Page 142 of Due Dilligence (Takeover)
Chapter Thirty
Eight months later
Fazil raised the door on the rental van. This was the last load from Todd’s storage unit. After this, they’d have everything in their new house. He peered at the place they’d bought together while Todd pulled out the ramp.
Living in his apartment had been reasonable, but it had been full of his things. Todd had never complained, but it felt unfair that Todd didn’t have his own space. Todd had moved into it—but it wasn’t his, wasn’t theirs.
This? This belonged to both of them. Their house, their life together.
One last load to move in, if anyone came out of the house to help them. “Whereiseveryone?”
“How much do you want to bet Eli’s holding court?” Todd thudded up the ramp, grabbed a box, and passed it to Fazil.
“Not taking that bet.”
Good choice, too. Through the screen door he spied Eli perched in a chair outside the living room, all legs and arms and devious smile.“... then Michael had this brilliant idea to buy a gross of bouncing balls and dump them down the stairwell...”
“You wanted to freeze them in liquid nitrogen!” Michael said.
Oh God. More college shenanigans. Those two. Fazil stood on the porch and coughed. “If someone’s not busy?”
Justin, who’d been sitting at Eli’s feet, sprang up and opened the screen door. “Didn’t hear you guys over the sound of Eli’s past.”
“Five,” Eli muttered and Justin laughed.
The rest of their moving crew—all of the office, a good number of his friends from pinball and gaming, and a few folks from Todd’s new job—were climbing to their feet in the living room.
“Last truckload,” Todd said. “Then pizza and beer.”
Everyone, except Eli, marched out to the truck to begin the fun and games of carting boxes again. Eli settled into his chair with the list that matched box contents with rooms.
After a third trip up the stairs, Fazil grabbed a box markedPLATES. Ground floor for a change. He trudged inside and nodded to Eli.
“You know where you’re going?” Amusement in Eli’s voice.
Fazil rolled his eyes and headed to the kitchen.
He was glad they’d figured out a way to include Eli in the process. He’d never been content to sit and watch. Giving him dominion over the whole process? That had worked like a charm and had saved Fazil a few headaches. Eli salivated over organization.
Fazil set the box down on the kitchen counter and wiped his brow. Steps sounding from the hall had him turning. Kris carried a twin box to his, this one markedGLASSES.She gave him a smile. “Hey.”
They hadn’t talked much at all since their breakup. Small chats at pinball, but nothing personal. He’d been surprised when she’d come to lend a hand. “Hey. Thanks for helping out.”
“Thanks for inviting me.” She set the box down and leaned against the counter. “This is a great place.”
“We kind of owe Eli for finding it. An older couple from his synagogue were downsizing and terrified that college students or a rental company would snatch it up.”
“Be a shame to turn this into apartments.” She looked around before settling her gaze on him. “It’s good to see you happy, Fazil.”
That caught him off guard. But hewashappy. Astoundingly so. “Thanks.” Even to his own ears, his voice sounded rough.
“I mean it,” she said. “In all the years I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you like this.” She pushed off the counter. “Youlookdifferent, to be honest.”
Did he? He’d have to ask Todd. Or Sam. He coughed a laugh. “Apparently love does that to people.” He held up his hand and wiggled his empty left ring finger.
Kris blushed in the way that had first attracted him to her, and held up her hand. Hers sported a very nice sapphire engagement ring from Lance. “Yeah. I guess it does.”
They’d be married in the summer. Yet another wedding Fazil and Todd would attend.
