Page 35 of Lovestruck at Sundown
“It’s insane how the moment my dad realized I went after you, he decided to sell it. He’s so drastic.”
He nodded. “Your recent rebellious tendencies landed me the girl and a shiny new piece of real estate.” He finished off his beerand set it on the coffee table. There was a pause as he regarded me in silence. “Guille, I want you to continue to live here.”
“William—”
“Please let me say my piece, and then you can go ahead and let your stubbornness run wild while I pretend like what you’re saying will convince me otherwise.”
“Be nice.” I lifted my eyebrows and dipped my chin. “Or I’ll make you.”
“Definitely into that.” William flashed the edge of a smile, making me roll my eyes at him. “But hold that thought.” He straightened in his seat. “I think it’s unfair for your father to want to control your life like that. You’re twenty-one, for fuck’s sake. And if you were nothing but a friend, I would’ve still bought this apartment, so don’t feel like I acquired it so you can live in it. I did it because I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to arise. For years. Now, if it happens that I can give my girlfriend a place to live, believe me, I will not hesitate to do so.”
“William, it’s too much,” I began to say. “You could rent the apartment in two seconds and make some good money out of it and—”
He shook his head. “I don’t need the money. It’s not in my plans to rent the apartment to a random stranger. I like privacy—Ineedit. So please believe me when I say there’s nothing else I want but to have you living here. Next to me.”
“But—”
“I would’ve also offered you the place if you were only my friend,” he interrupted me again. “It’s not like I’m planning to renovate it soon. But when the time comes, you and I can oversee the new architectural plan. Together.” William pushed a strand of hair away from my face and tucked it behind my ear. “I’m not going anywhere, and I’m not letting you out of my sight. So please, letme take care of you.”
He was making a good point regarding the privacy issue. He now owned the entire floor and could afford to keep the apartment empty if he wanted to. Renting the place to a stranger wasn’t a good idea. And I knew how generous he was with his family and friends. It made me feel relieved to know he didn’t buy the apartment specifically to help me or my situation but because it was something he’d been wanting to do for years.
But still …
“I can’t stay here for free.” This place was huge. I didn’t even know how much renting this place would cost, and I knew I couldn’t afford to pay its actual worth, but the only way I would feel comfortable staying here was if he let me paysomethingso it didn’t feel like a handout. Something that represented a considerable chunk of my miserable salary.
“You have a pen?” he asked playfully.
“I do.” Smiling, I stood and pulled out the stationery kit I kept inside one of the TV unit drawers. “I assume you want something to write on too?”
“I was going to use this napkin, but sure.” William extended his hand. “Give me something glittery.”
“Let’s see …” I gave him a pen and chose a Lisa Frank mini notepad with a dolphin and rainbow design I had owned since I was twelve years old. “Here you go.”
“Exquisite.” William laughed and tore out a sheet. He wrote the day’s date at the top, followed by:9A Rental Agreement. In the second line, he continued with:
“Pen.” I extended my hand and swiveled my fingers.
“Just like that?” He seemed excited but suspicious all the same about me signing without objection. But I added three zeros after the $1 and he laughed. “Here we go.”
“Take it or leave it.” I summoned what I thought was my best poker face and slid the paper toward him.
“Remind me how much you’re getting paid at the magazine again?” He tilted his head and bit his lower lip in a contemplative way.
“Enough to pay a thousand bucks for my rent.” My poker face was still firmly in place. I couldn’t let him think for a second I wasn’t being serious about this. I was. But he could’ve easily swayed me into laughter, which would’ve only made me lose credibility. He would think I was negotiating to make it a fun thing.
“Baby, it’s too much.” He crossed out two zeros. “Ten bucks.”
“Honestly, William, I know you think we’re having fun with this, and we are, but it’s a bit insulting.” I grabbed the pen and wrote two zeros above the crossed-out scribble. “This has to be a challenge for me, or I’ll never feel comfortable living here.”
He sighed. “Why do you have to be so stubborn?”
“Help me grow up and learn to be a responsible adult.”
“I can’t,” he said, dragging a hand along his face and up through hair. “It’s too much. You need to have some money left from your paycheck so you can save or buy stuff you want or need, etc.”
“Do this for me, please,” I begged.
“Gimme.” He pointed at the notepad, and I passed it to him. He tore out another page and wrote the same script but changed the amount to $800. “I’m not agreeing to a penny over this, and if you don’t sign this right now, I’ll pack your things myself, and I’m moving you into my apartment against your will.”
