“You’re crazy, woman.” He hugs me hard and then releases me. “You ready to go?”
“You still haven’t told me where we’re moving to.”
“It’s a surprise.” He helps me into the front seat and grabs each of my breasts as he buckles my seatbelt for me.
“Pervert,” I say with laughter in my voice.
He winks and then jogs around to the driver’s side.
Twenty minutes later, after fighting loads of traffic, Julian parks beneath a condominium building that overlooks the Delaware River.
“What are we doing here?”
“We live here. Don’t ask questions,” he says when he opens the door for me. He extends his hand, which I gladly take, and slide out of the van. “Just go with it, okay? Or at least wait until after I show you the place.”
“But how?”
He presses his finger to my lips. “No more questions until we get upstairs.”
We ride the elevator up to the twenty-second floor, and when the doors open, we land in a posh sitting room with a long velvet bench, laden in a dark blue fabric. A small, round table sits between two matching chairs. I don’t understand rich people. Why do they need a living room outside of their apartment? It’s weird but looks nice. And apparently, I now live here, which is even weirder.
When we reach the last door at the end of the hallway, Julian removes a key on a long gold chain from his pocket. I hold my breath as he shoves it inside the lock, and my lungs just about drain of air when he pushes the door open. Everything is white and polished, from the tiled floors to the high cabinets in the kitchen. The living room is open concept, with a wall of windows that span the room, opening up to a large balcony that overlooks the Delaware River.
“Holy shit.” My mouth falls open in shock. “We live here?”
He nods.
“How did you afford this?”
“I sold my Maserati to Jami
e, and Preston’s mom hooked me up with this apartment. She owns half of the building. I got a good deal on it.”
“So, let’s recap real quick. You’re not poor?”
He shakes his head.
“And you knew you wouldn’t be?”
He shrugs. “Yes and no. I was hoping my dad wouldn’t fight me on the things that are in my name, like the Maserati, and he didn’t.”
“And you don’t you have to work at Broad Street Beans with me?”
He shakes his head again.
I throw my hands above my head and squeal. “Thank God.”
He laughs. “Why are you so happy about that?”
“Seriously? You’re the worst barista on the planet. I have to keep running behind you and fix the drinks before the customers get them. It’s exhausting. You make my job ten times harder.”
“I hate coffee,” he groans. “Sorry about that. I tried.”
“I know.” I brush my fingers along his jaw and smile. “At least you’re good at other things.”
He lifts me in his big arms, enveloping me in his masculine scent. “And I’m about to show you a few of those things right now.”
I kiss him, and my head spins from the emotions consuming me. My heart is heavy and full. For the first time in my life, I truly feel free. With Julian, I have always felt that way. I just didn’t know how much until now. We have no more parents to get in the way or bitchy rich girls to butt into our business.