Happily Ever After Collection - Melanie Moreland Page 0,102

Even more than I had realized, once I found out I didn’t qualify for some of the financial aid I’d thought I could get. I had thought I would work part-time, but I quickly realized that was not going to happen. I had to devote myself fully to the endeavor, which meant I had to make some changes I hadn’t planned. Jenny had been so supportive, even offering to loan me money, but I couldn’t take her offer. I had to do this on my own.

I stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for my floor, hating the thought that kept floating through my head. A last resort, but one that, in the end, might be the only choice I had.

Move.

I could get a less expensive apartment and save money that way. If I sold my car and found a cheaper apartment, things would be tight, but manageable. I would have to stick to a strict budget, which didn’t bother me. What bothered me was the thought of not living next door to Jenny, but I could still see her.

Just not as easily.

“Hold the door!” a familiar voice shouted.

I grabbed the door and was almost run down by a fast-moving pile of cardboard that barely missed slamming into me. “Hey!” I laughed when I saw Luc’s face behind the pile.

“Shit. Sorry, Connor.”

“What’s going on, man?”

“I’m moving.”

“Since when?”

He grinned behind the boxes. “Since I got a great job offer in Vancouver. The only drawback is I gotta be there this week.”

“Well, congrats. That’s great for you.”

“It was all great until about an hour ago. I had a sublet for the apartment all set up, but it fell through. Joe’s girlfriend dumped him, and he decided he didn’t need a two-bedroom place. He wants a smaller one. So, I have to figure that out. I doubt I can find another person to sublet on such short notice. I may end up paying rent in two places for a while. But what am I gonna do?”

I nodded in sympathy as the doors opened. Luc walked ahead of me, down the hall, balancing his boxes. I stopped at my door, and it hit me. I hurried down the hall after him.

“Hey, Luc… Can I see your place?”

Chapter 6

Connor

An hour later, I looked down at the papers in my hand. I checked and rechecked the math. This could work.

Luc’s rent was only three hundred more than I paid now. If Jenny and I moved in to the larger two-bedroom together, we’d both save money every month, since she paid the same rent as I currently did. The new place overlooked the back garden, which she had mentioned before she liked, had two good-sized bedrooms, so we could use one as an office, and overall, it was bigger and more open. I also knew Jenny would love the kitchen. Luc had even had the place painted not long ago, so it was in great shape. We both liked the building and the people we knew in it, so we could stay there and have more space. With what I saved in rent and shared utilities, I could even keep my car. I wouldn’t have to move, and we’d be together. The guy who had looked at Luc’s place agreed to come and look at mine, and if he liked it, he could take over the lease. I knew there was a waiting list for one-bedroom places in the building, so management should easily find someone for Jenny’s apartment.

We were almost living together anyway. We rarely spent a night apart, and Jenny was hardly ever at her place. I was sure she’d stuffed most of her clothes into my closet and drawers. Her favorite reading chair even had a spot in my living room.

Moving us would be simple. It was only down the hall. Luc planned to be gone in forty-eight hours. With the help of my friends, I could move all my stuff over in short order—probably Jenny’s as well. I could have it all done by the time she got home. She wouldn’t even have to think about it.

She’d be thrilled. We’d be together, and all she’d have to do would be to add her own touches and settle in. With me.

She’d love it.

I only had to convince her of that fact.

Quickly.

I dialed her number, my hand shaking.

Was she ready for what I was about to propose? Would she want to live with me, officially? I knew I wanted to be with her all