Page 179 of Rock Me All Night
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The landlord looksat me like we're cut from the same cloth. She's a lot like my mom—thin, impeccably groomed, wearing only the finest business casual attire. We shake hands. She says her name but it goes in one ear and out the other.
She turns to Drew with significantly less positivity. He's in skinny jeans and a t-shirt. I'm in my work getup. It looks like I'm the one with the job and the money and he's my handsome but useless trophy boyfriend.
"Aren't you a nice couple?" She smiles. "Will this be your first time living together?"
Drew nods. He doesn't correct her.
This place isn't an apartment at all. It's a single-family house. Cozy, but plenty of room for two.
We follow the landlord up a small stone path. The yard is all drought-tolerant plants—cacti and succulents surrounded by grey and white pebbles.
This place is at least twice the size of my current place. The main room stretches on forever. It has clean hardwood floors. The kitchen has an island. There's room for half a dozen mixing bowls and baking pans. There's room for fifteen coffee makers. I'm in love with the idea and I don't even drink coffee.
The landlord points to the stairs. "There are two bedrooms. You could use one room as an office. Or as a nursery. When the time comes."
Drew throws me a look. "Yeah, honey. It would make a nice nursery."
Two can play this game. "It's so nice that you want to be a stay-at-home dad, so my career can come first."
He raises his eyebrowreally?
I nod. Sure, why not.
"Kara, sweetie, you know you alwayscomefirst."
The landlord stares at us like we're crazy.
I press my palm against the sliding glass door to the backyard. There's a pool out there. It glows under the dark sky like a beacon of hope. It's practically screamingthis is the best place you will ever live and the only chance you'll ever have to go swimming without a panic attack.
"Where do you work, Ms.—" she trails off.
"Kara is fine." I turn back to the rest of the house. It's huge. It's massive. It's perfect. "At Giffin Industries. I'm also a student."
"And you, Mr. Denton?"
He winks at me. "I'm in a band."
All that positivity falls right off her face. He's in a band. Talk about a loser who can't afford to pay the rent.
"We have to do a credit check. And we'll need some proof of employment. Our usual rule is that a couple needs to be making three times the rent before tax."
Drew cocks his eyebrows. He makes eye contact with me and smiles. It's like he's sayingwatch this.
He turns to her. "How about we skip all that and take a look at my Mint account."
He pulls his phone from his pocket. A few taps and he flashes the screen to the real estate agent. I can't see what's on display, but it must be a lot, because her frown turns right upside down.
Drew is no longer a penniless loser.
He has money now. He's worthy of her attention now. Never mind that he was always worthy of attention. Even before he was hotter than the sun. Even before he had enough money to rent a place like this.
I bite my lip. No reason to get upset with this woman for doing her job. It's not like she invented capitalism.
"I'd like to sign the lease now," he says. "Before my... Kara changes her mind about me."
The woman laughs like she doesn't consider this a possibility. After all, who changes her mind about the rich, hot rock star?
