Page 123 of Begin Again

“Why would he put a gift here and not let you open it?” Scott sounded disappointed.

“No idea,” I murmured. It must have something to do with Kaden’s planned surprise. I tried to lift the box but failed miserably. It was heavy—really heavy.

“You take that side,” Scott said, grabbing his end through the opening in the box.

Together we managed to get the box into my place and pushed it against the wall. Dawn’s jacket was already hanging on the coatrack but before I could greet her, she sprang out of the living room.

“Look, you two!” Reaching out her bare hand toward us, she wiggled her fingers. “I’m free!”

“Let’s see!” I peered at her joints up close. No more swelling, and her fingers all seemed flexible.

“Back to normal.” Her whole face was glowing. Her eyes darted toward the box. She frowned. “What’s that?”

“Kaden’s latest surprise for Allie,” Scott answered.

“It wasn’t there when I got here,” Dawn said, and her eyes lit up. “Hopefully there’s something for us in there!” And then she saw the note. “Oh, man. What a spoilsport. Must be a bunch of sex toys.”

“No one needs that many toys,” Scott countered. “Anyway, it’s super heavy. Just try to lift it.”

Dawn got no further than we had. “Holy shit, what’s in here?”

Scott and I dragged the box into my bedroom so it wouldn’t be in the way when potential renters showed up.

Afterward, Scott was about to collapse onto the couch when he spied the picture frames on the wall above it. He whistled approvingly and stepped closer.

“Wow, those pics are beautiful. Especially that one.” He pointed to the largest one, where I was alone at the overlook.

“Are they from Kaden?”

I nodded. “He left them at my door yesterday.”

“Okay, I think I’m a bit in love now, too.”

“They’re gorgeous, aren’t they?” Dawn agreed.

We picked up the living room and vacuumed the spare room so it would look more presentable. The whole time, we belted out songs from musicals and danced through the apartment. I hadn’t laughed this much in a long time. It felt good. Yes, I was on the right track. Things were back on track.

The first candidate arrived fifteen minutes early. His name was Isaac. He seemed to be studying 200 subjects at the same time and was cute in a nerdy way, with his horn-rimmed glasses and bow tie. Scott fell for him right away and made obscene gestures behind Isaac’s back, which made me smile and Dawn blush. It wasn’t long before the doorbell rang again. Soon the apartment was filled with people who strode from room to room, asked me questions, and maybe had already pictured the room fully furnished with their own stuff.

The doorbell rang again; Dawn went to answer it while I fielded everyone’s questions about the rent, the deposit, heat, and electricity costs.

“Allie?” Dawn called from the hallway.

“I’ll take over,” Scott said right away, and started talking about the owner’s talented grandson.

Meanwhile, I walked over to Dawn in the hall and stopped in my tracks.

It was Kaden, standing in the doorway, holding a copy of the apartment ad in his hand.

“I heard you’ve got a room to rent. I want to apply.”

My mouth dropped open but no words came out. Instead, I focused on Kaden and let my eyes travel downward. I gasped. Next to him on the doormat was a carrying case with holes in it.

“W—what’s that?” My eyes were wide.

“That’s today’s present.” Kaden grinned. “But before you open it, you have to let me in to see the place with the others.”

“No.” It was the first word that came back to me.

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