“Ready?” Reed walks into the office as I finish typing my email.

“Almost,” I say.

He sits down in front of my desk looking gorgeous in a navy blue suit. He props one foot up and rests it on his knee.

“Did you win?” I ask.

I would watch Reed in court every day if I could, but after the last case, I’ve kept my distance. He’s absurdly paranoid and it’s hard for him if I’m there.

“I did.” A huge smile crosses his face.

“I’ll have to make sure to give you a congratulatory kiss.”

“Just a kiss?” He sits up, grabs a Post-it note and a pen.

“Is that for me?” I ask, eyeing the note in his hand. With my hand on the mouse, I close out everything and log off.

“It’s not always about you.” He winks, scribbling something in his lawyer handwriting which reminds me of a doctor’s.

“I’ll be right back.” I pretend to say goodbye to Chelsea, so he has an opportunity to hide the note for me to find on Monday.

“Hurry. Abe’s waiting.”

“Only you can get an Uber to act like your own personal chauffeur.” Hannah comes out of her office, leaning her shoulder on the doorframe with a manila folder in her hand.

“Hi, Hannah,” he says.

“Where are you taking our girl tonight?” she asks.

The two talk and I peek my head into Chelsea’s office.

“I’m leaving.”

“Thanks for the update, I’ll be sure to call NBC and let them know,” she jokes, standing and following me out. “Reed ‘The Steak’ Warner, how the hell are you?” She acts like she didn’t just see him yesterday.

I’ve been granted with a pickup and a drop-off every day for a month. I can’t complain. There’s something about almost losing something that makes you hold it tighter.

“Chelsea,” he says and smiles, tossing the pen into my holder and standing to his feet.

“Would you guys mind dropping this off at the tax attorney’s office? His office isn’t too far.” Hannah holds out the envelope and I snatch it up.

“Sure.” Then I look to Reed. “We have time, right?”

He nods.

The envelope is snatched out of my hands. “I’ll do it. You two go.” She shoos me with her hand.

“Thanks, Chels.”

“I’m going that way anyway. I’m on a search for penis paraphernalia and I might just grab myself one of those Unicorn Cock vibrators. My cousin’s bachelorette party is coming up.”

She rolls her eyes like having to go into a sex store is such an inconvenience for her would upset her. Having to go into a sex store. This is Chelsea we’re talking about.

“Want to join me?” she asks Hannah.

“Me and you in a sex shop?” Hannah shoots her an expression that says never. “I’d rather not to get arrested tonight.”

“Fine. Leave it to me to be the curator of cock on my own then.” Chelsea shrugs like she doesn’t really care, which she probably doesn’t.

“Okay, have a great weekend, girls.” I wave goodbye and Reed pats my lower back to get me going.

Once we’re down on the sidewalk, I spot Abe leaning against his car, reading a book while he waits.

“The Realtor is meeting us there?” I ask.

“Yeah.”

Reed has decided he doesn’t want to live downtown anymore, so he’s house hunting closer to us. He says he’s found one he really likes and wants my opinion.

“Hey, Abe.” I smile and wave at him.

“Victoria,” he says, rounding the car to get back in.

Reed opens the door and I slide inside. Reed’s hand plays with mine as we pull away from the curb.

“I firmed up some plans last night with Pete.”

“Yeah?” he asks.

“I’m going to fly out there with Jade to drop her off and then fly back to pick her up. She’ll stay for a month this summer.” I take in a deep breath. It’s going to be horrible, but she deserves to spend some time with her dad and he promises he won’t work the whole time.

“A month?” he asks.

“Well, he’s going to hire a nanny and take two of the weeks as vacation.”

Reed nods. “Nice of you.”

“I was wondering though, would you want to come with us and maybe if it’s okay with Ned and Helen, Henry could come when we go to pick her up? We could stay—”

“I’ll go both ways. You’re going to need me after the drop-off.” He smiles, his fingers tightening in mine. He knows me well.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He smiles. “I’m pretty sure since I’m his guardian if anything should happen, Ned and Helen will be fine with us taking Henry.”

I slide closer, laying my head on his shoulder. My eyes close briefly from the late nights studying for exams. Three more weeks until I graduate, and I can cross off one thing off my list.

“We’re here,” Reed whispers in my ear.

“Sorry,” I mumble, lifting my head to see my mom’s house. “What are we doing here?”

Reed says nothing and steps out, holding his hand out for me to take. “Have a good weekend, Abe. See you Monday.”

“Bye, guys.” He waves and once Reed shuts the door, he pulls away.

“So…I wasn’t exactly telling the truth when I said we were going to look at a house I was interested in. And I hope you’re not mad, but…” He takes my hands in his. “I bought the house next door to your mom’s. My plan is to renovate it, make it large enough to fit all of us. You don’t have to move in with me, but I want to be close to you.”

He guides me up the walkway, pulls out a key and inserts it in the lock.

“This is not me asking you to choose. This is me wanting to be as close to you as possible. I’d love for you and Jade and your mom to move in here. Or just you and Jade and she can stay next door on her own as long as she’s able. I knew you’d want to be by your mom, so…” He trails off, opening the door and waiting for me to take the lead.

The thing about Chicago housing is that next to one bungalow is a three-story flat and next to that is a renovated single family. It’s a hodgepodge of housing types. Reed’s bought the single-family home that needs some updating, but nothing major.

“It’s beautiful.” The light that streams in through the front windows highlights the hardwood floors and moldings. The place has good energy and being close to my mom makes it perfect. We can get out from under her and she can maintain her independence. But we can still help out around the house and with meals since we’re so close.

I walk farther into the house to take it all in.

“The kitchen needs some work, but I have some ideas.”

Warmth blooms in my chest the more I see, but Reed takes my silence the wrong way.

“I don’t want to pressure you, Vic. If you completely hate the idea, I can renovate it and turn it for a profit.”

I shake my head. “I’m not feeling pressured.” Turning back around to him, tears fill the corners of my eyes, but they aren’t the sad kind this time. “It’s perfect.”

“I’m so happy you think so.” He erases the distance between us and lifts me into his arms. “What does that mean exactly?” A nervous chuckle escapes his lips.

“It means,” I close my eyes for a moment and then let them slowly open to the man who has stolen my heart and soul. “We’re moving in together.”

His arms tighten, and he swings me around. “Thank you,” he mumbles and I’m not sure if he’s talking to me or fate itself.

My phone rings and Reed lets me go to grab it out of my purse in case it’s the school or my mom.

He ventures down the hall while I press accept on Chelsea’s call.

“What’s up, Chelsea?” I ask. “Did you know he bought the house next to my mom?” I say, unable to contain my excitement.

“Did he? I didn’t know.” Her voice is flat and doesn’t hold any of the humor I’m used to.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

Reed comes back into the room, his eyebrows furrowed wondering what he’s missing. He wraps his arms around my stomach from behind, kissing my neck.

“I saw the tax attorney.”

“Is he hot? You’ve been into good guys lately and what tax attorney isn’t a good guy, right?” I giggle when Reed nips at my neck.

“Hey now,” he whispers.

“He’s not a good guy, Vic.” She sounds near hysteria as she sucks air in and out of her lungs. “He’s my ex-husband!” she screams.

Oh, shit.