But everything in this house is just…nicer.
“How is this still available?” I ask, unable to keep the question to myself.
“We haven’t advertised it. We were still trying to decide if we were going to rent it or turn it into a closet for our shoes when Ash said you were looking for a place.”
I am seconds away from being completely mortified. “Oh my gosh. You aren’t renting this to me as a favor to him, are you?”
“No.” Everly shakes her head adamantly. “We’ve been going back and forth on it, but honestly, I think we were just waiting for the right person to come along.”
“And you think I’m that right person?” Disbelief creeps into my voice.
She tilts her head to the side, studying me. “I think you might be. I have a good feeling about you.”
That blows my mind a little. And so does this house. I can’t live here. Can I? I turn in a circle. The door handle is a cute little crystal flower looking thing with a place for one of those old skeleton keys. It probably doesn’t even work, but it doesn’t matter. Damn that adorable door handle. It does me in.
“This feels too good to be true. Rent is only three hundred dollars a month?”
She nods.
“And I don’t have to sign a contract giving you my firstborn or something?”
“God, no. I’m not even sure I ever want kids of my own.” She leans against the frame of the doorway. “My brother bought this place at a steal and then renovated it. Well, not him specifically. He’s good with cars, but not so great with a hammer.” She smiles and I can see the love and admiration she has for her brother. “Anyway, it’s an investment property for him, so he’s not charging me much to stay here.”
“Wow. That’s really nice of him.”
“Yeah, Ty is pretty great.”
I walk to the far wall and run my fingertips along the smooth wall. “How do you know Ash? Did you two…”
Her face blanches. “Oh my gosh, did you think he and I…” She shakes her head vehemently as she trails off. “We’re just friends. My brother is Tyler Sharp. He plays hockey with Ash.”
“Oh.” Relief that she’s not one of his hookups or ex-girlfriends washes over me, followed by a heavy dose of annoyance at myself because either way, I am so not going there. “Sorry. Ash didn’t say how he knew you and I don’t follow hockey.”
I follow Everly back out into the hallway. Even the light switches are cute—each one is different and looks vintage.
“Do they stop by a lot?” I cringe a little at the awkward question, but I need to know what I’m getting into. Running into Ash all the time could be weird.
“Are you trying to ask if the Wildcats hang out here regularly?” Her gaze narrows slightly on me.
“I didn’t mean…I’m not trying to use you to get more face time with your brother or his teammates. I meant what I said, I don’t really follow hockey.”
Her expression softens. “I didn’t think so, but you don’t grow up with a hot, talented brother and not have people pretend to like you just to hit on him or his friends.”
“I’m so sorry. That has to be awful.”
“Thanks. I always shut it down pretty fast when it happens. It helps now that Tyler is married. So are most of his friends now that I think about it.” She brings one hand to her hip and loops her thumb in the waistband of her jeans, staring at me like she’s trying to figure me out. “You’re worried about Ash using us rooming together as a way to keep asking you out?”
“He told you about that?”
“Yeah, of course. We’re friends. Just friends,” she reiterates.
“Yeah, I guess I am,” I admit and feel instantly ridiculous. Ash Kelly going to all this trouble to ask me out again? Yeah, probably not. But I still can’t help but voice my fears just in case. “This was so nice of him, and you for considering it, but I’m really not interested in dating right now. It’s a dumb thing to be concerned about, I know. He’s probably already moved on, but I need you to know in case you were hoping to play matchmaker or something.”
“I love Ash like a brother, so I know I’m biased, but he’s a good guy. If you told him no, then he’s going to respect that. And if it makes you feel better, I’ll tell the entire team that they can’t stop by without twenty-four hours’ notice and a very good reason.”
That makes me laugh. For some reason I can picture Everly doing just that. She’s not afraid to speak her mind. I like that. And I think I trust her （as much as I trust anyone these days）。