Page 108 of One Touch

KATE

“It’s so ... mauve.”My stomach lurched as my wide eyes took in the cramped bathroom. It looked as though Barbie’s dream house had vomited all over the tiny space. Pink toilet, pink sink, pink shower and tile. The rest of the apartment had shaggy brown carpeting, and the wallpaper in the living room was peeling.

“A touch of nostalgia.” The agent smiled.

“Um ... what’s the policy on renters making some changes?”

She frowned. “Oh, I’m sorry, dear. The rental agreement specifically states that there are to be no permanent changes to the apartment.”

Awesome.

I tried not to make eye contact with Ms. Bunny—an Outtatowner real estate agent whose unfortunate nickname came about due to her oversize front teeth.

A strange noise came from the far end of the bathroom. I cautiously entered, wondering what could be making such a racket. And then, to my horror, the pink toilet started to shake and vibrate, like it was about to take off.

I jumped back, startled, and the agent rushed over, looking concerned. “Oh, don’t worry about that,” she said, as if it was a normal occurrence. “The plumbing is just a little old. It’ll settle down in a minute.”

As I stared at the quivering toilet, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was in the middle of some kind of horror movie.

But no, it was just an outdated apartment with a pink bathroom and a very lively toilet. Thanks to my newfound business loan, I had only the tiniest sliver of wiggle room in my personal finances, and the budget for an apartment was proving difficult.

I thanked Ms. Bunny for her time, politely declined the apartment, and made a hasty retreat. As we walked back to our cars, I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all—Home Againhad just landed on a list of the top twenty up-and-coming renovation and decor accounts, and I would be living in an apartment straight out of a 1970s porno.

“There’s nothing else?” I pleaded as I opened my car door.

Her eyes softened. The pink bathroom monstrosity was the third property we’d visited and, by far, the nicest.

“I have one other.”

Hope bloomed in my chest. “Perfect! Thank you. I’d love to see something else.”

She instructed me to follow her to the outskirts of town to the last remaining rental space on her list.

As we drove, my heart sank when I realized wherever she was taking me would be a stone’s throw away from what was once the Miller beach house. Since the day I’d cried my eyes out in front of it, I hadn’t been back. It was too painful of a reminder.

When her car rolled to a stop in front of it, I froze.

Putting my car in park, I opened the door and stood. “Ms. Bunny, I think there’s been a mistake ...” The words faded to a whisper as I stared up at the newly renovated home.

My breath caught in my throat.

It was a modern masterpiece, with floor-to-ceiling windows and clean lines that spoke to my aesthetic soul, but instead of the cold and harsh house that had once stood there, the outside elevation had been completely updated. Now the house blended seamlessly with the coastal landscape.

The harsh exterior had been painted a soft neutral, and dormers had been built to create a quaint, cozy feel, despite the home’s massive size.

“Do you want to take a look inside?” she asked.

Sick curiosity got the best of me as I closed the car door and moved forward—as if the house itself was pulling me inside.

The interior was completely unrecognizable. New, floor-to-ceiling windows offered breathtaking views of the ocean, and the interior design was light and airy, evoking a sense of peace and serenity.

The decor was a perfect blend of modern and coastal, with a color scheme of soft blues and greens that reminded me of the water just out of reach. The furniture was sleek and stylish, yet still looked comfortable and inviting.

The living room was open and spacious, with high ceilings and an abundance of natural light flooding in from the large windows. The plush couches were upholstered in a soft, cream-colored fabric, with accent pillows in shades of blue and green. A large, modern rug tied the room together, with a subtle wave pattern that added to the coastal vibe.

The kitchen was a chef’s dream, with stainless steel appliances, sleek cabinetry, and a massive island perfect for entertaining. The countertops were made of a beautiful marble, with subtle veins of blue and green running through them.

The bedrooms were equally stunning, with comfortable king-size beds and luxurious linens. The primary bedroom had maintained the stunning view of the ocean, with an added balcony that was perfect for enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning. The en suite bathroom was a spa-like retreat, with a large walk-in shower and a deep soaking tub that Beckett would have adored.

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