Page 27 of Finding Romance (Romances in the Building #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Piper

“How about one more practice date?” Kasen says as I pack up my things.

“When?” I ask.

“Well, it sounds like tonight we have an impromptu happy hour,” he says. “How about tomorrow night?”

He holds my bag while I place things inside and break down my easel. “Sure. What’d you have in mind?” I ask.

He shrugs. “Is there anything you wanted to do before you leave?”

I contemplate that while we begin walking back to the apartment building. “I never got to go to the new art museum that opened last summer,” I suggest.

He places a hand on the small of my back and it makes me sad.

I’m going to miss that. I’m going to miss him.

And not just because he’s good at sex or kissing or cuddling.

I mean, yeah, I love those things about him, but I also will miss our conversations.

I’ll miss the way he protects me more than anyone else I know.

I’ll miss the way he loves his sea creatures.

I’ll miss him fixing us whiskey. I’ll miss how he quietly sees the people around him and helps them without even being asked.

Kasen Saddler is the real deal. I guess I shouldn’t be sad.

I should be happy to have had a man like him willing to help me learn how to date and to have lost my “v” card to a man who knew exactly how to touch me.

But I can’t shake this sadness. I swallow the lump in my throat as the elevator pings and the doors open.

“You going up to the happy hour after you drop off your art supplies?” he asks.

I nod. I know Al wanted to give me a sendoff. It’s strange how close I’ve become to everyone in a matter of weeks. I’ve never felt more connected to a group of people than I have with everyone in this building. It makes me feel a little better knowing I’m leaving Aunt Cornelia in such good hands.

I drop my things and am surprised when I see my aunt with her walker.

“Get Kasen,” she demands.

I turn and Kasen stops opening his door and steps back into the hallway.

“Everything OK, Cornelia?” he asks as he pokes his head into the apartment.

“I’m going to this happy hour. But the elevator doesn’t go to the roof, so you’ll need to carry me,” she says with a wink.

Oh God. Did she have to wink?

Kasen chuckles. “I can do that. Come on,” he says as he waves his hand. She hobbles over and he helps her to the elevator.

“I’ll meet you all upstairs,” Margie yells from the bathroom.

“OK,” I reply.

I drop my things by the door and check myself in the hallway mirror. I sweep my hair back up in a bun because it looks a mess.

“You coming up, illustrator?” Kasen’s voice calls out. I’m going to miss his nicknames for me too.

“Yeah,” I answer as I hurry to join them. The elevator starts buzzing and I hop inside. It lurches upward and my aunt lets out a long breath.

“This thing scares the shit out of me,” she admits. “Someday, someone is going to get trapped in here.”

Kasen laughs. “Hutch got trapped in here with Cam and Drew last year. And I think Bray the year before. Remember?”

“Oh, yeah, but only for thirty minutes,” she points out.

“Well, the way Hutch explains it, they might as well have been trapped inside for two days,” Kasen says.

I’m not going to lie, I have an immense sense of relief when the door opens. I practically run out and throw myself on the floor.

“OK, Piper, grab her walker. And I will carry Cornelia,” Kasen states as he effortlessly picks up my little, old aunt. She grins up at him and I roll my eyes.

Kasen winks at me and I give him a shake of my head as I pick up the walker. When we get to the roof, everyone sees Cornelia and applauds.

“Why are we clapping for Miss Cornelia?” Ava asks. She’s sitting on Bray’s lap, coloring something.

“Because Miss Cornelia finally gets to come back up to a happy hour,” Carly explains.

“I’m going to set you down here,” Kasen says as he puts her on the nearest seat at the table with an umbrella.

I set the walker down next to her.

“Cornelia, your usual?” Al calls out.

“Nope, we’re breaking out the champagne,” Margie says as she walks out of the stairs and holds up two big bottles of champagne.

“Damn, Margie! You’ve been lifting some serious weights if you were able to bring those things up here,” Hutch says as he walks over to help her.

Hutch sets one bottle down and pops the cork on the other one. Ava cheers.

“Wait! I don’t get any?” Ava asks once Al pours us all a glass.

I watch Al lean down, grab some ginger ale, and pour a little maraschino cherry juice in it.

“I made you a special drink,” he says as he pops one cherry on top and hands it to Ava.

She claps excitedly. “Thanks, Mr. Al!” She pulls him down for a kiss on the cheek. He blushes.

“You’re very welcome, Ava,” he replies as he walks back over to grab his glass. “To having Cornelia back on the roof!”

“To Cornelia!” everyone says in unison.

“And to wishing Piper bon voyage as she heads to Seattle this week,” he adds.

There is a wave of “good luck” and “we’ll miss you” as everyone raises their glasses again.

“Thank you,” I say shyly, a blush creeping up my cheeks from all the attention.

There’s a pause which is quickly replaced by five or six different conversations.

