Page 69

When Julie lets us in the front door, my jaw drops. Being an older house, I expected a closed floorplan with separate, boxy rooms, maybe even with wood-paneled walls. But it’s evident this house has been remodeled from top to bottom. My eyes are drawn across the expansive, open-plan living area to the wall of sliding doors in the back that overlook a massive deck, and beyond that, a backyard that’s so deep I can’t see the end of it.
Bug must see what I do and she strides to the windows. “You weren’t kidding,” she says to Julie.
Julie unlocks the slider on the far right. “These doors all slide back into the wall, making a great indoor/outdoor space when the weather is right. Perfect for entertaining.” She turns to Asher. “And what all men seem to want—a large outdoor kitchen.”
Asher elbows me and we share a look like we’re both thinking the same thing. He offers me an encouraging smile.
I like it. I really, really like it. But I try to keep my face impassive. And I definitely am going to keep my mouth shut.
Like a lot of older homes, there is a cluster of bedrooms all in the same area. Bug’s hands land on her hips. “This won’t do.”
“Come with me,” Julie says. “I had something else in mind for you.” We follow her through the large living room, past thekitchen, and to the back hallway where there is a big, empty room with an impressive view of the backyard. “What do you think of this?”
Bug looks around. “It’s so… boring. And there’s not even a closet.”
Asher steps forward and pounds on the wall. “We could put one right here, the room is certainly big enough. And I’m thinking we might even be able to put in a door to the bathroom that sits on the other side of that wall there so you could have your own entrance to it.”
She shrugs, looking unimpressed. “No pool. No theater room.”
“We’ll put in a pool,” Asher assures her. “And remember what Julie said about the basement. So how about we at least finish the tour before you start listing all the reasons we shouldn’t get this one either?”
She stares out the window. “Fine.”
That word joinswhateverat the top of her word list.
Julie leads us back through the kitchen, that I love, by the way. Double ovens, an industrial-sized refrigerator, and enough counter space for an army. Behind the sizeable walk-in pantry is a door that opens to a staircase. “And this goes up to what would be your office, Asher.”
Bug parks her ass on the counter, seemingly ending her tour right there. I guess she’s already made up her mind about this one. I try not to get too upset about it. Maybe Asher is right and she’ll change her mind about one of these houses after she sleeps on it.
The three of us leave her in the kitchen and go up the stairs. I stand and look around, smiling as I’m reminded of my own apartment, but on a smaller scale. There’s even a skylight. The big difference is that this ‘apartment’ is all one room, more like a studio. There are three large windows overlooking the backyard and two more with a view of the front. An alcove area that was probably used for a bed would be perfect for Asher’s desk. I can picture a couch along the opposite wall, and maybe a grouping of chairs or a small table. There’s even a wet bar with a small refrigerator and microwave. It’s anyone’s work-from-home dream office.
“This is amazing,” I say, finally feeling like I can share my thoughts now that Bug isn’t around.
I start telling Asher everything I was picturing in my head, when I see a flash of blue. I guess Bug was curious after all. Instantly, I shut up, not wanting her to know how perfect I think the house is.
Her eyes go wide as she takes in the expansive room. The three of us watch her in silence as she runs a finger along the counter of the wet bar, then peeks into the closet and attached bathroom.
“We should get this one.”
Three pairs of stunned eyes stare at her.
“You…likethis house?” Asher asks.
“I like thisroom.” She walks to the back windows and looks out. “Thisshould be my bedroom.”
Asher strides up next to her. “Bug, this would be my office.”
Her hands land on her hips. “That makes no sense whatsoever. This is clearly a bedroom. It has a private bathroom. It has a closet. The room downstairs should be your office. You wouldn’t have to remodel anything that way. And that room is still big and has a killer view of the yard.”
Asher cocks his head and looks around the room. When his eyes find mine, all I can do is bite my lip and shrug. It is a rational argument. But I don’t dare say so, otherwise she’s likely to retract her words.
He walks to the door with the deadbolt on it, opens it, and sunlight pours through. “On one condition,” he says, turning to Bug. “I’m sealing this entrance until you’re thirty.”
She thinks on it, then says, “We could still put in a pool, right?”
“It’s the first thing we’ll do.”
She smiles. She smiles for the first time today. Maybe the first time since I’ve been in her presence. She skips over to Asher and holds out her hand. “Deal.”