Page 14 of Room to Spare (The Fixer Upper #2)

SIX

Jules stood at Keaton’s front door, their heart racing in a rhythm that felt both thrilling and terrifying.

They hesitated, their hand hovering midair, unsure if they were ready to take this leap.

Moving in with Keaton was a step into the unknown.

It wasn’t the same as when they’d rented rooms from someone on a short-term rental app when they were traveling.

This room would be theirs—at least for a little while.

Also, they’d never imagined any of those hosts naked, pressing their body into the mattress as they did dirty things to them. Yeah, this was going to be torture.

With a deep breath, they knocked.

The door swung open, revealing Keaton’s familiar face. His calm exterior exuded the same confidence he always showed. Jules studied him for any sign he was having second thoughts about this arrangement.

They’d talked to Paige a bit this morning, and she’d made a few vague comments they were still trying to decipher.

She kept reminding them that Keaton was a big softie once you got to know him better, and then she alluded to the fact that he’d been hurt in the past. As if it took a rocket scientist to figure that one out.

But Jules couldn’t figure out how that was pertinent information for them to have.

After all, if Keaton was interested in them that way, he could have done something about it months ago.

“Welcome,” he said, voice steady, but his eyes held a hint of something deeper. Was that vulnerability? No, it couldn’t be. But the fact that he wasn’t as cool and collected as he usually was made Jules’s nerves settle a bit.

Jules stepped inside, taking in the space with wide, curious eyes.

The apartment was a testament to Keaton’s meticulous nature.

The walls were a pristine, almost clinical, white.

The floors, while pretty, made Jules’s toes curl.

They imagined the surface would be icy under their feet in the mornings.

No matter where they looked, there wasn’t a single thing out of place.

No decorations on the walls. The only window treatments were the same blinds they imagined were standard in rental units.

They didn’t expect Keaton to have every inch bursting with color, but the absence saddened them.

It was then they realized they’d been hoping to get a glimpse into Keaton’s life through his belongings.

“I know it’s not much to look at,” Keaton said as if reading Jules’s mind. “You’re more than welcome to put things out here if there’s not enough space in your room.”

While Jules appreciated the offer, he hadn’t missed the way Keaton stiffened as he made it.

Come hell or high water, they’d find a way to keep everything that couldn’t safely go into storage within their four walls.

“Thanks, but I don’t have a ton. There might be more once my parents get ready to move, but pretty much everything is theirs.

I can get a storage unit for any furniture they give me.

I don’t want to haul things upstairs only to have to move them again when my apartment is ready. ”

The truth was they planned on selling most of the furniture and kitsch they’d collected. That was far more sensible than paying to store it.But if they admitted that to Keaton, he’d probably insist on going out to their parents’ place with his truck, and Jules was determined to not be a burden.

“Up to you.” He motioned around the room. “I’m not opposed to a few more chairs or whatever. I just haven’t had time to go shopping.”

“Didn’t you live in a house before?” Admitting he knew as much made Jules feel like a stalker. That wasn’t the sort of thing a server should know.

“I did. But most of what I had before was garage sale finds. I figured it was time to buy things I really wanted instead of what was good enough for the time being.”

Must be nice.

Hearing him talk about dropping money on all new furniture just because he felt like it only highlighted the differences between them. Jules was pinching every penny, and Keaton apparently had plenty to spare.

“Anyway, let me show you to your room.” Keaton ushered them down the sole hallway in the space. He pointed to a door on the right. “This is my bedroom. The bathroom is at the end of the hall. And here’s yours.”

Keaton pushed open the door across the hall from his room.

Jules’s breath caught when they stepped into the room.

The walls were a soft sage green and the sharp odor of paint still hung in the air.

There was a low queen-sized bed against the far wall, covered in a plush comforter that looked to be down, and an absurd number of pillows.

They didn’t know what to think too much about the stark contrast between this room and the rest of the apartment.

“This is…nice,” Jules murmured, fingers lightly tracing the wall’s smooth surface. The color was soft, serene, a shade that whispered of home in a way that surprised them. “I like this color. It feels homey.”

