Page 52 of The Renter

“Honestly, not much. I love the way it’s decorated and laid out,” I say, my eyes wandering around the room.

“And what would you need to live here?”

“You really want this to be a U-Haul kind of relationship?”

Adam looks at me, puzzled. He has no idea what this reference means, and I shake it off with a laugh. My heart is racing at these questions. “Whatever I say, are you going to call the contractors to get started?”

“Maybe.”

I playfully push him, amused by his eagerness. He raises an eyebrow, waiting for my answer.

“What’s your closet like?”

“It’s mine. I’m not sharing.” His smirk sparks mine while we stare at each other.

“If I were to live here … Down the road … After we’ve been dating for a long time,” I begin, clarifying. “I would like an office of my own. And a celebrity-worthy closet just forme.”

“Done. I think that would take three months, tops.”

“We’ll re-discuss in three months then,” I say, half-joking, half-serious. Trying to keep the flood of emotions from surfacing on my face.How is he this serious?

“I’ll hold you to that,” he replies with a smile, pulling me into a kiss.

He’s thinking about me like that? Like I’ll be with him for the long haul.

Hugging and cuddling, the early morning continues to be intimate until Adam breaks the silence with a question that takes me by surprise.

“Could you raise a family here?”

I poke him playfully, trying to lighten the mood. “Slow down, baby fever. Let’s live in this moment for a bit longer.” I give him a deep kiss, feeling incredibly happy yet overwhelmed by the pace at which things are moving.

“Why is the twenty-five-year-old the rational one?” he jokes.

I smile and nuzzle closer to him, enjoying the warmth and comfort of being in his arms. Right now, I don’t want to think about the future or make any big decisions.

38

With Adam out on his morning run, I dial Kelsey’s number, hoping to catch her before she goes to work. As soon as she answers, I blurt out, “You will never guess where I am right now.”

“Give me a hint!”

“Chicago.”

“Did you get a new apartment?”

“Not yet. I’m withThe Renter,” I say, smiling.

“What?”

“I’m at his place in Lincoln Park. We’re staying here for the week,” I add, still finding it surreal myself.

“Holy shit. Tell me everything.”

I flop onto the plush sofa, feeling a rush of stories fighting to spill out. “I know I’m hard to be friends with, always lost in my latest obsession. Where do I even start? His house is insane.”

“Wait, back up. How did you even end up in Chicago with him?”

I laugh, realizing how crazy it all sounds. “Well, we’ve been seeing a lot of each other, and he introduced me to a handful of companies, which I’m meeting with in person later today.”