Troy, Jessa, Margie, and Aunt Cornelia start talking about a show they are watching.

Drew and Cam are debating something about a book with Gray and Roxy.

Bray is helping Ava color while talking to Hutch and Carly.

Al is asking Kasen something, and I’m standing here next to Kasen, taking it all in.

I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do without all of them.

“You look sad, Miss Piper. You want my pink drink?” Ava asks.

“Oh, thanks, Ava. I’m just sad to be leaving, but you keep your drink,” I assure her.

“Wait! I can go get bubbles,” she squeals and then leans toward me. “All the grown-ups here love bubbles. Miss Cam and Mr. Drew had a whole fight about who blew better bubbles. But I brought up my big bubble blower and I won.”

Carly starts choking on her drink and Bray pats her back.

I look at them, not understanding.

“Sure, kiddo. Let’s go get your bubbles,” Bray says as he scoops her up and carries her downstairs.

I lean in toward Carly. “I’m sorry, what?”

She bursts out laughing. “Oh God! I’m so sorry! Cam, Drew, you guys suck!”

Cam starts laughing and Drew just shrugs and turns to me. “We needed a code phrase for a blowjob and blowing bubbles made sense, except someone’s kid here had to be all like, ‘I’m the best at blowing bubbles.’ Anyhow, she was, but now it’s sort of an inside joke,” he explains.

“Oh, that’s uh…OK,” I say as I bite my bottom lip. I glance up and Kasen is watching me. I blush again and he leans down to my ear. “I think you are definitely the best at blowing bubbles.”

Now my face is on fire.

“What did Kasen just say to you?” Drew asks, his eyebrows rising with suspicion.

I’m saved by a screaming Ava who runs back up with her giant bubble wand. “I got it! Drew, you want to compete?” she yells.

Carly looks wide-eyed at Bray. “Did you just IV her with sugar?”

“Mom!” Ava yells. “Unca Bray gave me this!” She pulls out one of those straws filled with flavored sugar.

“Mystery solved,” Hutch laughs.

“Bray!” Carly scolds.

“She asked me for one the other day and I promised I’d buy it. She did do really good at school last week,” he says with a shrug.

Carly slaps her forehead. “I swear, you’re like the bad grandparent. Ava, sweetie, can you let me try it?”

“Sure, Mom. Here.” She hands her mom the giant straw. “Come on, Mr. Drew. I’m totally winning blowing bubbles today.”

“Yeah, Drew, show her your bubble-blowing skills,” Hutch teases.

Drew glares at him.

“Why do you guys always look so mad about blowing bubbles?” Ava asks as she yanks on Drew's hand.

“Mr. Drew is just really competitive about his bubble blowing,” Cam says with a smirk. Drew flicks her off once Ava turns around.

Cam gives him a big cheesy grin and Drew mouths, “You are so fucking dead later.”

She blows him a kiss and we all giggle.

Kasen pats the stool vacated by Ava and Bray. “Have a seat.”

“Pizza night!” Al declares, and with a few requests yelled, he orders us dinner.

* * *

Pizza night rolls into s’mores night and then one by one everyone heads downstairs until it’s just Al, Kasen, Margie, Roxy, Gray, and Aunt Cornelia.

“I have a few authors who asked about your work. Should I send them to your website to contact you?” Roxy asks.

I raise my eyebrows. We’ve been up here for hours and she just brought this up now!

“Of course! That’s great news. Thanks, Roxy,” I say.

She leans over and whispers in my ear. “Sorry, I should have started with that, but Gray and I were pre-gaming tonight and I think I’ve had three too many.”

“What’s that? You want to practice bubble-blowing with me?” Gray says with a smirk.

Roxy laughs. “Nice try,” she says. “We should head down though. It’s getting late.”

“Yeah, it’s time to shut this party down,” Margie declares.

Al looks from Kasen to me. “You kids can stay up. I’ll get Hutch to bring Cornelia down.”

“It’s OK,” Kasen says.

“You rang?” Hutch’s voice calls out from the door to the stairs.

“It’s your lucky night,” my aunt says.

“My lady,” Hutch plays along as he lifts her up with ease in one hand and then lifts the walker in the other.

“Why is he so big?” I mutter taking in Hutch’s full strength.

Kasen leans in. “Hey, you’re crushing my ego.”

I turn to him. “Shall I kiss it and make it all better?”

He groans and I look over to see Al smiling at us. “Goodnight, Al.”

“Till next time,” he says and leans down to kiss me.

I snuggle up to Kasen’s side. “So tell me all about this island near Seattle,” he demands, and as if we’ve known each other for a lifetime, I lean against his shoulder and tell him about my dad’s place.

At some point, I fall asleep. I’m only vaguely aware of someone carrying me and tucking me into bed.

A big warm body wraps around mine and I fall into the deepest sleep where I dream of a handsome, muscular man with dark eyes and dark hair.