Page 48 of Spar
“Good. I could use all the good news I can get today.”
“Your apartment is ready! A few final touches today, but you should be able to move in as early as tonight.”
A pit formed in her stomach at the thought of moving out of Chris’ house. She had known this day would come, but instead of being relieved or excited to move, it felt like the final blow to a bad week. “Wow. That’s great.”
Jake hesitated before responding. “You okay? You sound a little funny.”
She laughed awkwardly into the phone. “Yes, sorry. It’s been a strange week. Thanks for letting me know.”
“Chin up, buttercup. Everything is gonna be alright.”
Tori got in her car and drove in the direction of her apartment to see for herself. She had driven by the building every day for work, but hadn’t paid much attention to the progress being made. That probably should have been a sign that she was becoming too comfortable in her new accommodations, but it hadn’t fazed her until now.
The work trailer was still parked in the lot, along with several construction trucks, but the heavy machinery was gone. She spotted Jake as she walked up to their building.
“I can’t believe they’re almost done.”
“Yeah. Chris’ guys are good. Come take a look.”
Tori followed Jake inside where one man was painting the walls and another was hanging a brand-new door on the hinges.
“A door you can’t kick through.”
Jake laughed and led her up the stairs to her apartment.
“What’s all this?” Tori pointed to two men standing just inside her apartment.
“Security system.”
Tori stepped into her apartment and inspected the small white control panel on the wall. “What? We each have our own security system now?”
Jake didn’t say anything, but the look on his face told her everything.
She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Tell me I’m not the only one with my own security system.”
His lips curved into a tight-lipped grin.
“You live ten feet away — I already have a security system,” Tori fumed.
Jake moved in front of her and pushed a few buttons on the control panel. “Not for long,” he said cheerily. “I’m breaking ground on my house next month. Enter a four-digit code. It’s what you’ll use to shut off the alarm.”
“He couldn’t have just sent flowers. Oh no, the man has to buy an entire alarm system.”
Jake chuckled and moved out of her way while she entered her code. “Is that it?”
“Yeah, pretty much. The guys can give you all the particulars. I gotta head in for my shift.”
“Alright. Thanks.”
He turned to leave, and she felt a pang of sadness that he was moving on. She worried once he moved out for good, she’d never see him. If the rift between him and Claire didn’t resolve itself, it was more than likely he’d eventually stop coming around their group when she was with them.
“Jake?”
He stopped and swiveled his head to meet her gaze.
“It won’t be the same around here without you.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
