us today?”
“And dinner. They’re spending the day with us today,” Mom explained.
“That’s great! Let me go take a quick shower and I’ll be right back down.”
When he left to head upstairs, I looked at Mom as I helped Ira get down from the counter.
“Why hasn’t he moved in yet?” I asked.
“Because he likes his space and I like mine.”
Understandable, but not what I would wanna go for if I loved someone.
If things worked out between Rooney and me, I for sure would ask her to move in with me.
Maybe not after asking her to be mine, but soon after.
Ira would love having another person around the apartment, but having her as our neighbor was as close as we’d get for now.
Rooney
“These are our potential galleries. Michail wrote in the email that we could choose the one we like best, then get back to him and he’ll make sure to contact the building’s owner.”
I looked at the pictures on Evie’s phone she was holding close to my face, but my eyes had yet to adjust to the light she rudely switched on without a warning.
How come she was already up and I had trouble even if I was the one who came home first?
I sat up and reached for her phone, then leaned back against the headboard and rubbed my eyes before taking another look at the two buildings.
I recognized both of them, and I knew one of the buildings was once a club. A strip club, to be exact.
The other one was an old industrial building where they used to have pop-up stores or farmer’s markets in it, and I knew the inside looked incredible.
“I like this one better. It’s also closer to home,” I told her, pointing at the mahogany red building covered in brick.
“Figured. I would’ve gone for the old strip club in the hopes there would still be poles around, but this one fits better for a gallery.”
I raised a brow at her and laughed. “You don’t know how to pole dance,” I pointed out.
“I could learn,” she replied with a shrug. “So, this one?”
I nodded, still unsure if we were just being pranked or if I wasn’t actually dreaming.
“Isn’t it a little too early to have him buy a building? We still have almost two years of college ahead of us.”
“If the building’s available, why wait? We could start putting our paintings in there, renovate what’s needed, and have parties in there before we turn it into an actual art gallery. Stop overthinking and let that rich, Russian couple invest in a damn building for us, Rooney. Our future is secured. Stop worrying.”
I had a few problems with those two things.
First off, as hard as I worked on each and every single one of my paintings, it didn’t feel as if I did enough to just get gifted an entire building, and secondly…I worried because there was no way we could be sure about having buyers.
Selling my art was what I had to do to have a stable income.
“You and AJ had fun last night, huh?” Evie asked, changing the subject.
“Uh, yeah. It was nice. Where did you go?”
“Remember Jonathan? I made him pick me up and take me to the frat house. They had a party going, and I figured it would be more fun than at the club.”
“I see. Did you have breakfast yet?”
“Breakfast? Sis, it’s almost one. I’m ordering Chinese. Want some too?”
Shit, did I sleep that much?
I’d have to start studying the second I finished my lunch.
“Yeah, sure. I’ll have whatever you’re having.”
“Perfect.” She got off the bed and headed out of my room, and I still tried to fully wake up and finally start my day.
My thoughts immediately went to Wells and the note he wrote last night.
I reached for it on the nightstand and smiled as I read those words again.
Maybe someday I could wear that dress again for him, or I might buy a new one just for him.
Too many people have seen me in that dress already, and it wouldn’t be special if I’d wear it on my next date with Wells.
Because that’s exactly what we were doing, right?
Dating.
Getting to know each other better and having a good time while getting closer.
If only I could open up and ask him directly about it instead of keeping my thoughts in the dark.
Chapter Fourteen
Rooney
It’s been a week since I have last seen Wells and Ira, and because it was Friday, I thought I’d head downstairs to see if they were