Page 22 of Raspberry Cake
Once his shift finished, he went to an apartment complex near the Galleria area. It was a little more expensive than he cared for, considering he wanted to have a financial cushion in case anything happened. To his utter surprise he was offered a studio on the spot. It was even accessible. He was offered a move in date two weeks out if he could pay the deposit right away.
He’d never obtained a money order faster.
In the days leading up to the move, he realised how… unprepared he was. And found himself feeling rather immature for finding a place without having thought ofcutlery. He stalked the local thrift stores for the basics, even splurging on a new mattress.
Shit, he hadn’t realised how expensive those things were.
By the time move-in day came, he’d even thrifted a couch and a dining set. Shannon stayed right by his side and, usually the first to tease him about anything and everything, he was oddly quiet.
Once they had everything moved in, Renley handed his friend a beer and some food, falling onto the couch next to him. “Thanks.”
“Why do you look so depressed? This is what you wanted, right?”
He shrugged and downed half his beer in one go. “I thought it would look less broke.”
“You’re starting from scratch, and you have the most essential items. Remember when I moved out the first time? All I had was a microwave that I stole from my mom.”
Renley chuckled, remembering fondly how they’d snuck that thing out of his parents’ house. “Yeah.”
“It’ll fill up soon enough.”
Picking at his ketchup with a fry, he sighed. “I’ve wanted to ask someone out, but felt stupid doing so if I didn’t even have a place of my own. I just thought once I had it, I would feel confident enough to do it.”
Shannon nearly choked. “Who? And why am I only hearing about her now?”
Renley had no idea how to tell him that his new boss was also the woman who’d paid him for sex, so he omitted that little detail. “She’s my boss.”
That earned him a slap against his chest. “Man, you just got that job!”
“I know, but we’ve been flirting, and she let it slip that she would like to go on a date.”
“I repeat: ‘You just got that job!’”
Without the whole story, he couldn’t blame Shannon for being aggravated with him, but Eveline had been ashamed of their night. Well, of how it had happened, not the events that followed. “It’s stupid, I know.”
“And still you’re going to do it.” Shannon truly seemed upset, and Renley wanted to tell him the whole truth so badly, but hewouldn’t without Eveline’s consent. “You’re just getting on your feet again and now you’re going to risk it for some hot girl. Who’s your fuckingboss!”
“She’s not really a girl… She’s thirty-four.”
Shannon grunted disapprovingly. “Fucking idiot. Do whatever you want, but don’t come crying on my shoulder when it all falls to hell.”
“How long will you be upset with me?”
Shannon rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Probably until I get home and realise my best friend is no longer in the next room and I actually have to leave the house to see him again.”
“Lazy fucker.”
They both laughed it off, and Renley truly hoped that one day he could tell Shannon the whole truth.
The next day, he asked to take a longer lunch at work. He cleaned up as best as he could and—armed with flowers and a cupcake—drove to Harris & Gomez headquarters. With Houston in the midst of the Rodeo and her comment about wanting to see him with his hat, he at least wanted to take her to the carnival. The actual rodeo and concerts were sold out, but he could give her this.
Even though this was what she’d asked for and he’d promised, his heart pounded furiously against his ribcage. Drying clammy palms on his jeans and combing through his hair before hiding it under his cap, he got out of the truck and walked into the office to be greeted by Mira.
Shit, maybe the flowers were a touch too much. “Is Eveline in?” he asked, surprised at how confident he sounded.
Mira grinned, curious, but nodded. “Go ahead.”
“Thanks.” He didn’t dare look toward Jeronimo’s office before he knocked on Eveline’s door.
