Page 62 of Unexpected

“We had a few incidents that happened here, and they were not exactly good memories. I didn’t realize this place would still be an issue for me all these years later.”

I could feel my stomach roll and my mouth was suddenly dry. “Incidents?” I asked in a small voice, hoping that their incidents were nothing like mine.

“Hazel, no,” he said, reading my expression and the tone of my voice. “I absolutely never touched her like that. I swear to you I would never hit a woman.” He wrapped my hands together in his and looked me directly in the eye. If he was lying, I saw no trace of it. All his actions up until that point also told me he was telling the truth.

“I believe you.”

“Good, good. God,” he sighed. “This is not how I was hoping today would go. Just… Valerie was very upset about the divorce. She created a lot of problems for me, and I was eventually able to get a protective order before the divorce was finalized.”

“Shit,” I murmured.Valerie.I knew after having done my own research that the evidence required to get a protective order had to be detailed and obvious. I couldn’t imagine—nor did I want to imagine—what likely occurred to enable him to get the order.

“Luke, I’m serious, we don’t need to go in. I had other options…” Before I even finished the sentence, he was shaking his head.

“Nope, let’s go. I’m going to be fine,” he said as he hopped out of the car, effectively ending the conversation and giving me no choice but to follow him.

Not surprisingly, it wasn’t exactly fine.

Just as Luke said, though, the complex was pretty amazing. Each space was renovated and there were more amenities than I could ever need.

The one-bedroom apartment the leasing agent showed us was larger than the second place and had nicer finishes. Luke agreed that it was a better deal, even if it was more expensive.

But his reaction to walking around the complex—especially the way his entire body tensed when we walked past his old apartment and the way he shuddered slightly when he looked at the small balcony for a second too long—made it obvious that it wasn’t actually fine.

Back in the truck, Luke seemed to visibly relax when he shut the door and cranked the heat in the cabin. He rolled his shoulders and let out a long breath.

The leasing agent said they wouldn’t have a one-bedroom available for more than a month. However, they had several two-bedroom options available immediately. I could have probably afforded the two-bedroom if I had cut down on other expenses—fewer books each month or less eating out—but I didn’t want to have to cut back on all of the little things I enjoyed. Coffee and books were two things I enjoyed immensely.

It was also more than obvious that the apartment complex would likely never be an okay place for Luke. He had too many ghosts lurking around that place, and it was scary to admit to myself—even if it was just in my own head—but he had just entered my life and was making himself at home. I knew if I moved in there, he would suffer through visiting me or I would see less of him.

The idea of seeing less of him was… not my favorite.

“So, the two-bedroom sounds like a good deal,” Luke said. Although a lot of the tension had left his body, his leg still bounced as he clicked his seat belt.

I also buckled and made a sound of disagreement. “It does sound like a good deal, but I’d have to rework my budget. I’m not sure I can swing it without cutting out a few things.”

He nodded and began to say something, but the ringing of his phone over the truck’s Bluetooth cut him off. His brow furrowed when the “Unknown Number” caller ID popped up on the screen between us. He immediately declined the call with a quick shake of his head.

“Spam calls on a Saturday? That should be illegal. I mean, they deserve a few days off, too, right?” I laughed.

My joke fell flat, although I wasn’t expecting a full belly laugh or anything. Just a pity laugh would have sufficed, and I could tell that going back there had ruined his whole mood.

I wanted to know what the hell happened. And it was on the tip of my tongue to ask until my phone ringing interrupted my thoughts.

A familiar number with an Austin area code scrolled across the screen.

“Hello?” I answered as Luke shot me a curious look.

“Hi, is this Hazel?” a sweet, Southern drawl asked on the other line.

“Yes, this is she.”

“Hi, sweetie, this is Savannah from the leasing office at Ella Apartments.”

“Hi, Savannah,” I said. I glanced at Luke, who gave me a questioning look as I shrugged.

“I just wanted to let you know that I was mistaken earlier. We will have a one-bedroom unit available by the end of this week if it’s something you’re interested in. I know the time line was important to you.”

“Yes, I’m interested!” I all but yelled down the phone and quickly settled down when Luke began to laugh next to me.

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