Love At First Glance (Love at Firsts #1)(9)

The place is nice and as cozy as I expected but it’s a lot smaller than it looked in the pictures. It’s still a decent size, but for the asking price it’s too small. It’s already furnished so that’s a plus, but it feels so cramped. I love my space, I’d rather have less furniture and be able to actually walk around than to have to be constantly stepping over the something.

The agent gives me a tour of the place but is very quick about it, as if she already knows what I’m thinking. The place looks amazing and I like it, but it just doesn’t feel right. Clearly, pictures can be deceiving.

I thank the woman and tell her that I’ll let her know but that I need time to make my decision. She looks at me with disdain, already knowing that I’m not going to call her back. She probably thinks she’s wasted her time meeting me, but oh well, I’m not going to let an agent’s opinion have an impact on my decision.

I managed to remember to snap a couple of pictures for Matt, which the Ice Queen certainly didn’t appreciate. How in the hell does she expect people to make a decision without taking pictures of their potential future home?

I hurry down the stairs, taking two at a time whilst trying not to fall on my ass. That’s the last thing I need right now! I leave the building and walk to my car. Fuming when I see that some f*cker has parked too close to my car. I have to get in from the passenger side and wiggle myself over to the driver’s seat. Whoever owns the offending car is lucky that I’m not cruel or I’d have either smashed my car door against his or keyed his car but, as I said, I’m not mean and I most certainly don’t want to hurt my own car.

I give myself a moment before typing in the Willow Street apartment’s address in the Satnav and start to make my way across town. I hope this apartment will be ‘the one’. To be honest, with the large balcony and pool it looks more like a vacation apartment than one you would actually live in but the rent is decent and it is gorgeous. One downside is that I have a nasty feeling it’s going to be crawling with kids. There weren’t any children in the pictures but they gave off a ‘family’ vibe. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind kids, for a short period of time, but living next door to them with their screaming and early morning wailing is something else. The drive to the next apartment should only take twenty minutes, but with the traffic, I'll be lucky if I make it in time. I just hope it'll be worth it and I won't have to deal with another bitchy agent.



I make it just in time but this time, it’s my fault. I stopped at a Starbucks drive thru on my way. I needed a coffee fix. To save time trying to find the car park, I park across the street and quickly take in the view in front of me. This place looks amazeballs. It’s a huge complex with three buildings surrounding a pool. There are sun loungers with umbrellas decorating the pool area and, you guessed it, screaming kids. Despite the fact that it’s fall, they are still playing outside around the pool. Luckily the actual pool itself is closed so that’s a bonus but still. Kids. Screaming. Kill me now. I sigh to myself. I really liked the look of this place but I can’t deal with that kind of noise and kids running around everywhere. It’d drive me crazy in a heartbeat. I sigh once more before getting out of the car and walking across the road. I spot a man younger than the old trout who showed me the last apartment and I pray he’s waiting for me. He looks up just as I reach the other side of the road and waves, clearly recognizing the look of someone in desperate need of an apartment. As we introduce ourselves, I note that he’s pretty hot so at least he will make this viewing a little easier on the eyes!

This apartment is on the first floor and, once again, there’s no elevator, but at least it’s not as bad as the last one. I can manage to walk up one flight of stairs. The real estate agent, Gary, opens the door and I let out a gasp; this place is freaking huge! It’s pretty much double the size of the Raleigh Street place and half the price. Gary gives me a quick tour and I take pictures as we go. It has two bedrooms, an office, two bathrooms, a separate toilet and a fully furnished dream kitchen that opens to the living room. I walk over to the large window in the living room that leads out onto the balcony and take in the breathtaking view of the large park behind the complex. I could so picture myself watching the world go by on the balcony wrapped up in a cozy hoodie and a big fluffy blanket, sipping a hot chocolate with marshmallows and whipped cream on a crisp fall night. I smile to myself as I lose myself for a second before I’m brought back to reality by the sound of kids screaming and laughing. As perfect as the image I just pictured is, it’s been chattered and this just doesn’t feel like home to me either. It’s spacious, would look amazing when furnished and the view is stunning but the kids would be a f*cking nightmare.

I thank the real estate agent and tell him that this apartment won’t work for me. He understands my concerns with the kids and tells me that he has been struggling to rent this place for a while now. We say our goodbyes and I make my way back to the car before clambering in.

Feeling slightly deflated, I sigh and type in the last address into my satnav.

“Please be a nice, quiet place. Please be a nice, quiet place. Please be a nice, quiet place.” I repeat and cross my fingers as I start the car. I put on some music and sing along as usual. I drive the short fifteen minute journey to the last viewing praying it’s the one. I’m slowly losing hope and I’m starving.