“I know you work hard, but why have you been picking up so many extra shifts? If you think you need to do all of that to pay me back for the apartment, you don’t. Just do what you can. Seriously, I hope you’re doing it for something fun, like saving up for a new car?” I tease, even though I wish she would get anything safer than her old car. I’m still letting her borrow my car with the excuse that I don’t use it enough, but secretly it’s because I want her to have any comfort that she can. “Or did you just miss me that much?”
She shoots me a playful glare. “Getting a little cocky now, aren’t we?’
“Oh no. I’m not cocky. I know you missed me. I just wanted to hear you say it, but there’s got to be more entertaining stuff to do while I’m gone than work.”
She huffs a laugh and continues on the trail. I watch her, being careful not to trip because it’s hard to take my eyes off her. She rocks her head side to side and gnaws at her cheek and I can tell she’s mulling something over. Finally, she takes in a deep breath and sighs.
“And no, it’s not to pay you back or anything fun. My rent is about to go up and I’m trying to save as much as I can, which means working extra shifts when there’s an opportunity.”
“That sucks. I know this place isn’t cheap.” This is a topic that I’m positive I should tread lightly on given our history, but I still don’t want to see her struggle, ever. I also know from seeing her work with Rich and at the coffee shop over the years that she is incredibly hardworking and stubborn, which can be a dangerous combination and lead to serious burnout.
She nods. “Tell me about it.”
I don’t say anything though because I have the feeling she just needs to vent right now.
She groans. “Like really, I bust my ass and had to settle for that place in Rodgers and now the boom that’s happened here is bleeding into the surrounding towns too. Even when the pass opens back up, I’m still going to be struggling. I’ll be spending all my time working or commuting and never actually get to enjoy this place like this.” She gestures out toward the surrounding landscape. “At what point do I just give up on that dream?”
I can see the hurt in her eyes and I literally hear Sly’s words about a hero complex in the back of my mind. That’s not enough to stop me from doing whatever I can to help her though because I know she’s probably stubborn enough to keep overworking herself and I don’t want to see that happen. Or god forbid she actually does choose to leave Jackson or the area all together. I don’t even let myself think about that and blurt what deep down I probably want to happen anyway. And selfishly, I want her to have time off to spend with me. I want those hours all to myself.
“Move in with me.” Shit. I did not just ask her to move in with me. She probably thinks I’m unhinged.
She stops and turns to me but doesn’t say anything. She just arches a brow and looks at me in confusion.
Yep. She thinks I’m crazy.
“I meant move into the studio apartment.”
She squints at me. “I kind of already did?”
“Yes, but you could make it permanent. I know it’s smaller than your place in Rodgers, but it’s yours if you want it. I’m not planning to ever rent it to anyone else.”
Her confused look fades and the corners of her mouth lift up into the weakest of smiles. “I told you I don’t want a handout, but thank you. You’ve already done more than enough for me. And we’re dating. I don’t want to confuse that by moving in with my new boyfriend.”
Part of me wants to stop and jump for joy that she just called me her boyfriend. I was worried when Monica called her my girlfriend earlier today, but hearing Kelsey say it so casually makes that worry fly out the window. Even with that relief, I still can’t ignore that I’m concerned about her burning herself out trying to afford to live on the other side of the pass.
“Then it won’t be a handout. Pay me rent, and I’ll give you a lease that I promise won’t go up and will be whatever you think is fair. OK,girlfriend?” I ask.
Her lip twitches like she’s trying to hide a smile, then she raises a brow and studies me. “You’re serious about this? What if,” she gestures a finger back and forth between us, “things don’t workout?”
That thought guts me and I choose to ignore it. “This is the least I can do to help make up for Slade’s dumbassery.”
“I don’t know. This just feels… big, and as much as I’d love to live back in town…”
I know better than to push her right now, so I leave the ball in her court. “Just think about it. I’ll feel bad charging you rent when you’re just going to end up in my bed anyway, but I know you’re fucking stubborn so you can tell me what’s a fair amount. I love having you and Felix there. I even think Oscar likes having you two around.”
She laughs and any sign of hurt or worry is gone, making itfeel like a weight has been lifted off my chest. “Alright, I’ll think about it for the sake of Felix because I think he likes being around you and Oscar too.”
I grab her hand and step close enough that I can still smell that coffee and cinnamon scent on her. “Good. I can live with my girlfriend at least considering to officially move into the apartment next to me.” This time she doesn’t hide her smile. So I lean down and kiss her. “That’s what we’re doing, right? Dating? Boyfriend and girlfriend?”
She hums contentedly. “Yes, I’d like that.” She smiles before looking back up the trail. “So where are we going exactly?”
“Up there. I was planning to take that path.” I tip my chin toward the narrow, worn path that forks to the left off the main trail. I’ve taken it a few times and it’s definitely my favorite.
She lets out a small hum. “Interesting.”
“Interesting, why?”
“Because this is one of my favorites. No one ever takes it because it’s tough, but it has the best views.”