“You bought it!” I exclaimed, pulling her in for a hug without even thinking. “That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you.”
Chloe was so excited she was practically vibrating in my arms, causing me to laugh.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” she asked, turning her head to look at her house in wonder, without stepping out of my arms.
I took advantage of the situation and kept her close as I murmured my agreement and stood in front of her new home.
Sue me.
Chris kept skating back and forth, past us on his board, not pausing as he said, “Pretty cool, huh, Rear? We’re going to be neighbors.”
“Very cool,” I replied, wondering if offering to take turns having each over for dinner every night would be too forward.
The fruity smell of her hair hit me one last time before she pulled out of my arms and took my hand again.
“Want to see the inside?”
“Absolutely.”
Chloe led me inside and showed me around the empty space, which was very similar to my own home, except all of her bedrooms were upstairs, with the office down stairs.
“When are you moving in?” I asked as we walked back to my house.
“Well,” she began, chewing her bottom lip while she thought. “We have the party this weekend, and the wedding next, but I don’t want to wait until after the wedding to move in, so I’ll probably shoot for some time next week. I hate to bug everyone when they’re busy with the wedding, but I really want to get Chris settled and out of the hotel. Plus, I started school this week, and it’s already difficult to concentrate in that small space.”
“I don’t think it will be a problem. It’s not like they’re having an extravagant event. Things are pretty much good to go on the wedding front. I’ll have my secretary move stuff around so that I can at least take one full day off to help you. Just let me know when.”
“Really?” Chloe asked, her eyes full of wonder. She looked so adorable that it took everything within me not to brush my lips against hers. “That’s so sweet.”
“That’s me,” I said wryly, knowing that I couldn’t kiss her. “Mr. Nice Guy.”
Chloe frowned as I held the door open for her to go inside.
“There’s nothing wrong with that,” she said, waiting just inside as I kept my hand on the door for Chris, who was racing up the steps. “There should be more nice guys like you.”
“Awe, Mom,” Chris said with a wince when he heard her last remark.
“What?” Chloe asked, baffled.
“You can’t put Rear on the nice guy list. That’s like putting him in the friend zone.”
“What, but we are friends,” Chloe protested, still utterly clueless about the fact that I liked her, even though she was obviously the last person to know.
Not wanting to make her uncomfortable, or get outted by a thirteen-year-old, I shook my head at Chris, then closed the door and said, “You’re right, we are friends, which is why I’ll accept your nice guy label and still help you move.”
“I’m confused,” she muttered as she followed me into the kitchen.
“Don’t be, it’s just a teen boy thing. We hate to be labeled nice at that age; all the girls want the bad boy,” I responded, then moved to the stove to check on my sauce.
“Ah, that’s not true,” she started, then shrugged with a smile when I shot her a disbelieving look over my shoulder. “Okay, maybe it’s a little true.”
“We’ve got about thirty minutes until dinner, if you wanted Chris to do his work beforehand.”
“Chris!” Chloe shouted. “Time to do your homework.”
“Where do you want me?” he shouted back from somewhere in the back of the house.
Chloe looked at me.