Page 18 of The Last Dance

I don’t see my ice cream melting on the coffee table where I left it, so I walk through the living room into the kitchen to rescue it from freezing to death alone.

‘But,’ I say, waving the spoon I’ve just grabbed from the drawer in the air, ‘he actually did something somewhat helpful for once and gave me the number of his celebrity-stylist niece, who might be able to help. I called her on my way home and she agreed to meet me tomorrow for lunch.’

‘You have to work tomorrow?’

‘I probably have to work tomorrow and Friday.’ I frown. Noah doesn’t get a lot of time off lately, so I feel terrible to have to suddenly work after he finally got a couple days off. ‘I know, I’m sorry.’

He shrugs. ‘It’s OK. I’m sure you’ll do great.’ He pats the empty spot next to him on the couch. He doesn’t have to ask me twice. I’m ready to veg out for the night.

I snuggle into him as he clicks play on the remote. ‘I hope you’re right.’ I scoop a giant spoonful of ice cream in my mouth.

‘Hey.’ Noah shifts behind me, causing me to sit up away from him. ‘I left an extra uniform in your closet earlier. I hope that’s OK?’

I turn towards him, one leg hanging off the couch. ‘Totally OK. It’s not like I don’t have a drawer full of stuff over at your apartment.’ I laugh.

‘Right? We should probably move in together, huh?’ He laughs, both of us stopping to look at each other curiously.

I finally laugh nervously, breaking up the awkwardness that now fills the air around us. Or maybe only around me.

‘Move in together?’ I ask, my voice high and weird.

‘I guess I hadn’t really thought of it until right now, but we do spend all our time at one another’s apartments. Maybe it makes sense?’ He grins through gritted teeth, obviously as nervous chatting about it as I feel. ‘What do you think?’ His big brown eyes searching my own for a clue at what I might say.

Move in with him? I did not see this coming.

‘Um, wow. Moving in together. That’s a huge step.’ One that I’ve never taken with a man.

‘I know. Isn’t your lease coming up? Maybe this is the right time.’

I fidget with the ring on my forefinger. Am I ready to move in with Noah? That’s a pretty permanent step in a relationship. You can’t just break up when you live together because everything you own is in the same place. There is no going home when you’re mad or having the entire bed to yourself. I’d have to cut way back on the ice-cream eating while treadmill walking to not look like a total nut-job.

‘Bad idea?’ He scrunches his face up.

‘Um…’

Quick, Ambri. Say something. Now’s not the right time. I’m not sure I want to move in with you. Are we even serious enough to consider it? For God’s sake, say anything!

We’ve been together almost a year; that’s the longest I’ve ever had a boyfriend. Maybe this is the thing to do after a year? It’s not like I’m up and up on the relationship rules. We’ve kind of slowly moved from casually dating for a few months to becoming more serious because that’s what you do. I bite my lips together, trying to think it through as quickly as possible. I guess there’s really no harm in it – it’s not like he’s asking me to get married. Plus, is there really any place that could make me feel more secure and safe than living with a cop?

‘I’m sorry. I didn’t expect this tonight. You know how I am. I have to work out the garble in my head before I can even process it. But, I’m done and…’ I nod, giving him the most awkward smile ever. ‘Sure?’ I say nervously. ‘Let’s – uh…’ I shrug ‘… let’s move in together?’

He grins, not even noticing the question in my acceptance, a toothy grin that shows off the single dimple in his right cheek. He kisses my cheek. ‘This will be fun.’

‘Yeah. Fun.’ I say, still having an internal panic attack.

I lean back into him on the couch, his arm draped around me. Oh, my God, I’m a terrible person! I agreed to move in with a guy and I’m not even sure that’s what I want. What is wrong with me? I should want it. Noah is great. I’m totally happy with him. We’re just moving forward in our relationship. I’m sure this is the right thing to do. I think.

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