“Oh, Dave, do you see that?” Ellie asks.
Huxley and I both snap out of our ogling and turn toward the couple opposite us.
“Yep.” Dave has a huge smile on his face. “I think that’s our cue, sweetheart. We need to leave these two alone.”
Ellie nods. “Those pregnancy hormones are kicking in, and they’re about to tear each other’s clothes off.”
I mean, I wouldn’t mind seeing Huxley’s well-built chest right now. At the sandwich shop, not so much, but you know, when we get back home.
“You don’t have to leave,” Huxley says, clearing his throat, but his grip on me grows tighter, more possessive.
Dave laughs. “I think we do.” He offers his hand to Huxley and asks, “Next week, think we can discuss this acquisition?”
Huxley straightens and takes Dave’s hand, giving it a good shake. “Yes, I’ll have Karla call you to see when we’re both available.”
“Perfect.” Dave lifts my hand and places a kiss on the back of it. “Lottie, always a pleasure getting to see you. Good luck . . . handling your meat.”
My cheeks flame. “Th-thank you,” I say awkwardly.
Ellie gives us a quick goodbye, and once they’re out of the restaurant, Huxley turns toward me, a huge smile on his face. “Babe, did you hear that?”
I love it when he calls me babe. It means he’s relaxed, in a good mood, and the stick he likes to wear up his ass most of the time has been temporarily removed.
“That he wants to meet up with you?” I ask.
He nods, that lopsided grin so damn endearing that I find myself drawing closer to him.
“I think he’s ready to make a decision. Fuck, could you imagine if this is all over next week?”
My smile fades as realization hits me square in the chest. What if this is all over next week? I never really gave much thought to what would happen after Huxley secured the deal. I know we’re sort of dating, but do I leave his house? I’m making some money now that Kelsey and I were paid an advance by Cane Enterprises for our work. Does that mean I could afford my own place now?
“That, uh, that would be great,” I answer with a smile, but my mind is wandering. My head is swarming with what if it really is all over?
No longer hungry, I pack up my soup and let Huxley know I’m ready to leave. He texts his driver, who meets us outside. Together, we head out of the restaurant and straight to the waiting car, where we take a seat in the back. I buckle up and look out the window, willing my emotions to stay as calm as possible.
The unknown is scary.
Being unprepared is even scarier.
I need to have a plan for when Huxley does secure the deal.
I have a job—thankfully.
I still have my old car and, to my knowledge, it still works, so I have a way to get around.
School loans are paid off—that’s still a miracle.
Huxley has already said he’ll go to the reunion with me, so I don’t have to worry about that. Sticking it to Angela will still be a possibility.
But a place to live . . .
That’s the one thing I don’t have under control.
Needing to calm down the worry, I pull my phone out of my purse and go to Zillow, because where else should I look for an apartment? And I do a search for places in West Hollywood. I won’t be able to afford anything near Huxley, but near Kelsey would be good.
A studio, that’s all I need.
Not a basement apartment, though, that’s just asking to be murdered.
God, rent is so high. That’s okay, I don’t have much in the way of bills. Spend more on rent, save by forgoing luxuries.
“What are you doing?” Huxley asks, the angry tone of his voice catching me off guard.
I glance up at him and catch the confusion in his face. “Uh . . .” Keeping my voice down, I whisper, “Looking for a place.”
“Why the hell would you be doing that?”
I turn toward him now and say, “Well, if you secure the deal, there’s no need for me anymore.”
His brows narrow. “Are you saying you’re going to leave once I secure the deal?”
“Isn’t that—isn’t that what you want?” I ask, completely confused.
“What I want is you. So why the hell would I want you to leave?”
“Uh . . . I don’t know,” I answer. “I mean, I assumed we’d still date, right? Is that a bad assumption?”
“That’s a correct assumption. But what I don’t understand is why you’re trying to leave.”