Page 44 of Sticking Around

I scrunch up my nose as I take in the price. “If I didn’t have a full year of school left, this might be more doable. I have to save for tuition and don’t really have savings to dip in to.” I really hate discussing money with anyone, but if he’s helping me search, I need to be honest about my finances.

“I’d better get my guys to start upping their tips.”

“No, they’re great as it is. Let’s just find something else.”

He nods and we scroll and search until we come across a place that isn’t too far out of my budget. “Hey, this looks good. I could manage it if I eat more boxed macaroni and cheese.”

“You like that one?”

Of all the ones available, this is really the only one that’s suitable. “Not bad. One bedroom, kitchen is small, but that’s okay, and it’s right near the T.”

“Once you get your car fixed, you won’t need to take the subway.”

“True,” I agree, as he pulls his phone from his pocket. He punches in a number, and I frown. Who is he calling? The second he starts talking, I realize he’s calling the apartment to see if we can view it. He nods as the woman on the other end speaks and I take another bite of my cinnamon roll. This time I don’t moan, and he can thank me for that later.

He ends the call, and checks the time. “We can view it right now. Only problem is, it’s a sublet, and won’t be available until November.”

I turn my attention back to the laptop. “I guess we’d better keep looking.”

He reaches across the small café table and picks up his cinnamon roll. “November isn’t that far away.”

“It’s far enough. I can’t stay with you that long.”

“Really, Lanie, I won’t even be home that much. Not with practice and the season starting. You’ll pretty much have the place to yourself. Occupancy rates are down all over town, and if this is the apartment that suits you, you’d be smart to stay with me until it’s available.” He bites into his cinnamon roll. “Holy shit, this is the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth.”

I grin. “Right.”

He washes down the roll with a big drink of coffee. “Right as in you think it’s smart to stay with me, or right as in this is the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth.”

“The second thing.” I know he’s trying to help me out, but I’ve come to learn the man has enough people counting on him. He’s always giving, and getting nothing in return. Except this time he’s getting sex and while that’s good for both of us, maybe there are things I can do to make his life easier.

He touches my hair and twirls it around his finger. “What’s going on inside that big brain of yours?”

“Maybe the first thing too.” The smile that crosses his face, like he’s genuinely happy that I’m agreeing to stay with him, messes with my ‘big brain’ a little—makes me consider that there could be more than just sex going on between us.

Don’t go there, girl. Lessons learned taught you that love comes with a price.

“Then let’s go view this place.” He takes a big drink of his coffee and sets it down. “I’m taking this with me, though.” He picks up the cinnamon roll and I grab mine.

“Me too.”

As we head toward the doors, all eyes once again turn to us and I listen to the hushed murmurs. Brady grabs my hand, but quickly lets it go when another group of girls come in through the door. For a second, I’m taken aback by the abruptness of it all, until he reaches into his pocket and pulls out the napkin that blonde girl stuffed in there earlier. He drops it into the trash can and I can’t help but grin.

I like that.

I like him.

Damn.

15

Brady

“How the hell did I let you talk me into this.” I tug my hat lower on my head as I shake it, feigning annoyance.

Melanie arches a brow. “Don’t tell me you’re not having fun?”

As I sit on the top level of the iconic orange and green double decker tour bus, I fold my arms and stare at the downtown sights as the commentator gives information about Boston’s most popular attractions. “Fine, I won’t.”

---