But it's the only thing missing from my life.
I rise, unlock the door, push it open. "After you, sweetness."
"Walker…" Her eyes meet mine. "Is this… Are you… Do you…"
"Yeah."
"Yeah?"
I nod.
Her tongue slides over her lips. "Really?"
"I'm trying to do this a certain way."
"What way is that?"
"The way that gets a yes." I press the door wider. "After you."
"Okay." She steps onto the hardwood.
I follow. The main room is about the size of mine. There's space for the TV and a couch in the nook on the right. The kitchen is on the left. It's tiny, the way all Southern California kitchens are, but it's ours.
Well, almost.
"It's more expensive than my place. But a lot cheaper than both of us paying rent for our own apartments." I take her hand and lead her to the bedroom. Right now it's an empty room with a mirrored closet, an attached bathroom, and a window that looks out on the ocean. But it will be our bedroom.
Iris's eyes go wide as she stares out the window. "Is that really the view?"
"Yeah."
"It's beautiful."
"The other room is too." I squeeze her hand as I lead her across the hallway. "I figured it could be our office. Mostly yours. Or all yours. If that's what you need."
"All mine?"
"Yeah."
"I've never had my own office."
My eyes stay glued to her. "I'm more than happy to share my tiny apartment with you. But I figured you need space to do work."
"I do."
"It's ridiculous. You should live in my bed."
"You mean our bed?"
Every part of me goes warm at once. "Yeah. Our bed."
She turns to me. "Can we really afford it?"
"Yeah." We is my new favorite word. Or maybe our. Or maybe Iris. No, that's been my favorite word forever now. "I know you're busy with school until the quarter ends. I'll take care of everything. All you need to do is say yes."
"But we have to apply—"
"Done."