Keaton’s lips curled into a faint smile, pride flickering in his eyes. “I hoped you would.”

Their eyes met, and in that shared moment, something unspoken passed between them—a silent pact, a promise of understanding in this new chapter of their lives. Jules accepted the key Keaton offered, holding it with a sense of reverence, as if acknowledging the significance of the gesture.

“Thank you,” Jules said softly, their voice barely above a whisper. The words seemed inadequate, unable to capture the gratitude and anticipation swirling within them.

Keaton nodded, his gaze steady and warm. “I’m glad you’re here.”

They lingered on the threshold a moment longer, the air between them charged with a gentle tension. It was a moment of quiet understanding, a recognition that this was the start of something neither of them could fully define just yet.

“Mind showing me around?” Jules asked, breaking the silence with a playful tone in their voice.

“Of course.” Keaton gestured for them to follow, leading the way through the apartment.

As they moved through the space, Jules couldn’t help but notice the little details—how Keaton’s life was organized into neat, precise lines, every item in its designated place. It was a world so different from their own, yet there was a comforting predictability to it.

“You can move in whenever you’re ready. I know you probably want to spend time with your folks before they move.”

Ordinarily, he’d have been right, but things had been tense at home since they’d announced the move. It was as if they’d all forgotten how to talk to one another and everyone was afraid to acknowledge the elephant in the room.

“If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to start bringing stuff over right away.

” Jules wondered what Keaton would think about them not wanting to spend every minute possible with their parents.

The Anderson family was tight-knit in a way that would’ve been stifling to Jules.

It was safe to say their free-spirited nature was a direct result of their upbringing.

“I’m sure my mom will breathe easier when she’s not worrying about me messing up my room right before a showing. ”

As soon as the words were out, they realized it sounded like they’d relied on her to pick up after them.

“I’m not a total slob or anything. I don’t want you to regret letting me stay here.

And I didn’t make her clean up after me.

But really, I’ll be good. I did bring a few things over with me now, so I’ll bring them up before I head home.

I mean, before I go back to get another load. I guess this is home now. Sort of?”

“I’d like it if you’re able to think of this as home, even if it’s only temporary.” Keaton placed a calming hand on their shoulder. “I think I understand what you’re saying. Just let me know if you need any help.”

“I will. Thanks.” Keaton disappeared into his room, leaving Jules alone in the living area.

They looked around, already brainstorming things they might bring over if they got the impression Keaton was truly open to Jules taking up space in the common areas.

The problem was that Keaton had admitted to getting rid of his secondhand purchases, and that was pretty much all Jules had.

Oh well, that was a problem for down the road.

They went down to the car for the first load of boxes. As they kicked the car door closed, they spotted Keaton at the back door of the building that opened into the stairwell. They should have known he’d still try to help.

“If you’re going to do whatever you’d like, you can grab the boxes out of the trunk.” They hoped their tone came across as playful rather than ungrateful.

“I’m not going to hide out in my bedroom while you’re lugging stuff upstairs,” he responded, his tone sharper than Jules remembered ever hearing.

It was almost…defensive? As though he had planned on “hiding out” and had thought better of it.

Jules hoped that wasn’t the case because their biggest fear was making Keaton feel uncomfortable in his own home. “Is the car unlocked?”

“Yeah. I’ll probably have to get used to locking it now that I’ll be living in town.

” Hell, most of the time, Jules didn’t even bother taking the keys out of the car.

They’d have to be more vigilant. Maple Hill wasn’t a high-crime area or anything, but it wasn’t smart to practically invite someone to take their car.

It didn’t take long to empty the car with Keaton’s help.

Jules stood in their new room, the first load of belongings stacked neatly along the wall.

It shouldn’t have surprised them that Keaton had stacked the boxes according to size, with those labeled Books at the bottom of each stack.

Jules let out a slow breath, trying to absorb the reality of this new chapter and the man who’d made it possible.