Page 50 of Single Teddy
“We’re not together,” Teddy offered, much more calmly. “It’s just Bear and me.” He ruffled Bear’s hair who grimaced as if it was a torture and Teddy laughed. “And Bubblegum, of course.”
The Realtor narrowed their eyes and we all pointed to the dragon plushie.
“Ah,” they said, burying a chuckle behind their hand. “Either way, this place is perfect for a small family—and dragons.” They pointed at Bubblegum then continued. “I’ve got a lot of viewings the rest of the day, but I have a feeling you’ll fit in here better than anyone else.”
“I think I agree,” Teddy said, but I was still trying to compose myself after losing it at the suggestion that Teddy and I could ever be an item.
As if a guy like him would ever look at a guy like me. Even if he were into guys.Especiallyif he were into guys.
“Wh-what do you think, Bear?” I asked when I got a semblance of my confidence back.
Bear stopped dead in his tracks, looked at all of us, and gave us the thumbs-up.
“I like it!” he said, and the deal was sealed.
“Thank you,” Teddy said later, after he’d sorted out the deposits and all the paperwork and Bear had fallen asleep in the car.
“What on earth for? Whatever you accomplished, you accomplished all on your own.” I tried to be matter-of-fact and even a little cheeky, but the genuine gratitude on his face made me lose myself in the beauty of his eyes again.
“Even so, I’m only in this position because of your kindness and wisdom. You’re a great guy, Wesley. Really,” he said, and I didn’t move, didn’t speak, didn’t breathe.
I couldn’t.
Because I was doomed.
Truly and eternally doomed.
This man could be my undoing. Good thing he wasn’t and would never be interested in me in the way I wanted him to be.
FIFTEEN
TEDDY
It took a couple more days, but by Wednesday, the credit and reference check had gone through, so I left work after the lunchtime rush and drove to Chestnut Hill to meet the Realtor.
“Just need a signature here,” the Realtor said, and I did as asked.
I couldn’t exactly complain. I might have been upset with Wyatt, but he and everyone else had pulled through. As soon as I’d told them I needed to move into a proper home with Bear, everyone chipped in. Even Hwan, who had refused to give me an advance on my salary and instead had given me a healthy sum to cover the first month’s rent with no requirement to pay him back, something I planned on doing anyway.
“And here are your keys. Welcome to your new home.” They handed me a set of keys, and I wrapped my hand around them in a complete haze of disbelief and gratitude.
There were a ton of things I could say about Wyatt and his little mission on this island, but he was true to his word. He took careof his people. He really did. I often wondered why he’d left SEAL Team 13 so suddenly, way before retirement, but I couldn’t exactly blame him. Not for wanting to return to his home island, and not for wanting to protect it. I hadn’t experienced much of Mayberry Holm yet, but the parts I had were worth protecting.
“Oh, I almost forgot. There are a bunch of boxes in the closet of the primary bedroom. They’re from the old tenant. You can keep anything you want from them or throw them in the trash,” the Realtor said before leaving the apartment, and I raised an eyebrow.
I walked into the bedroom and opened said closet with a raised eyebrow, only to find a bunch of clothes, knick-knacks, and knitting stuff. From the looks of it, they used to belong to an older lady, and I wasn’t sure what to do with all of it.
Had someone died to make this place available? Or was it simply clutter that didn’t belong in the moving box?
“Hmmm…”
Oh well.
We have a home that I can afford for the foreseeable future. I couldn’t care less if someone had died in it or if it was haunted or something. As long as they left Bear alone, they could hang out with me if they wanted.
I left the boxes where they were. The closet was big enough to accommodate them and my stuff until I thought of what to do with them, and besides, it wasn’t as if I had a lot of clothes.
I spent the rest of the time before Bear finished school inspecting the apartment top to bottom, but not only was it in excellent condition, it had been cleaned within an inch of its life.Hell, even the couch smelled fresh, which didn’t exactly alleviate my concerns about the previous tenant dying while having a TV dinner or something, but at least I didn’t have to spend money furnishing. Maybe some stuff to decorate the place and make it more homey, but I was desperately bad at that kind of thing. I was pretty certain I knew somebody who could more than likely help.
