Page 31 of Holding You
“I’m sure,” Ruby says while Max makes a beeline for the couch to sit by Susie. They place the big bowl between them and both start eating as if we didn’t feed them all day.
“Are you sure this is okay?” Ruby asks, crossing her arms in the doorway. “You’re not tired or sore or anything and want to call it a day?”
I nod while the kids start to argue over who gets the remote.
“It’s fine. I’m fine. If he starts to doze off, I’ll send him home.”
Ruby nods and then turns on her heel. I follow her out the front door.
“Or I can text you when he’s ready, and you can come get him.”
She nods, turning to face me as she takes the first step off my front porch. Her gaze trails from my gray sweatpants up to my face, stalling slightly on my bare chest the way it always does. Maybe that’s why I keep not wearing one.
“Have I mentioned how much I hate that you have my phone number?”
I’m opening my mouth to respond when a blue car pulls up. It’s still daylight, so it’s not late by any means, but I wasn’t expecting company.
The driver parks quickly and jogs toward us.
What is Logan, my landlord, doing here?
“Hi, Ruby. Hey, Declan. How’s it going?”
“Fine.”
“That’s good. How’s the packing going?” he asks.
I glance between Ruby and Logan. Who’s packing what?
Ruby’s brows dip toward her tiny nose.
“Are you asking me?” I ask.
Logan nods. “You got my email, didn’t you?”
I step farther onto the porch and rest my hands on my hips as I stare at him.
“What email?”
Logan cringes. “The one with my thirty-day notice to vacate.”
“Vacate,” I snap. “This house?”
Logan nods. “The wife and I finally listed it.”
“I’ll pay you double in rent for the next three months to wait,” I say instantly. I hate tossing money out this way, but this situation calls for it.
Luca swore my house would be ready by the end of the summer. I need him to be right.
Ruby grunts, but I ignore her.
“That would be amazing, Declan, but we accepted an offer this morning. It was word of mouth and sold quickly.”
This can’t be happening.
“Wait, so what are you saying? I now have less than a month to move?”
He nods, zero hints of guilt on his face.
