Page 54 of Wild Lies

I nod, even though I’m not really taking in anything she’s saying. My focus is on the cold keys in my palm and the shock colliding with the excitement that pulses under my skin. I’m really doing this. It feels surreal. When I arrived eleven days ago, I didn’t expect to have found someone like Kade, or even consider that I would be making such a huge life decision. And yet, it feels like the right thing to do. To take the risk with the offer of work from Maddie and see how Kade and I play out. I know I’ll be happy here.

Autumn turns toward me with a gentle smile on her face. “For this door, you need the gold key. The silver one is for the main apartment door.”

She steps back, and with trembling hands, I slide the key into the lock. The sound of the chamber clicking into place as I turn it echoes like it’s being blasted over a megaphone. I step back, allowing Autumn to go ahead of me up the steep set of stairs. The walls are exposed brick, just like in the coffee shop, and although the space is narrow, the window at the top fills it with natural light.

We come to a stop outside the apartment door, and I slide the silver key into the lock. I inhale, my chest expanding as I hold the breath, only letting it out as I push the door open. My eyes widen as they bounce around the light and airy living room. I don’t know what I was expecting, but this is beautiful. I can’t wait to make it my home.

Big bay windows flood the room with light, reflecting off the white walls and shiny herringbone floors. The living room consists of a worn couch in the middle of the room and a comfy armchair by the window, both of which I could imagine sinking into after a long day or sitting on as I edit photos.

Autumn leads the way as we move through the apartment. “This is the kitchen. You’ve got everything you need with the nearly new stainless-steel appliances. There’s crockery and utensils in the cupboards too.”

I stand in the middle of the room, turning as I take in the white marble top counters that glisten in the light. White cupboards line two of the four walls, giving a brightness to the room, even with the small window. Navy and white tiles cover the walls behind the counters, adding a pop of color.

Reluctantly, I follow Autumn into the hallway as she stands at a door and says, “This is the bedroom. The mattress and sheets are new, but if you’d rather, I’m happy for you to swap them out. I have a room at home I can put them in.”

The bedroom consists of a wooden bedframe with light pink sheets and a stack of pillows that are calling to me. On either side of the bed are oak bedside tables that match the chest of drawers against the far wall. “It’s perfect, Autumn. Are you sure it’s only six hundred a month? It’s so spacious.” It feels too good to be true.

“I’m sure.” She pauses before taking off down the hallway. “Come on, I’ve got to show you the clawfoot tub. It’s to die for.”

Forcing myself to follow behind her, I can’t help but feel like I might have struck gold. When I said yes to attending Rachel’s wedding, I didn’t think I’d be finding all of this. A family that has been welcoming, a new job, if only temporary, and a man who’s shown me nothing but love.

33

KADE

There’s a knock at my door as I’m putting my coffee mug in the dishwasher. I run a hand down my face as I consider ignoring whoever it is. It’s probably Gracie wanting to vent about Reed and how he won’t find money in the budget so she can go all out for the fall festival this year. They’ve been arguing about it a lot lately and I’m the one stuck in the middle.

She’s got ten minutes to get it all out before I need to leave and pick up Chloe. And considering this—her coming over to bitch about Reed and his lack of giving in to her—is a weekly occurrence, I have zero issues with kicking Gracie out.

I reach the front door, pulling it open with the words on the tip of my tongue before I bite them back and stare at the five-foot-nothing blond standing in front of me. She’s most definitely not Gracie.

My brows pull low as I check her over from head to toe. “Chlo? I’m supposed to be picking you up. Is everything okay?”

She waves an arm in front of herself before looking around nervously. “Yeah. I kind of did something this morning, and if I don’t tell you, I might burst.”

Hope flickers in my chest as I step back, holding the door open wider for her. “We can’t have that. Come in.”

She comes to a stop in the hallway, wringing her hands nervously.

“Have you eaten?” I ask, needing to fill the tense quiet.

Her voice is impossibly soft, a hint of laughter in it when she says, “Kade, you don’t need to feed me.”

“I know, but I want to.”

Chloe takes hold of my hand, her fingers warm to the touch as she leads me through to the living room. I like how she moves around in my space like she’s already part of it.

When she presses lightly on my shoulders, I fall back onto the couch. It dips under my weight, the oversized cushions swallowing me whole, like they’re preempting my need for a hug. I stare up at her expectantly, curiosity and uncertainty swirling up a storm in my gut until I feel almost nauseous.

“I’m going to need you to tell me what you’ve done, sooner rather than later, Chlo.” The anticipation is killing me as a million assumptions run through my mind.

She stands in front of me, huffing out a breath before turning her green eyes to me. “I love how you take care of me. And I’ve really enjoyed our time together.”

“Me too.” I drag the last word out.

Chloe paces in the space between the couch and coffee table. “You have?” she asks, vulnerability shining in her gaze when she finally stops moving.

I reach for her, pulling her onto my lap. “Hell, yeah. I meant it when I said last night that I didn’t want you to leave. Why do you think you’ve barely had any time to yourself since you arrived in town?”