“WHAT DO YOU think? It’s nice, right? Three bedrooms, one and a half baths. The kitchen needs work and so does the deck.” I pull back the curtains, revealing some rotted planks on the wooden deck overlooking a green lawn. “But look at the yard, it’s a good size.”
I brought Patrick with me to meet with the realtor. He’s always been really good with numbers, and I want to make sure this is actually a possibility before texting Holly to come meet me.
“It’s a great place. Close to the hospital, not too far from us.” Patrick knocks on the wall. “It does need work, but you’d get it done over time.”
“I know it’s small, but the price is right and the neighborhood is great. So here’s what they’re asking, and here’s what I plan on offering.” I slide a paper facedown on the counter to my brother. He laughs at the hokey action before picking up the paper and looking it over.
“That’s a reasonable offer. How much do you plan on putting down?”
“Twenty percent.”
“You have enough to do that? What about your apartment?”
“I received another call from the apartment manager. They’re pushing back the move-in date again, all the way to January 1. They offered to let us out of our lease. I was gonna look for another apartment, but then I thought maybe we could buy a house. With my savings, and between my salary and Holly’s, I think we can do it.”
“I think you can, too.” Patrick pats me on the back. His mood these past few weeks has improved, making him much easier to be around. “The house is great, but don’t go making an offer before you get Holly’s approval. Your wedding is only a few weeks away, and the best advice I can give you is happy wife, happy life.”
“I’m texting her now.” I press Send before shoving the phone in my back pocket. “Speaking of wives, yours almost got me into a lot of trouble the other night. She told Holly about the honeymoon situation before I had a chance to. I could’ve killed her.”
“Yeah, well that’s Ash, you know that.” Patrick chuckles. “Funny thing is, I thought about sending your fiancée flowers for something she said.”
“Send her flowers? What are you talking about? What did she say to you?”
“Not to me, it’s what she said to Ashley. She suggested she put aside the children’s books and start writing something a little more grown-up. It’s really gotten Ashley’s juices all flowing, and I don’t just mean creatively. It’s like a fire has been lit inside her. Once the girls go off to bed, she turns into a vixen, acting out all the scenes she’s been typing all day. I swear to you, some mornings, I’m waking up dehydrated.”
This is it. It’s finally starting to happen. My older brother just shared sex information with me. They’re starting to see me as one of them. My spine goes rigid. Be cool. Don’t fuck this up. Do something. Say something. Respond like a normal guy would. Be a normal guy. Maybe give a high five? Fist bump?
“Sex is so awesome.” I make two fists and shake them over my head in a cheering motion.
Patrick turns his head away from me and breathes in through his nose. “Ah, Christ,” he mutters, walking over to the back sliding door, and lets himself out.
Welp, that was short lived.
Guess I still got a ways to go before I can consider myself a normal guy. I shake it off and pull out my phone to see if Holly responded. I smile. She’s on her way.
I return to the kitchen and inspect the old kitchen cabinets, trying to think of ways we can spruce them up on a tight budget. Scaling back on the wedding plans like we did worked out perfectly. If we hadn’t, buying a house so soon wouldn’t be a possibility. I’m happy with our decision for a small wedding. But then it hits me.
If we buy this house… that means no Hawaii.
“HOLLY, I’M MAKING coffee, would you like to join me for a cup?” Mrs. Daniels is at the bottom of the stairs waiting as I make my way down to go meet Matthew. I am so glad to have a legitimate excuse to say no. The last few times she asked me to join her for lunch or coffee I’ve made up lame excuses and run off. I know, awful. But everything with us just always feels so awkward and forced. I’ve been purposely leaving the door to our room open so that she can see the new arrangement of the beds. I want her to know that no more debauchery is going on under her roof. Not that I think having sex is wrong, it’s just between the paper-thin walls, the squeaky bed situation, and already being caught once, I’ve decided it’s better this way.
“I’m sorry, I would but Matthew just sent me a text and asked me to meet him at some strange address.” 13 Haller Street. I have no idea where that is or why he wants me there, but I guess I’ll find out soon.
“Oh, okay.” Mrs. Daniels smiles and dabs at her nose with a tissue. I’m not sure if she seems annoyed or relieved that I can’t join her. I grab my bag by the door and open it. “Holly, wait.” She stops me from walking out. “Are you okay with me going to your bachelorette party tomorrow night? Your friend Jayne invited me, but I just wanted to make sure you were okay with it.”
