Page 17 of Single Teddy (Mayberry Protectors #6)

“Yeah,” I grumble. “I just…” I started before glancing at Bear in the back. “I need to stop by my sister’s so I can unalive her,” I whispered the last part, but Teddy chuckled out loud anyway.

“Oh no. What did she do?” he asked.

“She’s just driving me nuts,” I said before I realized I’d only gone and joked about killing my sister when his had just died.

Great. Good job, Wesley. Very smart .

“I’m sorry. That was so insensitive.”

Teddy shook his head with a smile.

“Don’t be silly. It’s fine.”

It wasn’t fine, but I wasn’t one to beat a dead horse, so I let it go and focused on the next house viewing instead.

It was actually quite close to the school and my house. Halfway between each, in fact. When he stopped in front of the Chestnut Hill apartment complex, I knew we were at the right place.

This building had been a staple of the town for years.

Apartments in this building were highly sought after, and there had been many property developers who had shown an interest in buying either an apartment or the whole building to take advantage of its marketability, but the owner was determined to keep rents affordable in Mayberry. Affordable and deluxe at the same time.

“Agh. It’s probably out of my price range,” he said, taking in the entire building in all its grandiosity.

It was four floors of red bricks and wide industrial-style windows on three sides, with well-kept gardens and trees in the middle and parking spaces for each of the residents.

“Oh no. Chestnut Hill is famous for its low prices. I’m surprised there’s even an apartment available. There’s usually a waiting list.”

Teddy nodded in contemplation, and we made our way inside.

The hallways smelled of cleaning products and lemon, and several plants decorated the path to the elevator, along with artful portraits on the walls.

The building looked as polished as it smelled and so did the old-style cage elevator, complete with a manually operated grated door that could become automatic with a push of a button for those with mobility or health issues.

“I don’t want to jinx it, but…I’m getting a good feeling about this. Are you sure it’s going to be cheap?” Teddy asked, and it took everything in me not to take his hand and squeeze it.

“I’ll bite my hand if it’s not.”

“That’s comforting, but you don’t need to turn into a cannibal.”

I chuckled, and when we got to the third floor, I asked Bear if he wanted to let us out. He used all his strength to slide it open.

“Hm…you’re a little weak, Bear. Have you been eating your veggies?”

Bear grimaced.

“No. I don’t like them.”

I turned to Teddy with a dramatically shocked expression, and he nodded with an equally large reaction.

“But how are you going to become strong like your uncle if you don’t eat your vegetables?”

Bear considered our statement as if he’d just bitten a lemon and then looked at his uncle.

“But you don’t eat vegetables.”

“Of course I do. How do you think I got these big muscles?”

Oh dear god. What had I started? He was flexing his muscles for his nephew’s benefit, but I was the one getting flustered.

Great job, Wes .

“Oh. But they taste so bad,” Bear groaned.

“Hm…how about I share some nice recipes with your uncle, and you can give them a try and tell me if you still think they taste bad after that?”

Bear paused and, after a moment, shrugged a yes, which was a win in his case.

“Right. Let’s go see this apartment that might be your new home,” I said, and we searched for apartment 314 with Bear’s help.

The Realtor opened the door for us with a big smile and Bear ran through the apartment before saying hello.

Not that I could blame him. This place looked amazing.

It wasn’t just clean. It was modern but minimal.

It had an open-plan living room and kitchen, divided only by the kitchen island, and it had all the appliances one could need, like a fridge, an oven, and even a built-in microwave above it.

To the right of the front door were two rooms, one with a queen bed, the other with a single, and a bathroom between the two rooms.

Everything was awash in the sunlight coming through the large front windows, making it look not just welcoming but perfectly cozy.

It was small, but that only added to its charm.

“I think it’ll be perfect for you, guys,” I said.

“I think so too. I can’t believe it’s fully furnished.”

“Oh if you want we can remove them. We like furnishing apartments for viewings so they can feel more homely right away, and most people go for the furnished option anyway, but if you have your own—” started the Realtor.

“Oh no. It’s perfect the way it is,” Teddy was quick to add.

“You three will be very happy in here,” the Realtor said, and my entire body stilled.

“Oh. Oh, we’re not…” I said, but I choked on nothing.

“We’re not together,” Teddy offered, much more calmly. “It’s just Bear and me.” He ruffled Bear’s hair who grimaced as if it was a torture and Teddy laughed. “And Bubblegum, of course.”

The Realtor narrowed their eyes and we all pointed to the dragon plushie.

“Ah,” they said, burying a chuckle behind their hand. “Either way, this place is perfect for a small family—and dragons.” They pointed at Bubblegum then continued. “I’ve got a lot of viewings the rest of the day, but I have a feeling you’ll fit in here better than anyone else.”

“I think I agree,” Teddy said, but I was still trying to compose myself after losing it at the suggestion that Teddy and I could ever be an item.

As if a guy like him would ever look at a guy like me. Even if he were into guys. Especially if he were into guys.

“Wh-what do you think, Bear?” I asked when I got a semblance of my confidence back.

Bear stopped dead in his tracks, looked at all of us, and gave us the thumbs-up.

“I like it!” he said, and the deal was sealed.

“Thank you,” Teddy said later, after he’d sorted out the deposits and all the paperwork and Bear had fallen asleep in the car.

“What on earth for? Whatever you accomplished, you accomplished all on your own.” I tried to be matter-of-fact and even a little cheeky, but the genuine gratitude on his face made me lose myself in the beauty of his eyes again.

“Even so, I’m only in this position because of your kindness and wisdom. You’re a great guy, Wesley. Really,” he said, and I didn’t move, didn’t speak, didn’t breathe.

I couldn’t.

Because I was doomed.

Truly and eternally doomed.

This man could be my undoing. Good thing he wasn’t and would never be interested in me in the way I wanted him to be.