along the backside of his neck.
I get the distinct impression he’s not overly excited about the way his earlier years were spent, so instead of pushing it, I nod.
“Feels good…but weird. You know? God, I hope I can find a job in town. My savings won’t last super long. Especially considering tuition. Any ideas on where I could apply?” he asks, turning back to me.
My eyebrows rise and I step into the middle of the room. “Well, there’s the library…or the Bourbon Room. Pick your poison. Food or books.”
He laughs, shaking his head. “Difficult choice.”
I nod. “Right? I guess there’s always the hospital or nursing home, too. You know, if you want to continue your personal care assistant type work.”
Wade’s brows tug in. “Hmmm… Maybe? I am already certified, so there’s that. I’ll have to give it some thought.”
“Sure.”
Suddenly, the theme song to the television show Lucifer bursts out of Wade’s pocket and he reaches for his cell phone. “Hello?” His face transforms from open to faltering in a matter of seconds. “Oh, yes. Um… I’m waiting on the funds to arrive. I should have it for you—” His eyes flick to me, then to the floor. “Yes, yes. I understand,” he says, biting the side of his cheek and kicking at the carpet. “No, don’t do that. I will definitely have it to you by the end of the week. Yes, thank you. I appreciate that.” He pulls the phone from his ear, pressing the red button and cramming the phone back into his pocket. Everything about his energy has deflated.
“Not good, huh?” I say, walking up to him and placing a hand on his upper arm.
He screws up his face and shakes his head. “Not really. They need my first trimester’s tuition by Friday or they’ll have to open my spot to another student.”
“Will you have the money from your grandpa by then?” I say, trying not to sound as alarmed as I feel.
He shrugs. “Probably not.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I dunno. Pull a bank job?” he says flippantly.
“Wade,” I groan.
“Kidding. Well, mostly kidding.” He steps away, rubbing his hand over his mouth. “I don’t know. I’ll have to call the lawyer, I guess? Figure out if there’s a way to speed up the process. If that doesn’t work, then… I’ll resort to plan B.”
“Which is?” I ask, quirking an eyebrow.
His face turns ashen and his nostrils flare. “You probably don’t wanna know.”
Chapter 4
Desecrated
My pulse picks up speed as I slow down Big Blue and pull into the parking lot for Wade’s new apartment building. I hope to God he’s received good news from the lawyer today. If not, I shudder to think of what he’ll try to do in order to make things work. Especially since he seems hell-bent on not accepting help from anyone.
School starts on Monday and if he can’t pay his tuition today, there’s a good chance the school will give away his spot. After everything, it would be devastating for him. Especially to be this close, only to have to wait until next fall—or longer.
I park the car and take a deep breath, grounding myself for what’s to come. I truly sympathize with his plight. If it hadn’t been for my dad’s surprise payment, I never would have been able to make it work. Just saving for the U was bad enough. The stress will eat you up alive if you let it.
It’s freezing outside today. The temps have dropped below zero and even as small of a walk as it is from the parking lot to the front door, the chill can cut right through you. Making a mad dash from my vehicle to the building, I pull my coat in tight and thank the heavens for
