Jayded (33 page)

Kinsey rubs her hands together.
“
Oh yeah, I
’
m dying for some entertainment!
”

“
Speaking of entertainment
—
has Cody contacted you again?
”
I question.

She sighs.
“
No, thank God! That was such an awkward conversation. He was almost in a crazed panic when he came in the office. I think he
’
s a little obsessed, but I also know you kind of left him hanging,
”
she says, scolding me slightly. This is just Kinsey being Kinsey. She doesn
’
t hold anything back. I love and hate this part of her.

“
I know, but to be fair, I
did
tell him I didn
’
t want to marry him. I told him I needed space. You saw how clingy he was getting
—”

“
Yeah, he was definitely making his presence known. You don
’
t think your brother will tell him where you are, do you?
”
she asks.

I don
’
t even have to think twice.
“
No, no way. He actually already tried. Luke
’
s not giving anything up, and I still haven
’
t talked to Justin, so he doesn
’
t know where I am, unless Luke told him.
”

We finally pull up to the house. It
’
s cute. It looks like a cottage with a two-car garage. I wave to Jonathan as I pull in the driveway. I look over to Kinsey.
“
Here we go! You ready?
”

“
I
’
m ready to be entertained,
”
she says, giggling.

We get out of my car to greet Jonathan and the realtor.
“
Hello,
”
I say to Jonathan, giving him a quick hug.
“
Jonathan, this is Kinsey, my assistant.
”

He places his hand out to her.
“
Hey, it
’
s great to meet you,
”
Jonathan says.

Kinsey smirks.
“
Nice to meet you too, Jonathan.
”
I can see the twinkle of mischief in her eyes.

He turns to the realtor.
“
This is Jessica; she
’
ll be showing us the houses today.
”
Kinsey and I both wave hello to her.
“
You ladies ready?
”
Jonathan asks, clapping his hands together.
“
Yup, we
’
re ready!
”
I announce. I
’
m actually really excited to get my new life started.

After we look at four houses, we move on to the apartments. None of the houses did it for me. I didn
’
t get that
wow
factor. I just need more time to search. The first two apartments are nice but a little further from work than Kinsey would like. We make it to the third and final apartment, and she seems impressed. I am too, actually.

“
This is amazing!
”
Kinsey and I say at the same time.

“
Go ahead and check it out. Jonathan and I will wait here in the kitchen,
”
Jessica tells us.

We walk through the apartment. It
’
s a downtown loft with 1,500 square feet, two bedrooms, marble countertops, and brand-new appliances. It
’
s on the top floor out of six, and the view is unbelievable. It even has a small deck off of the living room. This is definitely a place to die for. It
’
s a little pricey, but if I become a roommate and chip in half, it really wouldn
’
t be that bad at all.

“
What do you think?
”
Kinsey says as she turns to me excitedly.

I continue to take everything in.
“
I think it
’
s magnificent. It
’
s way more than just an apartment. The price is steep though.
”

She stands in front of me with her huge grin.
“
It won
’
t be if we become roomies!
”
she hints.
“
Will you move in with me?
”

I laugh. It sounds like she just proposed to me.
“
Do I get a ring?
”

She smacks my arm.
“
Do you need one?
”
she teases.

“
Let
’
s do it!
”
I agree.

She starts jumping up and down, squealing like a little kid. Jonathan and Jessica stroll over after hearing all the noise.
“
So
—
what do you think?
”
Jessica asks.

Kinsey immediately responds.
“
We
’
ll take it!
”

It only took two hours, but we finally found
the
place. I
’
m kind of happy about the decision. We
’
ll be able to work late nights together in our own place, and I get to look thoroughly for the perfect house while saving some money. This is a win-win for the both of us.

We sign all the paperwork to move in on the first. This gives us enough time to pack and relocate. We head downstairs. Jessica says her goodbyes, and Jonathan sticks around to talk some.

“
Hey, do you ladies want to grab something to eat?
”
he asks us.

We both look at each other and then back to him.
“
Well, we actually made plans already. We need to catch up on a lot. It
’
s hard handling everything over the phone,
”
I tell him, also saving Kinsey from having to make her own awkward excuse.

“
Oh, well I understand,
”
he says, a little let down.

