Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 71647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 358(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 358(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
“Loathsome toad?” I supplied with a wink, piling fresh pancakes onto a plate.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You probably should. Everyone will wonder what’s going on if you’re suddenly nice to me, so just…act normal and deliver these.”
Holden rolled his eyes, but obeyed, pausing to exchange pleasantries before returning with an empty plate. He set it on the counter and reclaimed his coffee, sidling close enough to speak without being overheard. “You don’t think they heard us, do you?”
“No. But…maybe? That floor is really fuckin’ creaky.”
He chuckled softly, fumbling for a fork from a nearby drawer when I passed him a new plate of pancakes. “I know. I tried to be quiet, but—”
“What are you two whispering about?” Cole interrupted, bringing a stack of dishes to the sink.
Holden whirled around guiltily. “We were discussing Ezra’s foray into the magical world of historical reenactment.”
“Smooth,” I choke-coughed for his ears only.
“How’s that going?” Tommy asked, handing Holden the syrup.
“Most excellent. Ezra is well graced and best tempered to take on the illustrious role of a revered liege.”
Uh-oh.
Cole wrinkled his brow. “Um…cool.”
Noah joined us at the stove and slipped an arm around Tommy’s waist. “Hey, we have something we want to talk to you guys about. This is probably as good a time as any.”
Beth gasped. “You’re getting married!”
“No, no. I mean…eventually, yes,” Tommy stammered, turning five shades of pink. “But um, that is not the news we’re imparting today.”
Noah grinned like a madman and kissed Tommy’s cheek. “Today’s news is…I put in an offer to buy this house.”
We all stared at him in confusion.
“You want to buy this house?” I cocked my head curiously when he nodded. “Why?”
“Because I love it! I loved it the moment I set foot in that ghoulishly dark foyer.” Noah gestured toward the adjacent space animatedly. “This house has character and zip and zeal and panache. It’s a gorgeous example of architectural brilliance from the turn of the last century. The ornate moldings, wide windows, that fabulous fireplace, and don’t get me started on the wraparound porch. I know it needs some TLC and updating, but this is exactly the kind of project I’ve always wanted to undertake. When Thomas told the owner that you weren’t going to renew the lease, he said he was going to put it on the market and—I want to buy it.”
He was treated to a four-way WTF stare.
“That’s…great,” Holden hedged. “Does that mean we’d be renting from you or moving out as planned?”
“It means you could stay if you want. That’s up to you,” Tommy replied. “Noah would move in obviously, but that would be the only real change.”
Noah nodded. “The owner accepted my offer, and I just signed the paperwork to get escrow rolling. He agreed to let you all stay on with a month-to-month clause. With any luck, my condo will sell immediately, and we’ll close escrow next month. We’d need to draw up plans and hire a contractor we trust before we started any substantial work, but that might not happen till January. Either way, there’s a ton of room for all of us, so there’s no rush for anyone to move out.”
Cole glanced my way. “Thanks for thinking of us, but Ez and I signed the lease for a new place last night. It’ll be better for both of us in the fall. The commute is rough now, and it’ll be worse when we’re expected to work eighty hours a week.”
I turned off the stove and studied Holden, drizzling a miserly amount of syrup over his pancakes in a neat criss-cross pattern. I might not be fluent in all things Holden, but I could tell he was deep in thought. Maybe thinking the same things I was last night.
This was it. Life really was changing.
A twinge of melancholy mixed with a longing I couldn’t define zipped through me, catching me by surprise. That deadline I’d been thinking about earlier was now clearly defined by a lease and a sale.
Noah and Tommy would definitely want my room. It was the biggest and the most private, and I was moving to Santa Monica anyway. And Holden was…staying? Or maybe he’d move out. Either way, this little blip in time would soon be over.
That struck me as…sad.
“What do you think, Holden?” Tommy asked.
“It’s great news,” Holden gushed before addressing Noah. “Good luck with your real estate transactions. I appreciate the generous offer to stay on. I accept, but I promise not to overstay my welcome. I can move out by September or October at the latest.”
“That’s not an issue, but let’s not get ahead of our skis. Nothing is done yet. I’ll let you know how it goes,” Noah replied.
The conversation meandered to Noah’s West Hollywood condo and real estate prices in Southern California. I was too busy spinning over impending change to contribute, so I tidied up and washed dishes. Christ, who was I?