Page 84 of Idle

I hold up my hand. “Thanks, guys. Your support means the world to me.” It also highlighted how much I owe Jesse.

Later, as I lie in my bed, I wish with my whole being Jesse were here with me. Not only did he give me a proper introduction to what sex can be, but he also was a damn fine partner. Much better than I was to him.Ilost the competition for us, not him.Iruined his dream.

I pull out my phone and go on Etsy, looking for Handmade by JD. Nothing. What? I search again and get the same result. Pulling up Google, I do a search and the entry says “closed.” Oh. My. God. He went full-on back to banking.

I forced him back into a job he doesn’t like because I lost the competition for us. He told me it was his last shot at making a go at carpentry. Now he’s pulled out. This can’t stand.

The next morning, I steal the real estate section from Uncle Ward’s newspaper and flip through the pages.

“What are you looking for?”

“I’m checking out what listings are out there, Uncle Ward.”

After he swallows a spoonful of cereal, he asks, “Are you looking to buy another house to flip?”

I nod. “Yeah. Figure I might as well capitalize on the publicity the show brought.” Not a lie. Not the full truth, either.

“Do you want any help? I could pull up some listings on the computer for you.”

I need to do this on my own. For once. “Thanks, but I got it. Don’t want to take away from your stuff with VOW-cubed.”

He grimaces. “I’m available if you need me, okay?” When I smile, he stands and brings his bowl over to the dishwasher. Ever since his last girlfriend moved out, he’s become more fastidious about keeping things clean. Can’t imagine Father doing anything so domestic.

Alone, I flip through the listings but nothing seems interesting. Chloe enters the kitchen and pours herself a cup of coffee. “Want any?”

“Sure. Thanks.”

She puts my mug down in front of me and cranes her neck. “What are you doing?”

I look up from the paper. “Checking the real estate listings. I’m looking for another house to flip.”

“That’s great. Find anything?” She blows on her coffee.

I sigh. “Not yet.”

“I’m sure you’ll find something amazing. Want some help? Doesn’t seem like I have anything else to do.” She traces an imaginary shape on the table.

Pulling myself out of my own misery, I focus on Chloe. “Give it time. You’ve only been out of college for a few months. You had your interview with Madison’s friend at the placement agency not long ago.”

“I know.” Her finger encircles the lip of her coffee cup sayingHR Professional.

My eyes skim the next page of the newspaper and I bounce upright. “Hey. This looks like it might be something. It’s on the High Line. Want to come with me and check it out?”

Her grey eyes light up. “That sounds like fun. It’ll get me out of the house and my own head.”

Using the red pen Uncle Ward left behind, I circle the listing and rip out the page. “Let’s get ready. I’ll call the agent and we can meet her there.”

Two hours later we stand outside the apartment building a couple of doors down from where I spent six weeks of my life working and falling in love. Despite the fact that Jesse’s ignoring me, I refuse to take his silence as a final answer.

The agent, Lelah, greets us and ticks off the building’s amenities. Rather, the amenities to come, considering the entire building is undergoing a renovation. There will be a pool, workout room, theater, and even a bowling alley by the time the developer is finished. However, the developer doesn’t want to handle individual apartments, hence the listing.

We follow the woman, dressed in a designer pantsuit—Victoria Beckham if I’m not mistaken—up the elevator. When it dings on the tenth floor, energy zaps through my body. As if it’s already agreed to purchase this place. Swallowing, I enter the apartment.

“Wow. This needs a lot of work.”

Chloe’s not wrong. The floors must be refinished, several walls need to be moved. Paint. Molding. Millwork. I walk over to the windows and run my hand over the casing. “Can these be changed, Lelah?”

“Not the size, but the sliding doors can be switched out to French doors, if you’d like.”

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