Page 82 of Holiday Hostilities

He checks the screen and moves towards the door. “Uh, I’ll be right back.”

I turn back to my form and fill it out dutifully, but I can’t help but wonder who he’s talking to and if it’s the same person he was texting a minute ago.

“I can’t believe that you’re currently living with Aaron Marino and you’re applying to movehere,” Kris says from behind me. He’s left his office and is now watching Aaron pace outside with wide eyes. He managed to keep his inner fan hidden pretty well during the viewing.

“Trust me, I find it hard to believe I live with him, too,” I mutter as I continue down the form.

And that’s when my heart falls.

There’s a security deposit, but it’s more than I was expecting to pay. This building also requires the first and last month’s rent in advance. And the rent itself is at the top end of my budget.

Which means that, even if Idoget it, this apartment is not going to work for me, financially.

I swallow thickly as I finish the form anyway. It would be awkward not to, especially with Kris standing over my shoulder.

“All good?” Aaron asks when he ducks back inside.

I nod, biting the inside of my cheek. “Yup. I’m ready to go.”

We each shake Kris’s hand, and then leave the building. I’m feeling a little downtrodden, and the worst part is that I’m not sure if it has more to do with not being able to afford that apartment, or not knowing who Aaron was talking to so urgently.

Clearly, I need to give my head a shake and snap out of it.

“You seemed to like that one,” Aaron says as we stroll down the sidewalk. “I did, too. The building looks safe and the landlord seems like a good guy.”

“I don’t know if it’s going to work,” I tell him, pasting on a small smile. “Bit of a stretch for me. But, it’s fine.” I wave a hand as we approach his car. “The first one we saw was a good option, too. And it’s within my budget.”

“Well, I wouldn’t write it off so fast. You never know what might happen.” I could swear there’s a twinkle in his eye, but he turns away to open the passenger door for me too quickly for me to be sure.

“You have to say that. You’re basically the epitome of golden retriever energy.”

He laughs—cackles, really—as he gets in on the driver’s side. “Alright, I might have an idea to cheer you up.”

“What’s that?”

“How tired do you think you’ll be after work today?”

Weird question, but I shrug. “Shouldn’t be too bad. It’s just a quick turnaround.”

“I was thinking of cashing in on our skating lesson date.”

“Tonight?” I ask in surprise.

“Yeah.” His eyes glimmer. “If you’re up for a date tonight.”

He says this so easily, pleasantly, like this date isn’t an obligation for him to fulfill. I raise a brow at him. “If I remember correctly, I was the one doing the bidding, and you were the biddee. Ergo, I am the one who gets to ‘cash in’ on the date.”

“I remember no such thing,” Aaron declares. “Look. I just got off the phone with Reagan and she’s happy to let me do the date my way rather than what she originally organized. So yes, I’d love to take you out tonight, Olivia.”

My heart does a little jump, and I have to remind myself not to get carried away.

Because he was talking to Reagan earlier about takingmeon a date.

One that he organized himself instead of sticking with the one organized for him.

And the way he’s talking right now, the way he’s looking at me, this almost feels like it might not be a total obligation.

In a desperate attempt to play it cool when I am quite literally the opposite right now, I laugh. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

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