Page 103 of Devoted Enough

“What if you didn’t have to pay for any of it?”

“No, that’s not how we’re going to do this, Nate. As a matter of fact, we should talk about the living arrangement before we pack up my apartment. I want to pay my share of the bills.”

He stared at me like I had lost my mind. “Haven, you just said money was tight, and you needed all you could get, and you want to pay half of my house bills?”

“Yes, what’s wrong with that?”

“How much was your electric bill in your apartment?”

“It depends on the time of year, but on average, around a hundred and twenty-five, give or take.”

“Okay, mine is higher since I have a full house compared to your smaller apartment. I’m not going to ask you to pay half of that when I can easily afford it.”

I twisted my hands in my lap. “I’m not living for free, Nate.”

“That’s fair. How about you pay me what you paid here at the apartment?”

“Even my rent?”

“Can we negotiate that one?”

I thought for a moment. “Okay, if you won’t let me pay toward your mortgage, then we have to figure something else out.”

He drew in a breath and slowly let it out. “Princess, I don’t have a mortgage.”

My eyes went wide. “Oh, well, okay. Then how about I buy the food for us, and you let me pay you toward the electricity and gas?”

“Not half of it, but what you paid here at the apartment.”

I reached my hand out, and he took it. Instead of shaking it, he brought it to his mouth and kissed itsoftly.

“Has anyone told you you’re romantic?”

Nate laughed. “I have never been told that in my life.”

Smiling, I replied, “Then I guess you’ve saved it for me.”

He winked. “I guess so.”

We stared at one another for a momentbefore Nate broke the trance. “I’ll grab the boxes and meet you in your apartment.”

I leaned over and kissed him. “Sounds good.”

Nate went to the back of his truck to get the boxes we had bought at Home Depot as I made my way up the steps to my apartment. I unlocked it and felt a rush of cold air when I stepped in.

“Shit,” I mumbled as I quickly went to the thermostat. It was set at 68 and chilly in the apartment. I turned it up to 71, then went to the kitchen. Setting down my purse, I surveyed my small place. Where should I start? I opened a few cabinets and let out a soft laugh. I honestly didn’t have very many things to pack up. Taking out the bowls, I set them on the counter. A sound coming from my bedroom caused me to stop and glance over my shoulder. Had Nate come in, and I had not heard him?

“Nate?” I called out as I made my way toward my bedroom. When I stepped in, no one was in there. I headed to my bathroom and froze when I felt a strange sensation wash over me. Slowly turning, I let out a small scream.

“Merry almost Christmas. Surprised to see me, Haven?”

Fear clogged my throat as I tried to find words to speak.

“So surprised you can’t speak?”

My father sat on the floor, his back against the wall with a gun pointed directly at me.

“What are you doing here, and how did you get in?”

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