Page 102 of The Renter

Shit!I should have taken these earrings off. I forgot I was wearing them.

“Are those real?” Sam asks, then puts her engagement ring next to my earring. “Fuck you. How big are they?”

“I have no idea.”

“Don’t play dumb. How many carats?” she asks.

“Honestly, I don’t know. We went to a jewelry store, and the guy working there showed them to me, and Adam bought them. We didn’t talk about the details.”

I laugh to myself.We didn’t talk about the details.If that’s not a fucking metaphor for my relationship with Adam. I’m having the best time, but we have so, so much to discuss before I ever seriously get engaged to him.

“You’re welcome.” Kelsey giggles. “I believe I get credit for you and Adam happening.”

“It was a group effort!” Sarah yells.

Ben comes over to our table as we’re all giggling. “What are we drinking?”

“We’ll have a bottle of your most expensive champagne.” I smile. “Adam’s paying.”

“Thank you, Adam!” Kelsey says before smiling at Ben. I wonder if Ben has made a move on her yet. They hold a little stare before he leaves.

“Ben likes you,” I whisper.

“Please. He likes toying with me.”

“Mmm. I think he likes you.”

“You’re very intimidating, you know.” Sam laughs.

“We’re not talking about me,” Kelsey snaps and I smile at her because she is all talk and no game. “It’s Dani Day,” she says, and I shudder.

The last time I heard that phrase was from Sorin.The gifts.Adam’s gifts are not like Sorin’s gifts. I think about the semi-permanent bracelet Sorin got me … The only piece of jewelry I’ve ever had. The ownership it represented.Adam’s gifts are not about ownership.

“What does Adam even look like?” Sarah asks, pulling me back to the present. “You don’t post anything on social media anymore.”

“Adam’s really into privacy,” I say, opening my phone. “I’m starting to get more into privacy too.” I show the girls the photo theSun-Timesused in their article. It’s my favorite photo of us.

“The society section. Dani, the high society girl,” she teases, poking my side.

“But like … what’s wrong with him?” Sarah presses. “He seems too perfect.”

I shrug, not knowing how to answer that, although he did punch Sorin. That’s something I have not forgotten about. I still think it was an overreaction.

Over the next two hours, we kill two bottles of champagne and order so much greasy food. The Baddies are now all caught up in each other’s lives, and I can’t wait for Sam’s wedding next summer. Leaving Charlie’s, it sets in how twenty-six will be the best year of my life.

89

Thursday, September 8th

“Your birthday came at the perfect time,” Adam says, snuggling me on his couch after a long day of work for both of us.

“Why’s that?”

“We’re entering the meaty part of the due diligence phase of this Real-ity deal. I’ll be chained to my phone and the office for the next month or so.”

“What have you guys been doing up until now?” I’ve only been hearing rumblings about this deal since Summit, and I am curious.

“It’s looking like it will be the largest deal in Harris Venture’s history. Lots of i’s to dot and t’s to cross.”