Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 147545 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 738(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147545 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 738(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
I don’t need any time to think about whether it’s the smart or even the right thing to do. That’s stopped mattering as much in the face of this man I can’t put into one box that fits. He’s bad, but he’s also the best. He’s scary and oh, so sweet. Falling for him may be the craziest thing I ever do, but I’ll probably do it anyway.
“Yes,” I say, nodding. “I can do that.”
His lips tug up, and just the sight of his smile makes my heart flutter. Then he leans toward me, and I close the distance. Our lips touch gently, and his hand comes up to cradle my face. “Good,” he murmurs against my mouth. “Now, let’s go move you into your new place.”
CHAPTER 24
CASSIE
By the time we get to the apartment, the boxes are already loaded inside. The guys moved me out so fast that there wasn’t time to label things, but the boxes are lined up along the hallway, and I’m actually looking forward to unpacking.
The apartment itself is perfect for me.
I’m on the second floor. When the entry door opens, there’s a long hall that stretches from one end of the apartment to the other. To the right is the bedroom, which already has a queen-sized bed, dresser, and vanity set up. Behind that is the bathroom, and it’s actually a pretty big one. Across the hall is an arched opening to the living room, which already has a beige sofa and white fluffy rug on the floor, as well as a huge TV with empty bookcases on either side. This whole area has an open floor plan with a dining room table with four chairs, a very nice kitchen with an island, and appliances already installed.
“This is like… move-in ready,” I say, looking around in awe.
“It’s not fully furnished, but I had a few things delivered already. I didn’t think you’d move in today, but I did plan on getting you here eventually.”
I smile up at him. “My mastermind.”
He smiles back, catching me around the waist and pulling me in front of him. “Do you like it?”
“I love it. Thank you for letting me stay here. It will be so nice to have my own space. I wanted to move out this summer, but I’m only part-time at work, and they don’t have the hours to give me full-time. Even if they did, I’m not sure I could swing the rent, bills, and groceries without a roommate, which… I would not be able to get in Holbrook, so I was kind of stuck.”
“Well, consider yourself unstuck. This is only temporary anyway, but it’ll do for now.”
I nod, certainly not looking a gift horse in the mouth. “Of course. How long can I stay here with my current payment plan? Do you need to rent it out to a paying customer at a certain time, or…?”
“That’s not what I meant. Your payment plan is indefinite, but I’m going to college in the fall, so I’ll be moving in August.”
“Oh.” My heart sinks. “Right. Of course you are. That makes sense. You’ll probably want to rent it out when you move away so you have extra income. Plus, it might be difficult to deliver all those kisses when you’re in… where are you moving?”
“Boston.”
I nod, my eyes widening. “Right. Boston. That’s not super close.”
He smirks, cradling my jaw in one of his hands. “Not super close, no.”
I remember when I used to look forward to college. The idea of him going hadn’t occurred to me amid all the lunacy, but I find I don’t love it. Good for him, of course, but here we are starting a relationship that he talks about like we have a future, and the reality is he’s moving in less than two months.
“But I’m sure we can find a place at least as nice as this one,” he says, lightly teasing.
My gaze jumps to his. “We?”
He brushes my hair back, grazing the shell of my ear in the process. “You’re coming with me, aren’t you? Don’t tell me you’re too attached to Holbrook to leave.”
He knows I’m not attached to Holbrook, but he also knows… “I told you I didn’t apply to any colleges. I didn’t make plans.”
“Well, I have plans,” he tells me. “We’ll make some for you, too.”
“It’s too late to apply anywhere for fall admission. You want me just hanging around for a year working in Boston’s version of Chuck’s Chicken Shack and warming your bed?”
“The ‘warming my bed’ part sounds nice. I don’t know about the chicken shack. You don’t have to work at all if you don’t want to. I have plenty of monthly income to cover us, but if you do want to work, maybe something that makes more sense. You can afford to be choosy. Professional girlfriend is on the table if you want it.”