Page 16 of Follow Your Bliss

“Where else would you put a bedroom?” I looked around. It was just one big, open room. “And you can’t be planning only one bedroom.”

“No, I’m going to have at least four, maybe five with the master.”

“Where’s that all going?”

He smiled. “Come see.” He brought me back across to the altar and down a now-open hallway to the old community room, completely empty down to an unfinished concrete floor.

“Oh wow.” My voice echoed in the two-story room. “I completely forgot this existed. We used to have our camp plays here.”

“Oh yeah? This’ll be the rest of the house. I just have to decide if I want the master back here or on the choir loft. I love sleeping up high under that window, but one day when I get married and have kids, I can’t imagine I’ll want to be that far away from them.”

As if having a girlfriend wasn’t enough, Jason was marriage-minded. I tossed him and his panty-soaking smile into my friend bin.

“My cousin’s house has the option for a master downstairs or upstairs. You could do both and keep your options open.”

He nodded. “See? You get it. That’s what I’m leaning toward, too. But I’ve designed this part of the house about a thousand ways on paper, and I still can’t figure it out.”

“It’s so exciting that you get to completely design how your house will look. I used to love drawing out blueprints for all my Barbie dolls’ houses when I was little. I’ve always been obsessed with house plans, for some reason.”

“Well good, maybe you can help me figure this shit out.” He flicked off the light in the community room and headed back into the church. “Because I can’t make up my mind.”

“Oh, I doubt I can help. I just like to play. But Jason, this is going to be so amazing when you’re done. It’s already so beautiful. Talented doesn’t begin to cover it. I’m really, so amazed at what you’ve accomplished.” I stood on the altar, looking around.Don’t say it, Rose. Don’t, say it.

“But doesn’t it freak you out to live in an old church?”

He stopped beside the record player and frowned at me. “What do you mean?”

I gestured down the middle of the church, where the aisle used to be. “So many dead bodies went up and down this aisle during funerals. And just the whole supernatural aspect of it. It doesn’t freak you out a little, that the place could be haunted? Especially sleeping up on the loft. This old place must make all kinds of noises.”

He stared at me. “Rose, I’d—I’d never thought of that until this moment.” He mussed up his curls and crossed his arms. “Well shit. I’m not gonna sleep at all tonight. Thanks a lot.”

I put my hands briefly on his crossed arms. “I’m sorry! I’m sure if it was haunted, you’d know by now. I could do a smoke cleansing for you if you want. Anyway, it can’t be worse than hearing my mom and her boyfriend go at it in the next room.”

He grinned and shook his head. “I absolutely never know what’s going to come out of your mouth.”

I smiled back weakly. “It’s a questionable talent.”

His dimples locked on my hormones, and “Dirrty” was in my head again. “It’s kind of charming. So do you want to rent the apartment?”

“I really, really want to. But it’s worth so much more than you’re asking. Are you sure?” I bit my lip. If he said no, I might cry. If he said yes, I might cry.

He shrugged. “I don’t think a stranger would want to share a kitchen and bath with me, or vice versa. You’d be doing me a favor. Really.”

“Okay. If you’re sure, I’ll take it. Thank you so much!” I rushed him, throwing my arms around his middle and squeezing. “You don’t know what this means to me.”

His arms came briefly around me with a back pat, and when I pulled away, my hair caught in his beard. He stuck out his hand. “Then it’s a deal.”

“Deal.” I shook his hand. “Is there a rental agreement?”

“Not yet. We can draw something up together. That okay? I’ll pay for electricity, gas, and water. Anything breaks, it’s on me. What am I missing?”

“I’ll have people coming in and out for fittings and other appointments. Is that okay?”

“Yeah, and that workroom I mentioned has a separate door, so your clients can enter there instead of your living room.”

“It sounds perfect. And the timing couldn’t be better. My little pile of stuff is supposed to be coming from New York tomorrow morning.”

He dug in his pocket and handed me a key. “This goes to your front and back doors, and here—let me text you the code to the door outside the workroom. It has a keypad.”

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