“
Definitely another time, Jonathan. We really appreciate your help. We couldn
’
t have found this place without you,
”
Kinsey points out.

I join in.
“
Yes, you
’
ve been a great help! We
’
ll have to do lunch sometime next week, all three of us.
”

We begin walking toward our cars.
“
Okay, that sounds good. Just let me know when, and I
’
ll be there! Enjoy the rest of your night, ladies.
”
He waves goodbye and hops in his car. Phew! That letdown wasn
’
t so bad. I feel a little guilty, only because he took so much time out of his day to help, but he offered.

We both get into the car and let out a sigh of relief.
“
That wasn
’
t so bad, was it?
”
I ask her.

“
No, he actually is a really nice guy. Of course he
’
s going to hit on you
—
look at you! Ever since I came into your life, you
’
ve never had a problem with the opposite sex,
”
she jokes.

“
Ha-ha. Very funny,
”
I express sarcastically.

“
So where to now, captain?
”

I make the drive to my hotel so she can get changed and unpack.
“
Well, I kind of have plans with Greg and Connie
’
s son, Kyle. We
’
re going out with his friend Jeff and Elise, who is the receptionist at the agency. You can come be the fifth wheel. We
’
re just all going to get something to eat and then going to see a band.
”

She shakes her head.
“
Wait, hold on! Is this a double date you
’
re going on? And did I just hear it
’
s with Greg and Connie
’
s son? Is he even old enough to hang out with us?
”

I totally knew she was going to make a big deal out of this.
“
No, it
’
s not a double date or a date of any kind for that matter. And yes, Kyle is old enough to drink, so he
’
s old enough to hang. I don
’
t know Jeff that well, but Elise is great. She reminds me a lot of me before I met you,
”
I explain.

“
Oh no, does this require another makeover?
”
she squeals in excitement.

I laugh.
“
Yup, that
’
s exactly what this requires. She is beautiful already. She just needs a little push in the right direction, some good guidance, and some good girlfriends,
”
I say, breaking it down for her.

“
Well, she met the right set of girls for that! I can totally be the fifth wheel if there are no dates involved.
”

I park in the garage.
“
Nope, no dates,
”
I reiterate.

We get up to the room. I relax while Kinsey freshens up. We have a little time before we have to meet up with them. Kyle
’
s going to be a little bummed to hear I have to meet him there and also a little bummed that I won
’
t be able to go back to his place with him later. I
’
m not ready to explain to Kinsey the real deal. I
’
m not ready to explain it out loud to anyone for that matter. I don
’
t want any outside opinions. I
’
m okay with what we
’
re doing for the moment, so there
’
s no need to get anyone else involved.

I shoot him a quick text to inform him of the changes. He
’
s disappointed but understands, and he is happy to meet Kinsey finally. I talk about her enough that he feels as though he already knows her. I just know Kinsey
’
s going to take one look at us interacting together and know what
’
s going on. She
’
s always been so in tune with me that even though I want to keep it from her, she will see right through me.

“
So, what
’
s the dress code for tonight?
”
Kinsey asks, picking through her clothes.

I
’
m still lying on the bed.
“
Um, casual for sure.
”

She holds up a navy blue sweater and some cute ripped jeans. I nod in approval. I guess it
’
s my turn to freshen up. I drag myself up and move toward the bathroom. I jump in the shower quickly, not wetting my hair, and jump back out. I touch up my makeup and pull out some comfy clothes as well. I
’
m sick of heels, and it
’
s not an Ugg-wearing event, so I grab my flat boots.

It
’
s now seven. We have to meet everyone at Tony D
’
s before the show for some appetizers. I
’
m starving. I could eat an elephant. It
’
s packed, and luckily we get there just as someone else is pulling out. Jeff, Elise, and Kyle are already there with a table. I introduce everyone to Kinsey, and then we order drinks. I am in need of a drink!

“
So how did house shopping go?
”
Elise asks.

“
Good! I didn
’
t find a house yet, but Kinsey and I found a great apartment. We
’
re gonna be roommates for a while,
”
I announce.

Kyle
’
s face drops slightly but quickly recovers.
“
Oh, that
’
s great,
”
he says.
“
That sucks you didn
’
t find a house though
—”