Page 46 of The Renter

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Exploring Adam’s house feels like navigating a maze. Every room has a purpose, right down to a cigar lounge. The sheer size of the place overwhelms me. When I stumble upon the outdoor Olympic-sized pool, I want to go for a swim. It’s been too long since I swam laps, so I head back to his bedroom to change.

Swimming was my escape in high school, a way to forget the chaos at home. Swimming lap after lap, I feel that old sense of freedom and strength return. I wish there were a clock to time myself, curious how much slower I’ve become. But as I rest on the edge of the pool, I remember how long it’s been. My body feels like a limp noodle, completely worn out.

There are three plush towels stacked next to the ladder. Cecilia must’ve left them for me. Life with Adam sinks in deeper. It’s so perfect, it continues to feel unreal. Part of me is scared to get too comfortable, afraid it could all be taken away. My childhood and Sorin trauma are looking for cracks, waiting for something to go wrong.

He punched Sorin.It’s something I haven’t forgotten about. Sorin deserves more punches in the face, but that was an overreaction on Adam’s part. Adam’s worked with the mafia.Ineed to know more about that.But he’s a good guy. Everything else about him proves that. Still, I don’t want to get used to this life. I don’t want it to be taken away from me.

I wonder if Adam swims.We’ve never talked about it. There’s so much we haven’t talked about. We’re rushing to play house, and I barely know him. I need to be more cautious. I need to stop diving straight into the deep end.

Climbing out of the pool, I see my phone flashing—an unknown number is calling, and I have a new text.

Unknown Number

This is Allison, Adam’s assistant. I need you to call me.

I dial her number, and she picks up after one ring.

“Dani, hi. Sorry to bother you, but we have a little situation.” She sighs. “Are you at Adam’s right now?”

“Yeah.”

“I think you should leave the house for a little bit.”

“Ah … I just got out of the pool,” I hesitantly say.

“I see. This is awkward, and I hate to put you in this position, but Adam is in ‘do not disturb’ mode right now.” I hear she sigh. “Wendy’s coming by to grab something.”

Wendy.His ex-wife!

“Now?”

“It’s a whole fucking thing. Sorry to swear,” she says, speaking quickly. “She needs to pick up an end table.”

“Right now?”

“I don’t know how much you know about their divorce, but furniture is a very sore subject.”

I only know what Adam said and from the news, but I’ve never heard anything about furniture.

“If I were you, I’d go get a blowout or something before your reservation at One.”

“One!” I say, shocked and excited. I haven’t heard from Adam since he left for the office this morning, and now we have a dinner reservation at the fanciest restaurant in Chicago.

“He didn’t tell you?” Allison sounds annoyed. “I swear he’s been in back-to-back meetings all day. I’m sorry to be the messenger here.”

“When will she be arriving?”

“Now. She’s in her car outside.”

Now?“Can’t Cecilia leave it outside?”

“If only,” Allison says. “I already called Cecilia, but she’s at the grocery store. I know this is a terrible thing to ask, but could you unlock the front door?”

I don’t respond. I don’t know what I should do.

“Wendy will grab it and go. I promise she won’t linger,” Allison says after a long pause.