Atonement(9)
“I bought this place while I was still renting because I knew I wanted to be here in the center of all the action,” he explained excitedly as we rode the elevator up to his floor.
“Isn’t this a bit much? I mean for one person?” I questioned and swallowed the slight anxiety I was feeling. I had never been crazy about heights and here I was about to get off the elevator and would be a long way from the ground floor.
“It is but I love it. It’s so beautiful and the layout is awesome. When we get inside, I’ll give you a tour.”
We stepped off the elevator and walked directly to his apartment. The place was so clean and crisp and new. Nothing seemed to be touched at all and the surfaces shined everywhere I looked.
As we stepped inside his place, it looked like a goddamn showroom, and I whistled in appreciation. I slipped out of my flats and walked around with him as he gave me an exclusive tour.
“I thought I’m going to be thirty soon so why not act like an adult and own something? To say my dad wasn’t pleased would be the understatement of the year. He thought I was being frivolous, spending so much money on a condo but just look at this place! I went all out. Hired an interior designer and all the furniture is imported. It goes great with the layout, don’t you think?”
“It does,” I agreed though I also could understand where his father was coming from in terms of his son’s attitude and relationship with vast sums of money. The place was a show palace and it was obvious he would be staying there for sometime, even after wife and a kid.
“There are two bedrooms so if we get too drunk then you are free to take the guest bedroom. No one has ever used it but this…this is the pièce de résistance.” He walked me to the kitchen and instead of a traditional patio, it was an outside area that was completely enclosed in glass.
There was a glass door and we stepped inside where there was a beautiful dark wooden table, matching comfortable chairs and a fireplace with huge candles decorating the mantelpiece. The whole city was spread before us and it was absolutely beautiful especially when he had a waterfront view that took my breath away.
“What do you think?”
“I must reluctantly agree this place is worth the two million dollars you dropped on it,” I blurted out without thinking.
“I bought in early so I didn’t pay quite that much but yes, it was definitely north of over a million dollars. Why not? It’s an investment.”
“That is an understandable attitude.” I sat down and admired the view as Colin walked over to a mini fridge he kept in the corner. “I am afraid I am not as sophisticated as you and Drew. I only have beer—is that okay?”
“That works for me,” I responded as he handed me a Beck’s after he’d uncapped it. I took a long satisfying swig from my drink and realized I was happier and calmer than I’d been in a while.
I could have easily blamed it on Colin’s good looks, laid back attitude and a refreshing change from the constant “mothering” Drew had a habit of doing. He treated me more like a wayward child he had to look after than an equal roomie and most of the time, I found that behavior to be okay. I didn’t mind because I felt so lost and if it wasn’t for him keeping me constantly grounded, I might have found myself down a path I would rather have not gone down.
“You’re quiet. What’s on your mind?”
I looked up and met Colin’s crystal blue eyes. They were magnetic and strong, irresistible and the right combination of nice and naughty. I wonder if he had any idea what kind of pull he had over women?
“Well, I’m just thinking I don’t know much about you. Drew has only mentioned you a handful of times and all the sudden he decides to invite you over for dinner? It just seemed a bit strange.”
He leaned toward me and stared deep into my eyes. “What do you want to know? Drew and I work together but it isn’t like he knows all my deepest darkest secrets. Besides, I think I would find it much more pleasurable to tell you myself.”
I couldn’t help but smile as I shook my head. “You’re incorrigible, you know that? Okay, to start off, are you a Seattle native?”
Colin nodded his head affirmatively. “Born and raised here although not in the city. I spent my formative years on Mercer Island but my parents relocated to Hunts Point when I was ten. I don’t remember meeting you but I know we both lived in HP.”
“That’s because my parents sent me to Seattle Lutheran High School. Both Caitlyn and I attended there as they wanted us to grow up with a more well rounded view of the world, enough religious education to give us a moral compass but not too much. Why, where did you attend high school?”