"What?"
"You trust me?"
"Yeah, but—"
"You trust me or not?"
"Of course."
"Then let me surprise you."
She stares into my eyes. Slowly, she nods.
I offer her my hand.
She takes it and I pull her to her feet. I pick up her shoes, then scoop her into my arms and carry her into the kitchen.
She laughs. "Show off."
But she still slides her arms around my neck.
She still sighs as she rests her head on my chest.
I find a spot on the street, in between a Tesla and a Prius. It's so Santa Monica it hurts.
All right, being sandwiched by an electric car and a hybrid isn't all that entertaining. It's more my desperate need for a distraction.
I turn the car off, pull my keys from the ignition, force my voice to an easy tone. "After you."
Iris stares into my eyes. "After me?"
"All right. After me." I undo my seatbelt, step outside, close the door. The cold air wakes me up. Even after twenty-five years in Southern California, I forget how much the temperature drops at night.
I'm freezing. But there's no way I'm reaching for my leather jacket in the backseat.
If I look Iris in the eyes again…
I take a deep breath. Exhale slowly. Slide my hands into my front pockets. This is the logical next step.
But, fuck, what if she says no?
What if I'm reading her all wrong?
I let nerves settle in my gut. I'm doing this tonight. No matter what.
Iris steps out of the car. Hugs her purse to her shoulder. "You're shivering." She holds up my jacket.
"You are too."
She shakes her head, despite the obvious goose bumps on her arms.
I nod you are then move around the car and pull her closer.
She nestles into my chest. "Not anymore."
"Me either."
She slides a hand under my t-shirt, presses her palm against my stomach. "Walker, what is this?"
"A surprise."
"But you…" She looks to the apartment building to our right. It's two stories, ten units, with a pool in the center. "Okay."
"Put on the jacket."
"You put it on."
"I'm more stubborn than you are."
"Want to bet?"
"Yeah. If I win, I get to make you come."
"If you lose?"
"I don't really care. I'm gonna make you come either way."
She looks up at me as she intertwines her fingers with mine. "This sounds win-win."
"What the fuck are we talking about?"
Her smile spreads over her cheeks. "I don't remember."
"Me either." I lead her to the complex's gate, punch in the code, open the door for her.
She folds the jacket over her arm as she steps inside.
The pool glows against the dark sky. It casts wavy lines over the planters of succulents and the white wrought iron gate.
It's suburban paradise.
In the middle of Santa Monica.
Yeah, it's a little farther from the beach. But it's a hell of a lot bigger. And it's not that much more expensive than my place.
It's not cheap—not by a long shot—but it's well within our budget. If she wants it to be our budget.
If she wants it to be our place.
I have to hold onto the railing as I climb the stairs. It's like my soles aren't making contact with the ground. I'm floating. Or maybe I'm spinning. One of the two. Or both.
It's only a dozen steps to the door. I kneel, punch the code into the lockbox, pull out the key.
"Walker…" Iris taps her heels together. "Is this—"
"Still a surprise." Nerves creep into my voice. It isn't like me. But then the last six months haven't been like me either. I never thought I'd let anyone this close. I never thought I'd fall in love. I sure as hell never thought I'd ever be desperate to live with a woman.
But it's the only thing missing from my life.
I rise, unlock the door, push it open. "After you, sweetness."
"Walker…" Her eyes meet mine. "Is this… Are you… Do you…"
"Yeah."
"Yeah?"
I nod.
Her tongue slides over her lips. "Really?"
"I'm trying to do this a certain way."
"What way is that?"
"The way that gets a yes." I press the door wider. "After you."
"Okay." She steps onto the hardwood.
I follow. The main room is about the size of mine. There's space for the TV and a couch in the nook on the right. The kitchen is on the left. It's tiny, the way all Southern California kitchens are, but it's ours.
Well, almost.
"It's more expensive than my place. But a lot cheaper than both of us paying rent for our own apartments." I take her hand and lead her to the bedroom. Right now it's an empty room with a mirrored closet, an attached bathroom, and a window that looks out on the ocean. But it will be our bedroom.
Iris's eyes go wide as she stares out the window. "Is that really the view?"
"Yeah."
"It's beautiful."
"The other room is too." I squeeze her hand as I lead her across the hallway. "I figured it could be our office. Mostly yours. Or all yours. If that's what you need."
"All mine?"
"Yeah."
"I've never had my own office."
My eyes stay glued to her. "I'm more than happy to share my tiny apartment with you. But I figured you need space to do work."
"I do."
"It's ridiculous. You should live in my bed."
"You mean our bed?"
Every part of me goes warm at once. "Yeah. Our bed."
She turns to me. "Can we really afford it?"
"Yeah." We is my new favorite word. Or maybe our. Or maybe Iris. No, that's been my favorite word forever now. "I know you're busy with school until the quarter ends. I'll take care of everything. All you need to do is say yes."
"But we have to apply—"
"Done."
"And my lease. It's not up until July—"
"Done."
"But how?"
"Does it matter?"
She wraps her arms around my waist. "No. I just… I want to be sure."
"I'll text the landlord now. We can move in December first."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." I brush her hair behind her ear. "It's ours. All you have to do is say yes."
"Yes. Of course." She rises to her tiptoes.
I lean down. Our kiss starts soft. Then it's harder. Her lips part to make way for my tongue. Her moans vibrate down my throat. Her fingers dig into my t-shirt.
"We need to christen it."
"It's not ours yet."
I pull out my cell, find the landlords number, shoot him a we want it text. "Now it is."
"But what if someone else offers more?"
"They won't. Trust me. It's ours."
"But—"
"I'll clean up after." I set my cell on the windowsill. "Unless you don't want me to pin you to that wall."