Healing Hearts ✅

47. Propositions

The day before graduation is busy. My parents are spending the entire day decorating the house and prepping it for my big party that would follow my graduation tomorrow afternoon while I had plans with Lucas, Maya and Josh to go apartment hunting. Maya had been toying with the idea of getting an apartment if the rent was cheap enough but she was still uncertain whereas both me, Lucas and Josh were sure that apartment living was the right choice for us. 

I'm in the middle of throwing my hair up when my computer lights up with a Facetime request and I smile, reading Farkle's name. I click "connect" and my screen pixelates until it reveals my best friend appears on the screen with a wide smile on his face. "Hey Farkley" I greet him, leaning down to get into the frame. "What's up? I was just heading out...and aren't you supposed to be on a plane?" I ask confusedly. My graduation was in less than twenty-four hours and his butt was supposed to be on it's way here.

"About that" he laughs nervously, running his hand through his hair. "So, my graduation is next weekend but uh Smackle's is tomorrow" he explains and I quirk an eyebrow at him. "And while I love you-."

"You're going to your her graduation instead" I fill in and he nods. I roll my eyes, leaning against my desk and looking into the camera intently. "Farkle, go and watch your girlfriend graduate. You know my dad will be recording every minute of mine and I'll make sure to send it to you as soon as I can."

He sighs, biting into his bottom lip. "Are you sure? We just made up and I know I'm on probation-."

"Farkley, please go to your girlfriend's graduation. I will be fine" I assure him and a smile pulls at his lips as he nods in agreement. 

"Alright fine" he says finally. "But may I ask where you're running off to?" he asks and as if on cue the door flies open and my boyfriend walks in. 

"Hey baby, you ready to go? Josh and Maya are downstairs." I look back to Farkle and give him a sympathetic smile. 

"We're going apartment hunting" I explain simply. "Is it okay if I log off? I promise we can talk later."

He rolls his eyes, waving a hand at me dismissively. "You have a good time. I'm always here. Hi Lucas" he adds, waving to my boyfriend. "Later Riley" he says before we hang up and I close my laptop shut. 

"Is he still coming tomorrow?" Lucas asks as I walk towards him and I smile, shaking my head as I take his hand in mine. 

"I'll explain everything in the truck."

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Apartment hunting is exhausting. I'm hungry and my feet are killing me by the time we arrive at the third building and I can only pray that it's the one because I need food and a nice, comfy couch to sit on. 

Josh introduces himself to the manager of the building and we're taken upstairs to an apartment on the third floor. As soon as the door is thrown open my mouth drops open and I can't help but take a few steps over the threshold, staring at the room in awe. 

There was a small kitchen and a living room that shared a common space in the open floor planned room but what takes my breath away and almost brings tears to my eyes is the bay window that opens out onto a fire escape. Sure, I had a bay window in my home here in Texas but this one reflected mine back in New York in every possible way and I knew I had to have this apartment. 

I walk towards the window while the manager speaks to the rest of my group and I take a seat, running my fingers over the fabric on the bench in a daze until Lucas approaches me and sits beside me. "You like the window" he guesses and I nod, wiping at a stray tear. 

"How far out of our price range is it?" I ask worriedly and he laughs, shaking his head as he takes his hand in mine. 

"It's actually about a hundred below it" he reveals and my eyes widen causing a chuckle to fall from his lips. I had to have this apartment. "So, should we do the application?" he asks and I nod vigorously as Maya and Josh approach, hand in hand. 

"What are you guys thinking?" Josh asks us but it's Maya's voice that interjects. 

"I think it's far too big for one person" she says and Josh looks down at her quizzically. 

"You think so?" he asks, looking around the (admittedly) large space that Josh would only be using himself if he chose to rent here. "Maybe you're right" he agrees, shrugging his shoulders as his gaze settles back onto his girlfriend. "I guess I'll have to find a roommate. Do you know anyone that's interested?" he asks and Maya's eyes widen as it slowly starts to dawn on her that Josh is literally asking her to move in with him. 

"A-are you serious?" she asks, her voice lifting octave by octave as every word spills from her lips. "You're joking. You don't want me to live here with you" she says, shaking her head and he laughs, nodding his head. 

"Baby there is nothing I want more. Move in with me. We can be Riley and Lucas' neighbors and drive them nuts" he suggests and Lucas laughs beside me while I simply cant' wipe the smile off my face. They were too cute. 

"You're sure? I mean, you've only had me in small doses up until now. I don't know if you'll like me when you're stuck with me twenty-four/seven."

He smiles, stepping closer to her and caressing her cheek. "That's a risk I'm willing to take. Move in with me" he asks again and this time a giddy grin spreads across her cheeks as she nods her head. 

"Yes" she says finally. "Fine, I'll move in with you." Josh lets out an excited yelp and picks her up, spinning her around while the manager looks around at all of us in complete and utter confusion. 

"Does this mean you'd all like an application?"

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We all finish the application before we leave the building and the woman assures us that they'll have their decision in the next couple of days, leaving us to wait for now. Josh volunteers to take Maya home which leaves Lucas and I alone as we head back to my place. 

"So" he begins. "Give anymore thought to those summer plans?" he asks and I laugh, rolling my eyes at him. 

"I told you, we should just let it happen."

"Okay" he concedes, "but what if we made it a little more interesting?" he asks and I quirk an eyebrow at him, awaiting whatever plan he had concocted. "What if we split the summer in half?"

If he thought that anything about that statement made his idea anymore clear then he'd be wrong because I'm more lost than before. "Okay" I concede, "but what does that mean?" I press and he laughs, placing his hand on my thigh. 

"It means, we spend half the summer here and you me show you all that the great state of Texas has to offer and then for the other half we go to New York and you show me everything that you loved about the city." My heart skips a beat. The thought of going back to New York should excite me but it only brought bad memories to the forefront and I couldn't imagine going back there for an extended period of time. 

"Luke, it's a sweet idea but-."

"It's hard for me sometimes" he interrupts. "Going to church and the grocery store" he lists. "It's hard because it all reminds me of her and I know that going back to New York is going to be hard but I would really, really like to get to know more about where you grew up." 

I bite my lip, looking up at him. "Can I think about it?"

"Of course city girl" he says sweetly, kissing the top of my head. "Now let's change the subject. How do we feel about Josh and Maya potentially being our neighbors?"