Page 33 of Without You

Katie

“It’s perfect.”

“Yeah?”

“It is.” I turn to face Brody who’s leaning against the counter in my — yes, my — kitchen. The apartment he has above his garage is exactly what I need and want. Aside from not having a bathtub to soak in, it has everything. Even the furniture is great. Comfortable and clean, neutral enough that I can decorate to add in my own touch and not be restricted.

“So you’ll take it?”

“Absolutely. I can’t believe you only want two hundred fifty dollars a month for rent for this place. It’s actually pretty big.”

He shrugs one shoulder. “It’s still an apartment above a garage. It’s built pretty solid, but you’ll still hear me pull in and park my truck.”

I wave him off. “That’s not a big deal. It won’t bother me.”

He pulls out a rental agreement from his back pocket that’s been folded in half the long way and puts it on the kitchen table. I read through it and sign at the bottom. He does the same. There’s nothing about first and last month’s rent. No deposit. It’s a steal. Quite literally.

“I feel like I’m taking advantage of you.”

“Nah. This is the same contract I gave to the guy who lived here before you.”

“So I’m nothing special, huh?”

“Nope. Not a bit,” he says, his eyes twinkling.

My stomach growls, embarrassingly loudly, in fact, and he chuckles.

“Time to eat?”

“Sounds that way, doesn’t it?”

“It sure does. I have a couple of steaks marinating. That work for you?”

“Oh, I didn’t tell you I’m a vegetarian?”

“Oh. You are?” he asks, barely covering his disappointment. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. I do have baked potatoes and Caesar salad, too. Oh, do you eat Caesar dressing? It has anchovies, right? And eggs?”

My lip twitches as he carries on. “I do eat Caesar dressing.”

He blows out a breath. “Oh, good. I think I have some beans maybe. Or peanut butter? Do you need protein?”

“Yeah. Protein is always good.”

“Okay, so…”

“How about if I just eat a steak since I was just joking anyway?”

“Are you joking right now? I felt like such an asshole!”

Laughing hard, I admit, “Yeah, I was completely joking around with you. Of course I’m not a vegetarian.”

He shakes his head and says, “Hey, there’s nothing wrong with it. I just hadn’t pegged you as not eating meat.”

“Now I kind of wish that I was so that I could have surprised you.”

“You’ll surprise me one day, I’m sure.”

“One can only hope. Now, you told me you’re going to grill me a perfect steak.”

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