Until April (Until Her/Him #10)(63)

“I know.” I let out a breath, wondering if I will ever get used to hearing him say he loves me.

I really hope I don’t.





Chapter 19


April

STANDING IN MY living room, I watch two men carry my mattress from upstairs, past the kitchen, and smile at both of them as they head around to the set of steps to go down to the first floor and outside. I do not envy them. I know that mattress is heavy as heck and awkward, given that it’s all cushion and there aren’t even handles to hold on to.

Blowing some hair that’s fallen out of my messy bun out of my face, I look around my mostly empty house, trying to come to terms with the fact that I will no longer be calling this home after today. After weeks, moving day has finally arrived, and after just a few short hours, my house has been packed up by the team Maxim hired to move me out. And as much as I love him and his house, and as excited as I am to really start our lives together, I’m also going to miss this place.

Moving to the kitchen, I grab the lamps that were on my bedside tables off the island and start to carry both of them downstairs. I want to put them in my car with the stuff out of the fridge and freezer and a few of the other things I needed to take myself, worried they would get broken being in the truck with all the other stuff. When I reach the driveway, I spot Maxim at the back of the moving truck, talking to the two guys, and as soon as he spots me, he walks to my car and helps me load the lamps into the trunk.

“The guys said they only have a couple of boxes left to bring down, so we can head over to the house whenever you’re ready.” He pulls me against him and holds me tight. I melt into his chest and wrap my arms around his waist.

Even if I haven’t been the one doing the heavy lifting, it’s been an exhausting day, and it’s not over yet. We still have to unpack everything, and since I don’t really know for sure where things will be going, the guys won’t be helping with more than getting furniture and boxes into the house and in the rooms.

“Are your parents and sisters still coming at four?”

“The last time I checked my phone, that was the plan.” I tip my head back and look up at him. “Is it bedtime yet?”

“A few more hours.” He kisses my forehead, and I reluctantly let him go. “I’m going to do one more walkthrough with the guys. Do you want to wait here with me, or do you want to head on over to the house?”

“I’ll head over to the house.” I lean up on my tiptoes for a quick kiss. Really, after today, I’m wondering if waiting for movers to move you isn’t worse than sitting at a car dealership for hours. At least at the dealership I had good coffee and snacks to keep me happy. Two things I haven’t had all day, since the kitchen was the first room to be packed up and the cup of coffee Maxim brought me this morning is long gone. “I just need to run up inside to grab my keys and bag.”

“Go get them,” he orders, tapping my bottom, and I roll my eyes before heading up the driveway and into the house.

Even knowing he’s going to do a walkthrough with the guys, I head up to the third floor and go around each room, opening all the closets and making sure that everything is out. Not that it really matters. I’m not selling my place; instead, I’m going to rent it out and keep it as an income property, much like he’s doing with his place in Vegas.

After walking through my bedroom, closet, and bathroom, I head down to the main level and check the cupboards in the kitchen, then go down to the bottom floor. I never used the room there except for storage, so I just make sure everything is out before I head to the door and grab my purse off the hook along with my keys.

When I get to my car, Maxim kisses me once more and tells me that he will see me at the house within the hour. As I head across town, I try to remember if there are still loungers out by the pool at the house or if the owners took them with them when they left. I honestly can’t recall, but if they are there, I’m going to find one and put my feet up for an hour and maybe, if I’m lucky, nap until someone wakes me up.

Just as I’m pulling into the driveway, my cell phone rings over the Bluetooth, and seeing it’s Shell—a newer agent that Matt and I have been helping out when she needs advice—I press answer on the call.

“Hey, girl, what’s up?” I ask, putting my car in park in the driveway, wondering if I will ever get used to the house in front of me being mine. Probably not, just like I will probably never get used to a man like Maxim being mine either.

“I know today is moving day for you, and I really hate to ask for your help, but I have clients who want me to show them the Hudson property, and I can’t get inside.” The Hudson property, the house I’m selling on the golf course, the one I have yet to get an offer on—probably because the monthly dues are outrageous for most.

I just keep reminding myself that all it takes is one buyer and they are out there somewhere.

“The key’s not working?”

“There is no key in the box,” she says, and I pull my bag into my lap and dig through it for my cell phone.

“Let me check something.” I go to one of my apps, and it takes me a minute to pull up the list of realtors who have recently visited the property. The last one was yesterday at noon and is a guy I don’t know. With no way to get in touch with him, I look at my reflection in the mirror and shake my head. I look a mess with my crazy hair, baggy tank top, and the only leggings I had that weren’t packed, but then again, if I’m just dropping off a key, it doesn’t really matter.