Closer - A Connections Sequel [Ongoing]

Seventeen

Valerie P.O.V.

"I can't believe we're going to visit houses today." I said softly, holding the small folder of listings in hand. After selecting a few of our favorite places, we rang the realtor to set up viewings today of the homes.

I was so incredibly excited, today may be the day that Carter and I find our place. Our official forever place, somewhere we can settle down and make memories in. Somewhere that we can call our own.

Carter squeezed my thigh in response as he drove towards our first location. It was about 20 minutes from central Los Angeles and it was a mansion sitting on the corner of the street. The style reminded me of a villa in Positano or something like that, with it's burnt sandy coloured stone walls and black spiralled railings and tiled roof. The driveway was short and there was a black gate wrapping around the property. Trees lined the path from the front gate to the front door.

"Hello, Mr. Bryson, and Ms. Delwood." The realtor extended her hand to shake with a smile. "I'm Charlie from Fairhomes Realty. We spoke on the phone earlier."

"Nice to meet you." I smiled, shaking her hand as Carter greeted her to.

"Well let's take a look inside shall we?"

We both nodded and she turned the key to head inside. It was a two-story home that had a very warm interior with cream walls and wooden floors. There were multiple different rooms, and the kitchen was a granite with glossy wooden cabinets. I thought it was quite beautiful, but what I wanted to see most however, was the backyard.

"What do you think so far, love?" Carter whispered as we toured the place.

"It's alright, I like the non-typical Cali style that gives it more of a European feel..."

"Hm," he pursed his lips to the side. "You don't love it?"

"Can you fall in love with homes at first sight?" I chuckled, shrugging.

"Well I want us to find something that grabs us." He said. "I want you to have your dream place."

Honestly, I'm not quite sure how my heart hasn't exploded with how much this man gives to me.

I cupped his jaw and kissed his lips, briefly but passionately. "Me too. But you are what makes any old house a home." I murmured.

"Agh, don't say things like that to me in public." He chastised me playfully, circling his thumbs on my hips. "It makes me wanna take you right now, right here on this bench."

I bit my lip and heat flushed through me. "You're one to talk! You constantly say so many sweet things to me."

He laughed and kissed my cheek. "Alright, alright." He wrapped his hand around mine. "Come on, we've lost the realtor somewhere in this house."

The backyard seemed smaller in person compared to the images which was a little disappointing, but overall the place was lovely, it felt like a holiday home in Europe.

Carter and I both gave it a rating of 7 from 1-10, with 10 being perfect on our list of places and then we drove on to the next location. After seeing three more homes from the day that all had quite different styles, we started to figure out some of the things we both liked. We both wanted yard space definitely, and I'd really like a pool, but it wasn't an absolute necessity. Carter would like a place with plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms, and we both needed an office space. I admitted that I would most definitely like an abundance of closet space and he nodded, adding that to our list. As for the kitchen, anything was fine I suppose as long as it had a big space for a fridge and plenty of bench space. For cooking and sexual purposes, he stated nonchalantly. I laughed.