Page 97 of The Renter

“You’ve done an amazing job with the place. I’m impressed.”

Dani beams, a look of satisfaction on her face.

“Who put all this furniture together?”

“I did a lot of it.” She smiles. “Thank you for everything. It was also great to pay for some help too.”

“So handy.”

“Well, I had a little motivation. Living in chaos is not my thing, so I wanted to get it finished as fast as possible.”

I walk over to the windows, taking in the view of the Chicago River and the city skyline. “You’ve made it look so effortless.” Changing the subject, I share the surprise I’ve been planning. “I’ve arranged something special for us to do this evening, just a short walk from here.”

“Oh? A surprise?”

“You’ll see.”

“Does it have to do with my birthday?”

“It does.”

“Well, I have a little birthday request.”

“Anything.”

“My parents want to have us over for dinner at their house. I’d like it if you could come and meet them.”

The invitation catches me off guard in a good way. Meeting her parents is a significant step, one that I hadn’t anticipated so soon. “I’d love to meet your parents, Dani.”

Her smile widens. “They’re excited to meet you. And a bit nervous. I should have talked to you about it sooner … I was ruminating on it and decided it feels right. They are hoping to have us over on Saturday.”

“Perfect. That means I get you on your actual birthday.” I smile, then consider our age difference. “Do they know how old I am?”

“Yes, old man.”

“Good. I’ll do my best to make a good impression.” I wink.

She reaches for my hand. “Just be yourself. That’s the person I want them to meet.”

83

As Adam guides me into the jewelry store, a wave of panic washes over me.Is this my surprise?“What the fuck?!” I whisper under my breath. The store is closed to the public, just for us. I’m not ready for this. It’s been a whirlwind since May, and I begin praying that we are not here to look at engagement rings.

The jeweler, a shorter man, greets us. “You must be Dani, the birthday girl,” he says with a theatrical flair.

“That’s me,” I say as excited as I can right now, trying to mask my anxiety.

“We’ve got some lovely pieces selected, but feel free to explore.” He gestures grandly to the displays.

Adam interlaces his fingers with mine. “Let’s find you something special.”

I halt, feeling the need to clarify. “Adam, what are we doing here?”

“Picking out your birthday present.” He seems genuinely puzzled by my reaction.

“Okay, making sure it’s only a birthday present, nothing more.”

“Of course, what else? Though now that you mention it …” he teases, and I quickly interject.