Page 14 of First Comes Forever

“Rhodes,” I correct. “Amani Rhodes. I’m in apartment 1209 and I just need to sign a new lease. The system locked me out on the resident portal online.”

She studies her screen for a few moments before she screws up her face. “You declined the renewal last week. Is that right?”

“Well, sort of…something happened. I thought I was ready to move back home, but yesterday some more details came to life and it turns out I’m not really ready to move back home and face everything…” I can literally hear how this explanation makes me sound like a criminal. I hold up my hands and start again. “I was planning on surprising my friends and family and moving back to Denver with some big news, but it turns out I need a little more time in L.A., for medical reasons.”

Could I find another fertility clinic in Denver? Absolutely. But I needed privacy to do this. It was becoming too hard to show up to Friday night girls’ nights, and birthday parties, and lunch dates, and smile. And how do I explain it?Nothing happened.I just woke up one day and I was sad. Noa, Adler, Quinn, and Reese know me as a sassy, firecracker redhead, who is the first to try something new. To this day, I am the only member of my little group brave enough to sample rocky mountain oysters—albeit that was a one and done kind of situation.

But the point is—thatAmani is missing. Right now, I’m a shell of my old self, and my friends don’t need to carry that burden. I can barely handle it myself. I miss the Amani who didn’t have to fake a smile.

“Oh boy, I see the problem,” Jessie says, her smile turning down as she squints at the screen. “Amani, you denied renewal.”

“Well, right…like I said, I had a change of plans…”

“Hon, I’d fix the paperwork right now myself,” Jessie says, meeting my gaze, “but the apartment has already been claimed. You have to be out by the end of the month.”

“How is that possible? It’s literally been a week.”

“Elm Community has a waitlist about six hundred strong. We rarely have vacant apartments. Especially not two-bedrooms.” She grimaces. “That’s the sweet spot. A little more space, but not as expensive as the luxury three-bedrooms.”

“You don’t have anything else available? I can manage with a one-bedroom right now.”

She doesn’t even need to check her screen. She just shakes her head. “Getting an apartment here is like winning the lottery. I’m so sorry. I promise you if I could help, I would. The new tenants have already put down their deposit and first month’s rent.”

Again, it’s been a week.Freaking sharks. “Wow.”

“It’s the market right now. Everyone is renting, waiting for the inflated interest rates to come down. Not to mention California real estate is—”

“A hot mess. I know.” Denver isn’t far behind, but California really takes it to the next level. I know I can afford more than most, but even my funds are finite. Buying a house in Cali right now is out of the question for so many reasons.Fuck, I’m stupid.Why did I jump? I just thought surely I couldn’t commit to another year in L.A. A week ago, I thought I was pregnant. I was excited about going home, surprising them, and sharing my news about the new me. Everything was going to start feeling better. I just—

“Here you go, hon,” Jessie says, holding out a box of tissues.

“Huh?”

“I might be able to help you find something at Riverlakes. It’s not too far from here. I have a friend in the leasing office over there.”

The community where all the windows are boarded up with iron bars and no one can sleep because of the constant police sirens at all hours of the night?“I looked at Riverlakes when I first got here…I’ll pass.”

She jiggles the box of tissues in her hand again, and I finally realize why. I touch my wet cheeks and roll my eyes.Fuck.All the freaking time with the crying lately.

“Thanks,” I say. “I’ll figure it out.” Maybe it’s a sign, maybe itistime to go home, empty-handed. “I was planning on moving back to Denver anyway., I guess this kind of seals my fate.”

“You’re leaving?”

My heart skips, mostly from the surprise intrusion of the new voice at the door, but maybe just a little bit because Irecognizethat voice. I allow the sassy smile to spread across my face before I turn my head to see Adam Montgomery standing in the open doorway.

I ball up the tissue in my hand, trying to hide it from his view. “Impressive, Adam. You’re really taking your stalking to the next level.”

He chuckles. “All I just heard was you think I’mimpressive.” He winks at me as he holds up a key in his hand and looks over my shoulder. “Sorry to interrupt, but, Jess, I have to get to a meeting, and no one was at the front desk. I just need to drop this off for Lola. She said someone changed the locks on her and she couldn’t get in to clean.”

Jessie rolls her eyes. “She didn’t get locked out. The building is settling, likeallbuildings do, and the soil here is particularly soft, so the locks shift a bit. She just has to really crank and jiggle the key. I showed her this last month.”

“Well, that’s what every homeowner wants to hear. How long until my third-floor condo is buried underground?”

Jessie gives him a glib smile. “You have a few months at least.” She tucks a tendril of her long hair behind her ear, unable to control her girlish smile.

“Wonderful,” he replies with a cute smirk.

Goodness gracious, she’s melting from the attention.

---