Page 27 of Wild Love
I’m opening all the cabinets in the kitchen while they come in with the furniture.
“Where do you want it?” one of the guys asks.
I turn and see them holding the pink couch in my new living room. I can’t help but laugh.
“Right there is fine.”
Two more guys come in with the matching chair. My heart squeezes.Dad, you sneak. “By the window.”
“He insisted,” Johnny says. “You’re going to have the most uncomfortable furniture in all of Minnesota, but I figured you wouldn’t have it any other way.”
My eyes are teary, and I shake my head, unable to speak for a few seconds. “It’s perfect.” Like my mom is here watching me. “Let’s go get the rest. I can’t wait to sleep in my new apartment.”
We get all the bags in one trip. Maverick wheels my oversized suitcase into my room.
“Thank you.” I take it from him and try to lift it onto the bed. It is heavy. He moves in to help.
“I’d invite you up to see my place, but it looks like you’re in a zone here.”
He isn’t wrong. I’ve got tunnel vision to get this place exactly how I want it before going to bed. “I have to find everything for tomorrow. What floor are you on?”
“Eleventh.” He scoops Charli up in his arms. She’s been busy checking out the place too. “What time do you have to be at the arena?”
“Nine. Just enough time to run and eat breakfast. Oh crap. Food. I didn’t even think about groceries.”
“We can go grab some stuff now if you want.”
“No, it’s fine. I have my protein powder and peanut butter somewhere, and my blender is in here.” I pat the suitcase.
“No wonder it was so heavy.” He smiles. “So you’re good?”
“Yep! I’m going to unpack and then try to sleep.”
“Text me if you need anything.”
“Thank you.” I walk him to the front door. He steps out into the hallway and then hits me with a grin. “Welcome, neighbor.”
* * *
I skipmy morning run and spend the time freaking out about my job and setting up the kitchen. I didn’t bring a lot of kitchenware since it’s just me, but I have a couple of plates, bowls, glasses, and a handful of silverware. I also grabbed one pan, one spatula, a whisk, and a potato peeler. Although the latter was an impulse grab, and I have no real plans to use it.
I set up my blender to make my smoothie. I can’t find my jar of peanut butter anywhere, and I know I packed it. Reagan was making fun of me, tossing it into the air while I packed shoes. Oooh, I bet it’s in the shoe bag.
The doorbell rings, and I freeze on my way to the bedroom like I’m caught in someone else’s house. I wait for a second and then quietly pad over to the door and look out. No one is there, but there is something on the ground in front of the door.
Curious, I unlock and open the door. Several Trader Joe’s bags filled with groceries sit outside and on the very top—a jar of peanut butter. Score! I could kiss Maverick.
When it’s time for work, I make sure I have my purse, phone, and key card for the apartment and then take the elevator to the first floor. I smile at the white marble and the sunlight that streams into the open space.
A man stands at the door holding it open for people coming and going and there’s a young woman behind the counter that I assume is the concierge Johnny mentioned.
I smile at her, and then the doorman greets me. “Good morning.”
“Morning,” I reply as I step outside. The street between the apartment and the arena is busy, and I walk up to the corner and cross with the others waiting. I take in the downtown area. Other tall buildings with company names surround us. Some I know, and others I don’t.
I feel underdressed next to some of these people in their formal business attire: suits and no-nonsense pumps. I opted for a simple black dress and my red Chucks. Katherine in HR said it was business casual with an emphasis on casual, so I’m not too worried. Besides, who is going to see my shoes while I sit behind a desk?
I get a text from Reagan as I’m about to enter the front doors of the arena. I pause and move to the side to let people pass.
