Page 55 of Hot Mess

Nick just smiled and reached over, taking another cookie from the open tin on my lap.

I didn’t know the neighborhoods, or how close or how far we were from his place. He stopped the car in front of what could best be described as a bungalow. At least I think that was the right word for it. It wasn’t a big house. It was quite small, but quaint, with a small porch and nineteen twenties meets Spanish revival style.

“We’re here,” Nick announced.

“And what is here?” I asked.

He pointed to the card and the key that I had been holding onto.

“This is your new home.” He opened the door this time, as he climbed out of the car. The trunk popped up and he pulled out my bags.

“Are you serious?”

“Go open the door,” he told me.

With shaking hands, I walked up to the small house and opened the door. Inside was perfectly decorated, and full of furniture.

“I can’t believe this,” I said, turning to Nick as he followed me inside.

“Isaac took care of the decorations; I hope you like it.”

He carried my bags through the living room and turned into a small hall. I followed him into a bedroom that was mostly filled with a large bed.

“I get a whole house and not just an apartment?”

“As you pointed out, rent is ridiculous right now. It made more sense to buy. Check out your kitchen.”

I was halfway out the door when I turned around.

“You bought a house for me to live in?”

“Yes, I bought you a house. This is yours. Merry Christmas.”

“Nick, you can’t buy me a house. This is too much.” I didn't want to tell him I had been researching rentals online and had seen the price of housing in the area.

He shook his head as he approached me. His arms slipped around my waist, and he held me. “You need a decent place to live. This is a better investment for my money than paying rent. It’s yours as long as you want it.”

He kissed me. I loved it when he kissed me.

“All I got you for Christmas was a box of condoms,” I muttered.

“And dinner. Don’t forget you owe me dinner. Come on, let’s check out your kitchen. I made sure you got a place with a big up-to-date kitchen.”

The kitchen had been renovated in the past ten years with all stainless big appliances, and white cabinets. It was minimalist. A stark comparison to the natural wood and sunflowers and kitschy farm animals in Mom’s kitchen.

I began opening cabinets, seeing what kind of pots and pans I had. I was going to need everything. The house was furnished, but the kitchen had not been stocked.

“I thought we could spend the day doing the shopping you needed. You can buy whatever pots and pans and dishes you need.”

“So, if I say I want to get an entire collection of Le Creuset, you’re okay with that?”

“I take it, Le Creuset is expensive?”

I nodded. “But it’s the best. I’m also going to need a good cast iron skillet.”

The Creuset was easy enough, the cast iron skillet not so much. I made Nick take me to a bunch of thrift stores.

“Can’t you just buy a new one?”

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