Page 83 of Beauty
“Thank you for giving me this opportunity,” I tell them. “I won’t let you down.”
Gavin nudges me with his elbow. “We know.”
Their trust in me is incredible. And it’s a reminder to stand firmly on principle when it comes to Noah. Nothing can happen with us, not only because I’m angry with him but because I refuse to let anyone down again.
Before leaving the table, I text my real estate agent and ask to get into the apartment to take measurements. This is my fresh start. I’m ready to move forward.
Thirty minutes after I leave Beckett’s, I collect the keys to my new place from the building manager and hit the button to call the elevator. The whole way up, I wear a stupid smile, giddy about what’s to come for me.
As I pad toward the apartment, a door nearby swings open and a man steps out into the hall. I’m so lost in my thoughts that his identity doesn’t register until he says my name. “Sienna?”
Heart stuttering, I blink up at the man I’ve just sworn to myself I’d stop thinking about.
Noah’s jeans are worn in all the right places, and the sleeves of his black shirt are rolled to his elbows. Dammit. Why does he have to look so good?
“Sienna?” he says again, snapping me out of my stupor. “Are you here to see me?” His brows are furrowed, but there’s a hint of hopefulness in his eyes behind those black glasses that I swear will be the death of me.
“You live here?” I mumble.
“Yeah?” He says it like it’s a question. “Why are you here?”
Eyes shuttering closed, I sigh. “I just signed a lease.” My arm feels weighted down as I point to my new place.
He chuckles and slips his hands into his pockets. “You know, I once knew a girl who would swear this is fate.”
I huff a breath. “More like a coincidence.”
“Really? That same girl swore she didn’t believe in coincidences. Though this certainly feels like a happy coincidence, doesn’t it?” He’s full-on grinning now.
“Yup, another freaking happy coincidence,” I grind out.
Lucky me.
TWENTY-SEVEN
NOAH
On the wayto morning skate, I can’t help but glance at the door that will soon be Sienna’s. If I thought she had slept there last night, I’d be standing outside with a coffee, waiting to offer her a ride to work.
She may not be here now, but soon enough, it’s going to be damn hard for her to avoid me.
I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face last night as I fell asleep. Not only did I kiss Sienna again, but I felt her come around my fingers and swallowed her moans. Then I got to watch her pretty cheeks flush pink as she came against the wall in her office.
That moment alone would have kept me soaring for days. But then the universe stepped in with another message, reminding us that we are fated to be together. Now that she’s my neighbor, I’m not sure I’ll ever come down from this high.
What are the fucking chances we end up not only in the same building but on the same floor?
Damn near impossible, that’s what.
There’s a chance Hannah mentioned the available unit, but from what I can tell, she and Sienna haven’t interacted much.Plus she’s too busy being a mom and an author and a husband-obsessed wife to meddle like that.
Halfway to the elevator, I turn around and stride for her door, just to confirm.
From out here, Ican hear some character on their television singing a ridiculous tune and Mav babbling along with the lyrics. Then Daniel calls out—to Hannah, I presume—that he’s leaving in two minutes.
The chaos inside their apartment couldn’t be more different from the mostly quiet existence I lead. Even when I lived with my sister, the apartment only came to life when Daniel and Ollie were there.
My chest pinches with a longing for that kind of disorder. For a partner to do life with. For more time with my child. The custody arrangement isn’t the problem; it’s my job. It’s not seeing Ollie for days at a time when I’m traveling and sitting in silence on Jen’s days with him when I’m not. Daniel may travel too, but when he comes home, Mav and Hannah are always there waiting.