“Of course, I’m okay with it.” Not really, actually not at all, but how do I say that? I made Jayne promise to tone it down and she assured me she would. Not that I believe her. I have my fingers crossed it won’t be so bad. “I’m glad you’ll be there.” Does my voice sound as fake as this smile I have plastered on?
“I just wanted to make sure.” Mrs. Daniels tucks the tissue in her pocket. “You’re going to be my daughter-in-law very soon, and I want you to be comfortable around us, around me.”
Comfortable? Yeah, I’m about as comfortable as a crotch full of glitter around her. But I lie and say, “Of course I am,” in a high-pitched tone.
“Good. I’m glad.” I can tell that she can tell I’m full of shit. “Well, have fun meeting Matthew at your strange address.”
“Thanks, I will.”
It’s not until I’m in the car that I hear how stupid that must have sounded, “meeting Matthew at some strange address.” She probably thinks either I made it up, or I’m meeting him at some no-tell motel for sex. Lovely.
The radio shuts off and Jayne’s number pops up. I click the button on my steering wheel and answer.
“Hello.”
“He doesn’t work at the gym. I’m a stalker. I called the gym where he told me he worked and they never heard of Juan Jones. I told you it was drugs.”
“His last name is Jones?” Juan Jones?
“Uh, big picture, Holly. Did you not just hear me? Now I know for sure, he sells drugs.”
“You still don’t know that. All you know is that he lied about where he works. Besides, you broke up with him. Why are you stalking him?”
“Because I just want to know.”
“It’s because you still like him. Why you don’t you just try talking to him again?”
“No, I don’t still like him.” She huffs. “I just need to get over it, and get some closure. That’s all. Hopefully tomorrow night I’ll meet someone. Someone much better than that lying jackass.”
Oh, I’m glad she brought that up. “Listen, about tomorrow night. Remember, you promised me no penises, and I just want to quadruple check because my mother-in-law is going to be there. No. Penises. Right?”
“Yes, Holly. No penises.” You can almost hear the eye roll Jayne is giving me. “I have a theme all set, and I promise you the theme is not penises.”
“You promise?” I see the sign for Haller Street and make a left. It’s a development of small houses. Why am I meeting him here?
“Yes, bitch, I promise. And make sure you dress hot tomorrow night. We are gonna be on a mission to find me a man.”
“Fine, yes, I will be dressed to impress and ready to go as long you swear, no pen—”
“Penises. Yes. Got it. Jesus Christ, you act like your mother-in-law never saw a fucking cock before. Newsflash, she has a husband and three sons, that’s four right there.”
“Goodbye, Jayne.” I disconnect. I am gonna need a muzzle for her mouth tomorrow night. Maybe she’ll just offend everyone right away and they’ll all go home and the night’ll be over before it starts. Yeah, right, like I’d really be that lucky.
I park behind Matthew’s car on the street and get out. Number thirteen is a cute ranch-style home. It’s small, with tan siding, black shutters, and neatly trimmed hedges under a large bay window. I walk up the narrow walkway and knock on the door. A woman in a navy blue dress with a yellow name tag pinned to her chest answers.
“You must be Holly, come in.” She stretches out her hand. “I’m Deonne Harper. Matthew and Patrick are in the master, it’s down the hall on the right.” She points to the hallway and I walk down the worn gray carpeting toward the bedrooms.
I hear Matthew’s voice, and he steps into the hall before I reach the room.
“Holly! You’re here. What do you think?” His eyes search mine and read the confusion that must be written all over my face. “This house. It’s for sale,” he supplies.
“What?” My head nearly swivels off my neck as I take in the surroundings again, paying closer attention to the details. “Are you saying? Is this… our house?”
“Well, not officially. I wanted you to see it first, but yes, if you like it, I think it can be.”
“Really?” I reach a hand up to my heart then down to my stomach, I’m not sure which one is causing me more of an issue at the moment. My heart beats wildly, and my stomach flips with excitement. A house of our own. Is this for real? I reach for Matthew’s hand.
“It’s a fixer-upper and we’d have to cut back on things.” His expression darkens and he gulps. “Things like Hawaii.”
Hawaii versus a house. It’s no contest. A week versus the rest of our lives.
Our very own home. This is like a dream.
I throw my arms around his neck and plant a large kiss on his lips. “Oh my God. A house of our own. I love you, Matthew.” He lifts me off my feet, a grin stretching across his gorgeous face. “Show me, show me everything.”