Love Bites

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I nodded. “Have you been here long?”

“No. I’m just filling out some papers.” She looked down guiltily and picked up another clipboard from the table next to her. “But there’s another reason I picked this place.”

I eyed her suspiciously. “Why do I feel like this has to do with me?”

She bit her lip. “Well, they also specialize in rentals. So I thought maybe… you could look at apartments, too. Wouldn’t it be fun if we both looked at places together?”

I sighed. Ever since I’d started dishing the David details, Renee seemed gung-ho on helping me move my life forward. Which was sweet. I just didn’t know if I was ready for it yet.

“Renee, they’re not going to rent to someone who’s unemployed.”

“I know. But maybe if you see a place you really like, it’ll motivate you to start looking.” She pouted. “Besides, I hate that you live so far away.”

“It’s only an hour…”

“Well it’ll be longer in a few months with summer Cape traffic.” She pushed the clipboard closer to me. “Please?”

I rolled my eyes and reluctantly took the clipboard from her. “Fine, I’ll fill it out. But I don’t know if I want to live in the city. Too much traffic.”

“They have places all over the south shore.”

Of course they did. I appreciated her efforts to cheer me up, but I highly doubted that looking at apartments out of my price range was going to heal my broken heart.

“It’ll be fun,” she insisted, sensing my hesitation. “You can just look at some different places and neighborhoods. Get a feel for what you like.”

“Okay, okay,” I said, accepting defeat. “I’ll do it.”

“Ms. Evans?” The receptionist walked over to us. “Have you finished?”

Renee nodded and handed her the clipboard of papers. The receptionist looked down at Renee’s protruding stomach, beaming.

“So, how far along are you?” she asked, clasping her hands together.

“Six months,” Renee answered.

“Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?”

Renee shook her head. “It’s going to be a surprise. My fiancé doesn’t want to know.”

“Oh, that’s great. Congratulations.” She returned to her desk, then glanced over her shoulder in our direction. “Mr. Keller should be with you in a few minutes.”

“Mr. Keller, huh?” I turned to face Renee. “Is the President himself giving you a housing tour?”

“His son,” the receptionist corrected. “He’s in from New York to help set up the new office. But trust me, you’re in good hands.” She winked at Renee.

Renee leaned closer to me. “Do you think it’s weird that Dylan wants the baby’s sex to be a surprise?”

I shrugged. “Some people like surprises. Why?”

“Because it’s killing me,” she whispered. “I’ve thought about finding out and just not telling him.”

“Don’t,” I warned. Renee couldn’t keep anything to herself.

“I know. I won’t. I just really want to.”

“What do you think it is?”

She placed her right hand on her stomach and looked down. “I think it’s a boy. I’ve read that boys carry low.”

It was still so strange to me, seeing my best friend as a mother, hearing her use big-girl words like “fiancé.” It was like we had grown up overnight. I still pictured us as the girls who skipped class to smoke pot in the woods.

“Renee Evans?”

Oh, my. Well hello Mr. Keller. I had to assume it was Mr. Keller by the way he carried himself. He walked like he owned the place. And he looked like… wow. His face was perfectly chiseled, his body rock hard, his skin tanned and smooth, his eyes a nearly impossible shade of brown. I had never seen eyes like his. They were so light they were almost gold.

“Oh my God!” Renee’s scream rung through the entire office. By the time I looked over at her, she was already out of her seat, barreling towards him.

“I can’t believe it!” Renee threw her arms around him in a tight hug, then took a step back, studying him. “Walter, what are you doing here?”

Walter? How did I know that name? It sounded oddly familiar…

“Oh, fuck no!” I heard a loud yell from behind me, and turned around to find Dylan storming through the office, decked out in an all-leather ensemble. “No way! Absolutely not!”

Renee turned around and grabbed Dylan’s hand, pulling him closer. “Walter, I’m sure you remember Dylan.”

“Ah, yes, Dylan. Of course.” He flashed Dylan and Renee a charming smile. God, even his teeth were flawless. “So I see the two of you worked things out?”

“We did.” Renee glanced down at her stomach.

“Are you kidding me, Renee?” Dylan eyes were aflame. I’d never seen him so mad. Everyone in the office was starting to stare. “How could you not tell me this?”

“Relax,” Renee said in her calmest voice. “I had no idea this was his office until just now.” She turned to face Walter. “Are you living in Boston now?”

“No, I’m just here for a few weeks. My dad wanted to branch out and open an office here, so I’m helping him get everything up and running.”

Suddenly, Renee whipped around, remembering I was there. “Justine!” she called, motioning for me to come over and break the tension. I rose from my seat. “This is…”

“Walter,” I interrupted. “So I heard.” I extended my hand. “Justine Sterling.”

“Walter Keller,” he said, shaking it. “A pleasure.”

Is it ever, I thought. Who the hell was this guy? And why was Dylan so pissed?

“So, are we still going to…” Walter looked hesitantly between Renee and Dylan. “I mean, if you guys would prefer to use another agency, I completely understand.”

Dylan started to say something, but Renee silenced him. A slow smirk emerged on her face as she looked back at me. “Actually, Justine is looking for a new apartment.” She feigned an innocent expression. “Maybe the two of you should get started on that while Dylan and I discuss our options?”

“Sure,” Walter agreed, turning to face me. “Why don’t we go into my office and discuss the locations and price ranges you’re thinking of, and then we can see what’s available?”

I looked at Renee. Grinning like the little shit she was. But hell, if anything was going to help me get over David, Walter Keller was a good start.

Los Angeles, CA

April 2009

I didn’t sleep with David that night. I mean, sure, I slept with him, but not in the sexual sense. Only in the nocturnal sense.

After changing out of our soaking-wet swimsuits, David and I somehow ended up in my bed. I’m not really sure how it happened. One minute, I was curled up under my covers, trying to warm up because my hair was soaking wet. The next minute, David was sitting on the edge of my bed, attempting to continue our conversation. Eventually, we both fell asleep without leaving that general proximity.

By the time I woke up the next morning, David was no longer in my bed, so it sort of felt like it never happened. Instead, he was now in the kitchen, making coffee and eggs and toast. God, he was so damn perfect. Even in his gym shorts with messy bedhead. I remember, at that distinct moment, thinking about how much I wished I could find someone like him. And hating Renee for not realizing how lucky she was.