Page 36 of My Fearless Fake Fling

Ten:

I ambled out of the bedroom, drawn by the rich aroma of dark roast Columbian brew. Something I bet most people wouldn’t guess about Len was that he made coffee like nobody’s business. In a real relationship, he’d be elected official coffee brewer.

“Hey, baby. Come have a seat.” He handed me off an overly large mug of the magic brown liquid as I passed him on my way to the bar. During the handoff, he pressed a sweet kiss to my temple.

How did he manage to be so sweet and perfect and able to keep up the pretense even when we weren’t in public?

Breakfast fare for this morning turned out to be lox and bagels, with the spread on individual plates laid across the bar top. The toaster popped and he pulled two piping-hot bagel halves, buttered them, set them on a plate for me, and slid it over.

Cream cheese, lox, onion, tomato, and capers for each of us later, he sat next to me and I could tell he had something on his mind. It was weird. Len, in the time I’d known him—especially in the time I’dreallygotten to know him—never held back. I didn’t think he could hold back if he tried.

“What?” I mumbled around a mouthful, and I picked up a couple of the capers that had rolled off, sticking them in the soft, pulpy part of the tomato to keep them in place.

“We’re leaving in a month,” he said.

“Yes.” I drew out the word. “I’m quite aware of that.”

“Then we’ll be gone for six months.”

“Again, not new information.”

“I think we should pack you up today and move you in here.”

My mouth dropped open. I set my bagel I’d picked up for another bite back down on the plate. Ran my tongue along my teeth to make sure I wouldn’t spit food out when I yelled at him, and then I yelled at him. “What the heck?”

It might have been a slight overreaction, but I contestwhat the heck?

“Move in with you?”

“Now.” He patted the air. “Hear me out. Why should you pay six months of rent and utilities when you won’t be home? That’s wasting money. Plus, isn’t that where you were living when you and the ex were together?”

I shook my headyes.

“I thought you were trying for a fresh start.”

“I am.”

He shot me thiswell?look. As if what he proposed was the obvious next step in myget Kami backlife plan.

“You’ll be paying rent here for the six months we’re gone.” Yes. That was a good argument.

“I own this place. Outright.” His face darkened. “Bought it with the money I got when… never mind. Anyway, I only pay taxes, utilities, and association fees. Heck of a lot less than you pay in rent.”

“Where will I live when we get back?”

“Kam, baby, we’ll find you a better place. But if we’re going to get you moved out, you have to get your notice put in today so they don’t charge you another month’s rent.”

“I don’t know the policy. I’d have to check on how much notice I’m supposed to give.”

“Okay.” He ran his hands through his hair. “Even if they charge you another month, it’s smarter to move you out now rather than at the end of the month when we’re trying to get all the last-minutes done.”

Right, so he had a point. A good one actually…

“And you really don’t mind? Me stayingherewithyoufor the rest ofthe month? Because once I give up my apartment, if you get sick of me, you can’t kick me out.”

“I won’t get sick of you.”

“You might get—”

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