Candle In The Wind

3 | Hi,

Juliette
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"Can we see another place?" Val asked.

This is the third apartment we've seen today and if my pregnant ass had to climb up another flight of stairs just to see another set of empty boring rooms I might actually go insane and claw the first person next to me.

"I'm afraid this is the last one." Amber said as she side-eye Val, she was looking at us like we were wasting her time, she kept advising us, what would be affordable for people like us, such and such, which only earned an eye-roll out of me. If I wasn't pregnant I swear I would've gone out of my way to tour all of her properties just to piss her off. But since I was pregnant, I was giving her a pass. I was ecstatic to hear that this was the last place. Val was already indecisive as it is, if there were more places he'd never settle down and chose in time before it was time for my shifts.

We've been out looking at houses and apartments since nine-thirty. I was starting to get really tired, and I had my first shift in just two hours. I already had enough bad history with Marshall as it is, I didn't want to keep reminding him that hiring me was probably a terrible decision.

I sighed in relief.

I turned to face Val with my hands on my hips, "okay Val, this is a yes for me." I said as I looked around the place. The apartment wasn't too bad, and for the low price Amber was offering I considered this a steal. Two bedrooms, a nice kitchen with a fancy island, I'm pretty sure Amber said it was new, the place did look like it got a facelift. There was only one bathroom, but it was practically a master bedroom kind of bathroom, there was a bath and a shower.

Val frowned, "the last two places were also a yes for you."

"Okay and? Amber has been showing us great places, fully furnished and with no bugs or loose nails hanging around, but this one is a hell yes in my book." I continued, "look at the bathroom, the kitchen, and the master bedroom," I leaned in closer towards Val, like I was about to whisper some top secret stuff and I didn't want Amber to hear any of it, "this kind of deal is really hard to come by, Val, she could literally raise the price at any moment. Don't be stupid." I glared at him.

He gave me a long look but I knew he agreed with me, "you're right, and it's furnished pretty well." He said as he looked around the place

"No, the furniture's just for display." Amber chimed in.

"What?" I snapped, "this is a scam, you're running a scam." I accused.

They both looked at me confusingly, "huh?"

"They're showing us the place fully furnished just to take everything away the second we decide to take the place?"

Val came to my side and rubbed my shoulders to console me before I started to cry, "this happens all the time, Jules," he said softly.

I nodded, "I know, it's just that we've been seeing places all day and I'm really tired and hungry, my shift starts really soon. It doesn't look like you'll make a decision anytime soon." I whined.

It was my fault for agreeing to participate in whatever this was. Val told me he was getting a new place because his bartending position became officially permanent at Molly's and instead of having a feast to celebrate like a normal person he thought it was best to immediately start looking for a place and I agreed like an idiot with a small amount of hope that finding a place would be quick and easy and then we'd stuff our faces with lots of food after.

"I'll take this place, it's closer to my job and to you so we can wrap this up," he turned to look at Amber, and she instantly nodded.

Val turned to look at me again, "we can go now Jules, I'll deal with the paperwork later."